Eliud Kipchoge is getting closer and closer to lowering the two-hour marathon threshold in an official race. This Sunday, he took 30 seconds off the world record he already held by completing the Berlin Marathon in two hours, one minute and nine seconds (2:01:09). Kenyan Mark Korir finished second behind his compatriot with a time of 2:05:58, while Ethiopian Tadu Abate was third with 2:06:28.
The women’s race was also very strong. Tigist Assefa won his second marathon to set the third fastest time in history (2:15:37), behind only Kenya’s Kosgei and Britain’s Paula Radcliffe. Kenyan Rosemary Wanjiru was second and Ethiopian Tigist Abayechew third.
The men’s race went well for Kipchoge. He eventually confessed to being “packed up”, but some experts believe the world record was plan B, after a strategic error that made it impossible for him to complete the 42.2km under the mythical 2-hour barrier. Will it be? “My legs were very fast and I wanted to try and beat the two hours. I knew I was able to beat the world record and from 38 km I realized it was possible. I’m happy with the race,” admitted the 37 year old Kenyan.
On the roads of Berlin, which have set eight world records since 2003, the Ethiopians Guye Adola and Andamlak Belihu were the only ones fighting, but they only kept the Kenyan’s pace until the 10km, when they all went in 28:3, below the world record. From there, Adola gave in, but Belihu still struggled until the 25km, when the 37-year-old Kenyan started to leave the Ethiopian behind. With 15 km from the end he was a minute faster than his best mark, but physically broke 2 km from the finish line and the two-hour barrier became a mirage, crossing the finish line after 2:01:09 and setting a new world record.
In the end, he still had the energy to punch the air and hug his trainer, Patrick Sang. It was the 2nd win of the year for the greatest marathoner in history (he had won in Tokyo in March) and the fourth in Berlin, along with Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie, who won the event from 2006 to 2009.
The Kenyan has an unparalleled marathon record. He spent ten years breaking records in the 1500m, 5000m (he was Olympic champion in 2008) until he qualified for long distances. He made his debut in the Lille Half Marathon in 2012 and after a few months he won the Barcelona Half Marathon, before moving to 42.2 km. It was in April 2013 at the Hamburg Marathon that he won with a time of 2:05:30, a German course record that stands to this day. The first of 15 (out of 17) marathons he won, including the two that earned him Olympic gold (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020).
At the age of 37 (born in Kapsisiywa, on 5/12/1984), the Kenyan guarantees that “the mind is good and the body still takes up the training and competitions” and that is why he is already pointing to Paris 2024, when will almost 40 be years old. “I always say I don’t believe in boundaries, I know what boundaries are, but for me no one has boundaries.”
The unrecognized record
Running the marathon in less than two hours remains a goal for Kipchoge. He has already achieved it, but the figure was not taken into consideration because it was made at an unofficial event and under favorable terms.
The so-called INEOS Challenge took place in Vienna in 2019, with the world and Olympic champion doing the race in 1:59:40 hours and showing that it was (and is) possible to finish 42.2 km in less than two hours to lay. “I run to prove there is no limit to the human race. I am very happy that I went down in history. I hope that after today more people can complete a marathon in less than two hours.”
Kipchoge lives and trains in a modest Kenyan sports center – the Global Sports Communication – in Kaptagat, 2,500 meters above sea level, home to some of the best long-distance athletes. In addition to Kipchoge, there are the cases of Moses Tanui and Brimin Kipruto.
The Olympic champion spends eight months of the year there, where the track is dirty and has holes, where there are no fancy gym machines, where cows graze and chickens are everywhere, where everyone makes their own bed and where there are cleaning services from the bathhouses. Because Kipchoge may be an athletic millionaire, but also the champion of humility.
Source: DN
