Like Roger Bannister’s sub four-minute mile, the sub two-hour marathon used to be seen as something mythical, which was beyond the capabilities of the human body. 

In fact, it used to be thought, that if any human being attempted to run a marathon in less than two hours, their bodies would give out.

Until now, that is.

Controlled environment at the INEOS 1:59

This morning in Vienna, Austria, at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who is widely regarded as the greatest distance runner of all time, not only succeeded, but smashed the two-hour barrier in the marathon.

In a controlled environment at Vienna’s Prater park, where he had been guided by a car shining green laser beams onto the road and 41 world-class rotating pacemakers, Kipchoge ran the 42.195km distance in 1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds.

Photo: Toni Reiter, Vienna

Thanks to the power of the Internet, through live streaming from Singapore, I had been watching Kipchoge’s run all the way from beginning to end, and when he entered the final few kilometres, I found myself subconsciously holding my breath.

Photo: Toni Reiter, Vienna

Kipchoge’s final straight

When Kipchoge had been entering the final kilometre, I willed him to just hang onto the pace and not slow down.

In the final straight, Kipchoge broke away his pacemakers and sped towards the finish line.

In those precious last few moments, I found myself silently cheering him on.

Not that he needed it though; based on the live stream that I had been watching, he already had a massive audience in Vienna, cheering him on, from the sidelines.

Something truly special has happened

When the clock stopped, I tried to hold back tears of joy. History has just been made. I had just witnessed something truly special.

Kipchoge’s feat is easily the biggest achievement in world athletics since Bannister’s feat, 65 years ago.

Photo: Toni Reiter, Vienna

Not an official world record though

However, Kipchoge’s record run will not be seen as an official world record by the International Association of Athletics Federations, because of two reasons, firstly because it was not in a sanctioned competition and secondly, because groups of rotating pacemakers were used to help Kipchoge along.

But still, Kipchoge’s amazing feat definitely counts for something.

Photo: Toni Reiter, Vienna

Even though the official Guinness record still currently remains at 2 hours 1 minute 39 seconds, which was set at the Berlin Marathon 2018, I think that Kipchoge’s successful INEOS 1:59 attempt will definitely have an impact on upcoming marathons in the future. 

What this may mean for the future of marathon running

Now that it has been achieved, the two-hour mark will not be a mental barrier for the world’s best marathoners, and we will definitely see an official sub two hour marathon at a sanctioned race, in the next few years.

After all, ever since Kipchoge’s 02:01:39hr world record race at Berlin 2018, this record came close to tumbling down, just one year later, at Berlin 2019, when Kenenisa Bekele ran the race in 02:01:41hr, a mere two seconds shy of Kipchoge’s record.

I would advise you to keep a very close eye on either Berlin 2020 or 2021. 

Because I reckon that something special might just happen there.

Why am I singling out Berlin? This is because Berlin is, after all, the flattest and fastest official marathon running route, in the world – and this race never fails to attract the best runners each time.

However, whether the new official world record is set by Kipchoge, or by one of his Kenyan or Ethopian colleagues, I can’t say with certainty.

My money is on Kipchoge though, because of what he has achieved. 

And of course, no doubt, I think he would want to prove to the naysayers – who insist that the controlled environment and pacemakers played a huge part – that he can run an official sub two-hour marathon without the external help.