Sharon Lokedi will attempt to become back-to-back Boston Marathon champion on ​Monday, with the Kenyan runner insisting the ‌pressure of defending her title changes ​nothing about how she approaches ⁠the race.

The Kenyan-born runner, who shattered the women’s course record at last year’s Boston Marathon with ‌a time of 2:17:22, taking two minutes and 37 seconds off ‌the course record set in 2014 ‌by ⁠Buzunesh Deba, spoke at a brand ⁠event on Friday.

“Every time you do a marathon, you think it’s going to get easier, but ​it never really ‌does,” Lokedi said.

Asked about the pressure of defending her title, the 2022 New York Marathon winner was measured. “It’s always a ‌different race. It’s always a different ​group of women, a different type of competition. So I just ⁠treat it like it’s a new race.”

On the mental side, she said visualisation has ‌become a key tool. “I’ve trained well, I’ve done all I could, and I’m excited. It’s an open race — you never know — but I put myself there and hope for the best.”

For those ‌lining up alongside her on Monday, the 32-year-old ​runner offered straightforward counsel on race strategy: “Just start controlled, keep a controlled ⁠pace,” and as for the nerves that ⁠build in the days before the gun fires, Lokedi reframed them simply. “It’s ‌a good feeling because it tells you you’re ready.”

Published on Apr 18, 2026