Mutai: Racing ahead, on and off the track

Down, Not Out

Mutai’s 2025 season is already in full swing, though it began with a tough outing at the Seville Marathon on February 23, where he placed 19th in 2:08:23.

When Daily Monitor caught up with him at a training camp in Bukwo over a week ago, the 32-year-old, who continues his chase for an elusive gold medal, was setting his sights on a new personal best.

That goal slipped away in Seville, but Mutai remains focused, knowing the season is long and full of opportunities.

“The plan remains the same,” he told Daily Monitor. “Every time I step out, I aim for my personal best. That’s the only way to grow.”

His 2:08:23 in Seville is his second-fastest marathon time, just behind his 2:07:41 at the Venice Marathon in Italy on October 22, 2023.

NextGen talent & Bukwo’s cry for facilities

Beyond his own career, Mutai is deeply invested in nurturing Uganda’s next generation of runners.

Working closely with Kipsiro, he mentors aspiring athletes, but he is concerned about the lack of proper training facilities in Bukwo, a district that has produced some of Uganda’s finest runners like himself, Kipsiro, Peruth Chemutai and Boniface Kiprop.

“Bukwo is home to many of our country’s athletics heroes, yet we still don’t have a proper training center. The government needs to step in,” he said as dusk settled over Kapkoros Training Camp, a Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) facility.

President Museveni commissioned the long-awaited High Altitude Training Centre in Teryet, Kapchorwa, in December last year. 

Named after Olympic and World champion Stephen Kiprotich, the facility has significantly boosted training opportunities for athletes in the region. But there’s one problem.

Teryet is great, but too far for Bukwo’s athletes

While the Teryet facility is easily accessible for athletes in Kapchorwa and Kween, it remains a logistical challenge for those in Bukwo - some 65km away.

Mutai and his peers believe this distance is limiting opportunities for young talents in Bukwo, which remains a gold mine of athletic potential.

“The truth is, we have incredible talent here,” Mutai explained. “But we don’t even have a proper running track. The one we use at Amanang Ground has potholes. I just recovered from an injury after twisting my foot in one.”

Mutai emphasised that, while the Teryet center is valuable, the additional transport, food, and accommodation costs make it inaccessible for many in Bukwo.

“Too much movement affects training,” said Mutai, “the government should establish something simple but decent in Bukwo - at least a hostel, a gym, and a proper track.”

He also proposed a public-private partnership: “Alternatively, the government could work with Moses and me to develop our camp - build a hostel, a gym, and provide some support for young athletes. Right now, we fund everything ourselves.”

Currently, UAF provides food and accommodation for Bukwo athletes at a hostel built with support from the Netherlands Embassy whenever there is a residential camp. 

However, the training track there is just 300m - short of the standard 400m - affecting athletes’ performance and mental preparation.

Building a future beyond sport

Mutai is already planning for life after competition. Together with Kipsiro, he has diversified his income through investments in media and agriculture.

“We know we won’t run forever, so we must prepare for what comes next,” he said.

Their co-owned radio station, Kastar FM, has quickly become a household name in Bukwo. The pair hopes to attract more investment to expand its reach.

“Kastar means ‘see beyond the horizon,’” Mutai’s business partner, Kipsiro, explained earlier. “It represents athletes - we must look beyond our running careers.”

For Mutai, the message is simple: “Many athletes focus solely on running and forget that retirement will come. Then, they struggle.”

Beyond the media, Mutai is also a serious farmer, raising cattle and growing maize. A plowing tractor parked in his compound speaks to the scale of his ambition.

“Through sport, we can change lives - economically and socially.”

Upwards and Onwards

On the track, Mutai continues working to improve his times through Diamond League meets and invitational races, all leading up to the World Championships later in the year.

His training is rigorous, monitored down to the last detail - from diet to sleep.

A typical day starts at 5 am with prayer and stretching, followed by a structured training program. His workouts include easy runs, speed drills, hill repeats, long runs, and recovery sessions.

Race preparation varies based on climate, but one constant remains - the intensity of training.

“If I’m preparing for a cold race, I run early in the morning in the cold. If it’s a hot race, I train in the midday heat. Adaptation is key.”

Mutai’s running journey began at Amanang Secondary School in Bukwo, where he first competed in middle-distance races before transitioning to the marathon.

He has proudly represented Uganda on numerous occasions, with his greatest achievement being a silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

“That was one of my proudest moments,” said the humble Mutai, who also won bronze at the 2015 World Championships and competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The man behind the medals

At his home in Bukwo, Mutai proudly displays his hard-earned medals. His greatest treasures, however, are not made of gold or silver.

A new addition to his household - a newborn baby - was among the many joys during our visit. 

And after a long day of touring his projects and conducting interviews, nothing was more welcome than the sweet tea and warm bread generously served by his wife.

Mutai’s story is one of perseverance and tenacity - one that goes beyond victory on the track.

Mutai fact file

Personal Details

• Name: Solomon Mutai

• DOB: October 22, 1992 (32 years old)

• POB: Bukwo, Uganda

• Event: Marathon

Major Championships

• Olympics: 8th place, Rio 2016 (2:11:49)

• World Championships: Bronze, Beijing 2015 (2:13:30)

• Commonwealth Games: Silver, Gold Coast 2018 (2:19:02); 4th, Glasgow 2014 (2:12:26)

Personal Bests

• Marathon: 2:07:41, Venice, Italy (Oct 22, 2023)

• Half Marathon: 1:02:52, Maputo, Mozambique (Sept 16, 2018)

• 10K Road: 28:45, Houilles, France (Dec 29, 2013)

• 5,000m: 13:33.80, Kampala, Uganda (July 20, 2013)

• 10,000m: 28:44.81, Kampala, Uganda (July 19, 2013)

• 20K Road: 59:42, Cassis, France (Oct 26, 2014)

Rankings

• Current Men’s Marathon World Ranking: 237

• Highest Ever Ranking: 73

Most Recent Marathon

• 19th place, Seville Marathon, Spain (Feb 23, 2025) – 2:08:23

Beyond Sport

• Co-owns Kastar FM with Moses Kipsiro

• Engaged in farming (cattle, maize, etc.)

• Actively mentoring young athletes