he won at the city-pier-city loop in 2008. makau won the 2009 ras al khaimah half marathon setting the second best ever half marathon time 58:52. the world record at the time, 58:33, was held by samuel wanjiru. he made his marathon debut at the 2009 rotterdam marathon, finishing fourth and setting a fast time (2:06:14 hours), short of the fastest marathon debut, set by evans rutto at the 2003 chicago marathon (2:05:50 hours).