Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge shared the road with Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana on Sunday, 30 November 2025, at the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok. The two ran the half-marathon distance of 21.1 km, an unusual but widely covered pairing that grabbed global attention.
The Queen finished the race in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 40 seconds, with Kipchoge running alongside to keep pace. The event attracted thousands of runners from over 80 countries, making it one of Bangkok’s largest running events to date.
While Kipchoge and the Queen made headlines, the marathon was also highly competitive. In the full marathon, Ethiopian runner Bekele Shiferaw Agunafr took the men’s title, while Kenyan Eunice Nyawira Muchiri won the women’s event.
In the half-marathon, Japanese runner Itsuki Yumoto claimed first in the men’s race, with Kenyan Alexander Muhia finishing close second. Ethiopian runners dominated the women’s half-marathon, with Yanet Oli winning, followed by Embet Getawy and Martha Birehan.
The event drew more than 48,000 runners, including elite athletes, amateurs, and tourists.
Other attendees included Thai officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Legendary Muay Thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek also took part, highlighting the event’s mix of elite sport and public engagement.
The combination of world-class athletes, a reigning monarch, and large-scale participation made this more than a standard marathon. For the Queen, the run was about fitness, public engagement, and inspiration. For Kipchoge, it was another platform to promote running and international marathons.
Kenyan runners’ strong performances, especially in the women’s marathon and men’s half-marathon, reinforced the country’s standing as a long-distance powerhouse. The event also helped boost Thailand’s profile as a sports-tourism destination.
This appearance adds to a busy year for Kipchoge. In 2025, he completed the New York City Marathon, marking his first participation in that iconic race. He also announced the Eliud Kipchoge World Tour, a plan to run marathons across all seven continents over the next two years to raise awareness for social and environmental causes through his foundation.
Despite these initiatives, Kipchoge remains competitive on the world stage. Earlier in the year, he finished 6th at the London Marathon in a time of 2:05:25.
Kipchoge’s Bangkok run comes at a time when he is expanding his influence beyond competitive racing. Through his World Tour and foundation initiatives, he is connecting athletic achievement with social impact — from education to environmental projects.