Eliud Kipchoge becomes first person to run marathon in less than 2 hours

NY Post ^ | October 12, 2019 | AP

[oh8eleven]

Eliud Kipchoge has become the first athlete to run a marathon in less than two hours, although it will not count as a world record.

Kipchoge was supported by 36 pacemakers who accompanied him in alternating groups, one of the reasons the IAAF will not ratify the time as a world record.

[oh8eleven]

Kipchoge averaged 4:33.5 minutes per mile which is truly amazing when you think how long it took a human to break the 4 minute mile.

[Mathews]

Pacemakers or not, dude ran it in Under two hours.

[Jonty30]

I agree. As long as he did not cheat through drugs or shortcuts, it should be recognized.

[Meatspace]

A feat of feet that they said would never be broken.

[vespa300]

So basically, he runs 26 miles at a faster pace than I can run a sprint. Unreal.

[Tijeras_Slim]

If I tried this, I’d need 36 pacemakers before it was done too. ;)

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

absolutely an amazing feat.

[oh8eleven]

he runs 26 miles at a faster pace than I can run a sprint
Amazing isn't it? I was at the 1980 Olympic Marathon trials and saw the runners close up three different times.
I was just stunned at not only how fast they were running, but also how quiet they were.
Literally, they ran by just like a gust of wind.

[hanamizu]

And that first 4-minute mile also was achieved with pacemakers.

[twister881]

Average per mile pace of 4:33.5 for 26.2 miles is ridiculous. In my prime, personal best was 5:03 for *one* mile.

One thing not mentioned and likely not done for this unofficial event was a drug test. African runners are notorious and prolific PED and blood doping abusers. Kipchoge is an international superstar of distance running, but I don’t think the superhuman times he’s run have come naturally.

[Spruce]

Why is having others running with you (pacemakers) considered unofficial? I know nothing about running.

[ctdonath2]

The pacemakers show him how fast he needs to run to reach that goal. Thing is, they can’t keep up that pace, so they switch off often - hence 36 of them.

[Tea Party Terrorist]

Drafting?

[taxcontrol]

LOL, I was thinking the same thing!

[Chode]

hell make that 37, cause i'd need this one after i was done...

[utax]

“Kipchoge was supported by 36 pacemakers”

He’s a fantastic runner but that’s ridiculous. Same with the elite women surrounded by a pack of male pacers.

[morphing libertarian]

must have big chest with all those pacemakers.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

From Runner's World:

Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I’m just going to be happy for him for the time being. If he turns out to be another Lance Armstrong dirtbag, that would be a shame.

[oh8eleven]

Thx ...