On Saturday, 34-year-old Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya became the first person ever to run a marathon in under 2 hours. Kipchoge ran the 26.2 miles, averaging 4 minutes 34 seconds per mile, and finishing with an official time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 40.2 seconds. The event, dubbed the ‘INEOS 1:59 Challenge,’ was sponsored by a British chemical company called INEOS and took place on a street course in Vienna, Austria.
Throughout the event, conditions were idealized for maximum speed. This includes weather, a flat course, low elevation and a car projecting a green laser signifying where the runners must be to stay on track. Kipchoge also had an elite pacing team, rotating in and out, and forming a V around him at all times to minimize wind resistance. Moreover, Kipchoge ran in the Nike Vaporflys, a controversial shoe that has shown to decrease marathon time.
Despite being the first to break the two hour barrier, Kipchoge’s time will not count as a certified world record. Since the event was not an actual race and due to extensive support he received, the time won’t be recognized by the IAAF. Nonetheless, Kipchoge himself still holds the official world record standing at 2:01:39, which he accomplished at the Berlin Marathon in 2018.
“I personally value more Eliud himself as an athlete than the 1:59 performance,” said Claudio Berardelli. Berardelli coaches and operates the 2 Running Club, located in Kapsabet, Kenya a village neighboring Kipchoge’s home city of Eldoret. “What is quite amazing for me is how Eliud makes himself physically and mentally ready for whichever challenge he has to face.” Berardelli also added, “I believe he could run faster but didn’t take the risk.”
Prior to the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, Kipchoge had attempted to run sub 2 hours back in 2017. This attempt, entitled Breaking2 and organized by Nike, took place on a Formula One racetrack in Italy. Despite similar efforts to organize pacers and idealize conditions, Kipchoge fell just short, running 2:00:25.
Since the 1980s, Kenyans, particularly those from the western Nandi region of the country, have dominated elite distance running. Nonetheless, Kipchoge has remained a distinguished front runner since the start of his career, winning twelve out of the thirteen marathons he has raced, including one Olympic marathon. Most recently in April, Kipchoge placed first in the 2019 London Marathon.
“I’ve known Eliud since our high school time and he’s a great friend,” said Janeth Jepkosegi, Olympic silver medalist and former World Champion of the 800 meter dash. “He’s a great athlete who’s determined and has always been a person that likes to challenge himself,” Jepkosegi said. “I’m sure in the future he can be able to run a sub 2 in a normal marathon.”