On Saturday, October 12, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge became the first person ever to run a marathon in under two hours, a staggering achievement in athletics and human performance. Dr. Michael Joyner, an exercise physiologist at the Mayo Clinic, first predicted it might be possible in a paper he wrote in 1991. WIRED’s Robbie Gonzalez has been following Kipchoge’s attempts for years, and spoke with Joyner about how Kipchoge finally made it happen.
Check out WIRED’s previous coverage of Kipchoge’s quest to break the two hour barrier:
Kipchoge’s 2017 Sub-2 attempt:
Post-race analysis of Kipchoge’s first sub-2 attempt
WIRED’s running club tries to run at Eliud Kipchoge’s pace:
The science behind Kipchoge’s controversial shoes:
Also, check out the free WIRED channel on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV. Here you can find your favorite WIRED shows and new episodes of our latest hit series Tradecraft.
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How the Two-Hour Marathon Limit Was Broken | WIRED
WIRED
October 15, 2019 at 4:58 am
Follow more of Robbie’s reporting on Eliud Kipchoge at WIRED.com:
And check out our video about his 2017 attempt here:
Paulo Figueiredo
October 16, 2019 at 1:55 am
He did it all on a plant based diet 🌱:
2010Bangie
October 16, 2019 at 9:46 am
Robbie sucks a bit. He talked about shoes for the whole 13 minutes, and forgets the number of athletes who were tested before breaking bad, his diet his training – until minute 12.
And it is a World Record. A sub par interview and analysis. Wasted time and didn’t even go into the entire 4 year journey to this
Tom Goldenheart
October 16, 2019 at 5:31 pm
@2010Bangie This is not a World Record.
nick j
October 16, 2019 at 9:07 pm
so didnt everyone that finished behind him also complete a marathon in under 2 hours?
Sam m
October 17, 2019 at 9:01 pm
The dumbass guy on the interview must just be jealous. Robbie who?
Master T New Age Bodybuilding
October 20, 2019 at 7:08 pm
And enhanced performance drugs!! E.g EPO! For one ..😉💪😂
Joannes Kugler
October 20, 2019 at 8:35 pm
This is a rip off of mike Boyd video disgusting
Chef Pizza
October 21, 2019 at 1:46 am
Buy
those same shoe and see if anyone can run that fast.
Charles Miller
October 21, 2019 at 3:34 am
I don’t recall Roger Bannister drafting behind a car and five runners, on a track or with shoes let alone real-time hydration monitoring, just a small part of the whole team supporting him in his record attempt. Which come to think of it wasn’t even an attempt, but just another race. But oh well. Even aided, still pretty fast.
johy2007
October 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Spring shoes.
robertorolfo
October 21, 2019 at 8:41 pm
Dope?
Dan Odden
October 21, 2019 at 10:14 pm
WIRED: “a SuB 2 HoUr MaRaThOn IsN’T PoSsIbLe.”
WIRED, two years later:
Joel Rodely
October 21, 2019 at 11:18 pm
Those are some BS reasons why it’s not World Record eligible…guy runs a marathon in under two hours…”YEAHHH but his buddies didn’t run with him the whole time…”
Collin yan
October 22, 2019 at 6:02 am
People be hating on him for the pacers and shoes while im here like give me all the shoes and pacers you want and I wont be able to run a 7 minute mile. this dude is amazing i cant even run 100m at the pace he ran a freaking marathon
Money Kev
October 22, 2019 at 9:20 am
Lemme see any of you run a 2 hour marathon with literally any type of shoes of your choice 🙄😂 respect the man, he put his blood sweat and tears into what he loves and he achieved one of the biggest feats in running history. He has my respect.
marvellous sitamulaho
October 22, 2019 at 10:09 am
There is no “controversy” here…give me the same shoes and I will still complete the marathon after 6hours
искусство
October 22, 2019 at 1:58 pm
The sub 1:40 800m and the sub 19 200m are the last great running barriers left
John Senior
October 22, 2019 at 4:04 pm
Let’s be clear. Roger Bannister ran in an actual race on a cinder track using the same kit as everyone else. He had pacers but only his friends. This wasn’t an actual Marathon race or actual Marathon course – it was basically Zwift in the real world. Amazing – yes. Comparable to Bannister – only if you drink the Ineos/ Nike koolaid. His actual Marathon world record is only 1.30 slower- in an actual race which is way more impressive to me.
Jose Mendez
October 22, 2019 at 5:15 pm
Y’all hating
brother Edward
October 22, 2019 at 5:16 pm
Very interesting segment!
ronniemercury
October 22, 2019 at 6:37 pm
his shoes were not legal.
ronniemercury
October 22, 2019 at 6:38 pm
Bet on it that he is doping.
WASAFI THE STORYBOOK
October 22, 2019 at 7:27 pm
Where are Africans
R.A.D Gaming
October 22, 2019 at 8:37 pm
The pacers were with him the whole time too so they also ran a sub 2 hr marathon props to them and kipchoge
Kidslovef1
October 23, 2019 at 7:10 am
No they switched the pacers, they didn’t run the entire marathon with him!
R.A.D Gaming
October 25, 2019 at 1:50 am
Kidslovef1 oh I didn’t know that thank you
Username369
October 22, 2019 at 9:16 pm
This is insane. He looks so chill. That pace would kill me. Instantly. Haha.
TheRealGh0stz Games
October 23, 2019 at 7:32 am
Mike boyds video on this is far better
F Scott
October 23, 2019 at 11:40 am
Please explain how shoes can be controversial which I assume is means cheating?
Xiad Xiad
October 23, 2019 at 1:31 pm
He doesn’t look tired.This is a superhuman
Xiad Xiad
October 23, 2019 at 1:38 pm
Can someone explain to me, why is reducing 2 minutes of your running time is touted as a historical feat.Don’t get me wrong,Kipchoge is a legendary athlete no doubt but he also ran a marathon in 2 hours and 2 minutes.So when he finally made it in almost 2 hours it became an incredible feat?It was just a 2 minute difference!!
Tam Nguyen
October 23, 2019 at 9:46 pm
Thanks Kipchoge, for being the reason why I will not get my kid a car. 🙂
majirafiki
October 24, 2019 at 5:09 am
Haters gonna hate *shrugs
Jung Raphael
October 25, 2019 at 3:20 pm
I’ve seen the documentary where he tried the 2 hour barrier and barely failed, and it was a HUGE success for me already. So happy to hear that he got the 2 hour mark. I also give kudos to the other players who were training with Mr Kipchoge (forgot their names though), too. No matter the technology, the athletes are the source of the inspirations.