Why would the world's fastest marathon runner want to run one of the world's toughest big-city marathons? One might just as well ask why would the world's best mountain climbers want to tackle Everest by the technically harder North route – because they can!

It's all about testing yourself with new challenges, digging deep and succeeding, having a game plan, and delivering. And that's why marathon legend and GOAT Eluid Kipchoge will be lining up with 30,000 athletes from more than 100 countries in the 127th Boston Marathon on Monday (17 April 2023).

With nothing left to prove, the marathon world record holder has set himself the new task of becoming the first athlete to simultaneously own the course record at all six Abbott World Marathon Majors. He is currently 50% there as he Is the fastest winner at London (2:02:37), Tokyo (2:02:40), and Berlin (2:01:09 – WR) in his latest marathon last September. To complete the full set he needs to add Boston (course record 2:03:02), Chicago (2:03:45), and New York (2:05:06).

The 38-year-old Kenyan is the Abbott World Marathon Majors champion, having sealed his fifth title last year, but has only raced a marathon once before in the USA, winning Chicago in 2014 (2:04:11).

In Boston on Monday the Olympic champion will face stiff opposition on the rolling hills including fellow Kenyan and defending champion Evans Chebet, plus the 2021 winner Benson Kipruto (Kenya).

The women's race is also looking to be a feisty affair as it features the current world champion, Gotytom Gebreslase (Ethiopia) up against former Boston winners Des Linden (USA), Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) and Atsede Baysa (Ethiopia). However, the surprise package may well be Amane Beriso (Ethiopia) who ran the third fastest time in history (2:14:58) to win the Valencia Marathon in December last year.

Many British athletes will be tackling 'Heartbreak Hill' in Boston as the world's oldest annual marathon maintains its traditional allure but all eyes will surely be on the GOAT that is Eliud Kipchoge and the unforgiving clock as it ticks towards 2:03 – fingers crossed for good weather.

You can follow the Boston Marathon on Eurosport 2 from 3:30pm on Monday 17 April.

Visit runABC South race listing for last year's report and previous results.

Cropped image courtesy Marco Verch via Creative Commons