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INSIDE This Issue
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Transformation in the Past Decade
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Helping Your Kids Make New Year’s Resolutions
Jena Vasquez’ Story Easy Tomato Soup
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Set Your Mind to Your Goals
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The Last Frontier of Distance Running
The Last Frontier of Distance Running HOW ELIUD KIPCHOGE RAN A SUB-TWO-HOUR MARATHON
On Oct. 12, 2019, one man did what distance runners the world over thought was impossible. Eliud Kipchoge, an eight-time major marathon winner and three-time Olympic medalist, became the first person in the world to run a sub-two-hour marathon. That means running 26 miles at 4 1/2 minutes per mile! Though Kipchoge’s marathon last year pushed the boundaries of athletic achievements, a few key elements made his sub-two-hour time possible — and disqualified his marathon from world-record consideration. The Course Kipchoge ran the marathon on a course in Vienna that was mostly a straight line with some gradual turns at each end. It was also completely flat and at sea level, where oxygen levels are higher. That said, Kipchoge’s marathon course broke regulations because it was an exhibition run staged just for him to try and break the two-hour barrier. Apart from his pacers, he was the only runner. He also did not have to stop at any water stations — cyclists rode alongside him to periodically hand him water so he wouldn’t have to slow down. The Pacers In a regulation marathon, pacers can only run with marathon participants during the first part of the race. But
in order to help Kipchoge secure his desired time, different groups of pacers phased in and out of the marathon, running with Kipchoge the whole way. The pacers’ formation also protected Kipchoge from wind resistance and helped him conserve energy. The Shoes Kipchoge’s shoes had a carbon-plated midsole, which is thought to make runners more energy efficient. And while it’s not certain just how much the specialized shoes affected his time, it does raise important questions about “technological doping,” a term used when certain sportswear or instruments give athletes an unfair advantage in competitions. Even though Kipchoge’s marathon in Vienna might not qualify as a world record, his exhibition race is still a groundbreaking athletic achievement. His performance shows that, even if it hasn’t been officially done yet, a sub-two-hour marathon on a regulation course might not be too far down the road.
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