Michael Kimani Kamau

About

Michael Kimani Kamau (born 1992) is an elite Kenyan marathon runner who has raced at the top level across China, Europe, and the United States. He set his marathon personal best of 2:08:19 winning the 2023 Shenzhen Marathon in a course record, breaking the previous mark by 85 seconds. He also holds a half marathon PB of 1:00:14 (Lille, 2022) and a 10K road best of 28:46. In March 2026 he led the Los Angeles Marathon for nearly the entire race before being misdirected by a lead vehicle and a spectator in the final 400 meters — he lost by 0.44 seconds in the closest finish in the race's history. He placed 3rd at the 2025 Wuhan Marathon (2:09:28) and 2nd at the 2025 Bloomsday 12K. Michael has reached a World Athletics ranking of #72 in road running.

Coaching Style

Michael's coaching is built around race-specific marathon preparation. He prescribes high weekly mileage to develop the aerobic base, then layers in marathon-pace long runs and controlled threshold sessions during the build phase. He draws on his international racing experience across Chinese, European, and American courses to coach pacing strategy, fueling decisions, and race-day execution — areas where most amateur marathoners leave time on the table.

Best Fit For

• Marathoners chasing a PR and needing race-specific structure
• Runners who want better pacing, fueling, and execution guidance
• Experienced marathoners who already have a base and need sharper judgment

Achievements

• Marathon PB: 2:08:19 (2023 Shenzhen Marathon — 1st, course record)
• Half Marathon PB: 1:00:14 (Lille, France 2022)
• 10K Road PB: 28:46 (Valenciennes, France 2022)
• 2026 Los Angeles Marathon — 2nd place (2:11:16)
• 2025 Wuhan Marathon — 3rd place (2:09:28)
• World Athletics ranking: peaked #72 road running