New York –

Eliud Kipchoge is hoping to leave a lasting legacy when he crosses the finish line at next month’s New York City Marathon.

The 40-year-old, widely considered the greatest marathon runner of all time, is the only man to have run the 42.195-kilometer distance in under two hours and has claimed two Olympic gold medals to go with a record 11 wins across the World Marathon Majors.

The five-borough New York classic is the only marathon he has yet to check off his list among the six majors, having made a triumphant debut in Chicago 11 years ago.

"I've been training for major marathons for a very long time, and I have never completed all of them," he said. "If I don't complete, I feel like I am halfway — I am not a rounded person.

"My legacy will be complete because I will have a sixth star."

Kipchoge collected his last marathon major title in Berlin two years ago and most recently finished ninth in August at the Sydney Marathon, the newest race added to the prized Abbott World Marathon Majors series.

While Father Time has taken a toll — he was unable to finish last year's Paris Olympic marathon — he credited advances in technology, including continuous glucose monitoring, with helping him push past the boundaries of age.

"From 2013 to 2020, then I was just trying to eat in a good way, try to make sure that I have energy in my body," said Kipchoge, who has partnered with Abbott, the marathon majors' title sponsor, since 2021.

"That's what made changes — I can monitor my glucose on time. It's wonderful."

Kipchoge said he would announce what is next on his agenda following the New York marathon on Nov. 2.

A long-time anti-doping advocate, his lengthy career has also overlapped with a spate of high-profile doping cases in marathon running, particularly from his native Kenya.

Asked about compatriot and world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich, who was handed a provisional suspension in July after testing positive for a prohibited substance, Kipchoge said: "It's a shame actually for people to break the rule in sport."