Record-Breaking Marathon
posted by Joshua Dungee | November 21, 2019 | In SportsOn October 12, 2019, in Vienna, Austria, Eliud Kipchoge became the first person to ever run a marathon, 26.2 miles, in under two hours.
After finishing in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds and breaking the record he told TIME Magazine: “From the first kilometer to the last kilometer, I knew I had it.”
Though he technically ran an unofficial race and his time is not an official world record due to the conditions, he is already an Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder and said this race was more for inspiration rather than documentation. Thousands of fans and supporters still came to cheer Kipchoge on as he broke this 2-hour barrier along with the millions of people who saw it on television and read about it. It may not be an official world record, but it will definitely be remembered for many years to come.
Kipchoge worked alongside INEOS, a British petrochemicals company, who helped adjust the whole run for speed. The course was very flat, and the weather was just right for this race for majority of the race. He was shielded from the wind by large trees. He also had a team of over 40 pacesetters that consisted of some of the best runners in the world. Pacesetters are runners who not only set the pace of the race but help runners to control their running, in Kipchoge case, there were 5 runners who ran in a V-shape in front of him and two who ran behind him on either side to reduce drag.
As Kipchoge got closer to the finish line, he began to joyfully point at the crowd and smile as he knew he had done it. He crossed the line and keep running straight to his wife who embraced him with a huge hug.
“I’m sending a message to every individual in this world,” said Kipchoge according to TIME, “that when you work hard, when you actually concentrate, when you set your priorities high, when you actually set your goals, and put them in your heart and in your mind, you will accomplish, without any question.”
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