![]() Like the 2017 exhibition, his time won’t count as a world record, because organizers pulled out all the stops to make the monumental result possible-some of those efforts make it ineligible, which have turned sport purists off to the experiment. It started raining around the halfway point, though the temperature was around 49 degrees Fahrenheit with barely a breeze. Mother Nature defied their predictions though-the race began in foggy conditions with about 90 percent humidity. The “Performance and Meteorology” teams advised on the best date and start time based on predictions for optimal weather-between 41 and 48 Fahrenheit, low humidity, and little wind. “I just have to make that click in people’s minds that no human is limited.” Photo: Thomas Lovelock for The INEOS 1:59 ChallengeĮliud Kipchoge celebrates as he crosses finish line and makes history to become the first human being to run a marathon in under 2 hours. Along the way, he tries to encourage fans of all ages to dream big. Over the years, he’s become an extreme fan favorite around the world, not just for his extraordinary athletic talent, but for his warm personality, infectious smile, and his Zen-like approach to running. ![]() In the days leading up to the event, Kipchoge compared the breakthrough to the moon landing. ![]() He’s also the 2016 Olympic champion and has eight World Marathon Majors titles between London, Berlin, and Chicago. Since then the 34-year-old Kenyan set the world record of 2:01:39 at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. During a similar Nike-backed experiment in 2017 at a racetrack in Monza, Italy, he came close, clocking 2:00:25. ![]() It was Kipchoge’s second attempt at breaking the two-hour barrier for 26.2 miles. The time trial was dubbed the 1:59 Challenge and sponsored by Ineous, a chemical company based in the U.K. “His running is a gift to all of us,” Shalane Flanagan said, on the broadcast. He finished in 1:59:40, averaging just faster than 4:34 per mile in a pursuit that was as much about making history as it was to inspire humankind to reach beyond expectations. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!Įliud Kipchoge raced up and down a flat, straight, tree-lined avenue in the heart of Vienna 4.4 times on Saturday to become the first person ever to break two hours in a marathon.
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