Reigning Tokyo Marathon champion Dickson Chumba is looking forward to being back in the elite men's field for the Chicago Marathon (2.25pm SA time on SS11), after missing the race in 2017.
Kenya's Chumba, the Chicago champion in 2015 and a podium finisher twice more, is confident of recording a fourth top-three finish today, despite the stacked field that features the likes of defending champion Galen Rupp and Mo Farah.
The 31-year-old said: "I know that for the Chicago Marathon I have trained well and I know I will have a good race. I am going there to win."
When asked what he thought of this year's elite field, he was unwavering.
"I do not fear anyone, not even the likes of Mo Farah, I know I am ready," Chumba asserted. "I know I have trained well. I would like to tell the people I will be running with, let's go and give a good performance."
Coach Claudio Berardelli, who has trained with Chumba since 2008, was more pragmatic when discussing the strong field and Chumba's chances of coming out on top. "Dickson Chumba will be facing one of the toughest fields in his career, It will be difficult to pick who will win that day, it will definitely be a fight.
The guy who has to win will fight till the last metre, but we are ready for it. His experience and his shape will allow him to have a say that day.
"Chicago Marathon preparations have been interesting for Dickson because after 17 marathons in his career, it is amazing how he is still performing at a very high level.
"I do not want to exaggerate, but I think he is in the best shape he has been in, so I'm looking forward to what will happen in Chicago."
Chumba agreed as he reflected on his Tokyo victory in February this year, his second win in Japan, and says that going for his next assignment on the back of a huge win is a key motivator.
"I won the Tokyo Marathon earlier in the year and I know I am in shape this year," he says of his win in a time of 2:05:30, taking the title from marathon legend Wilson Kipsang.
"This year my training has been good, unlike the previous year where I got a slight injury. But in this calendar year, I got none and I feel my body is okay."..