Eliud Kipchoge reflects on the secrets behind his historic sub-two-hour marathon in Vienna, sharing key moments from the race that made history.
Five years ago, Kipchoge became the first person to break the two-hour marathon barrier during the Ineos 1:59 Challenge, finishing the 26.2-mile race in 1:59:40, a feat previously thought to be impossible.
Though the time wasn’t officially recognized as a world record due to the use of pacemakers and specialized shoes, it remains one of the most remarkable moments in athletics. Reflecting on his achievement, Kipchoge shared insights into the day watched by millions around the globe.
His earlier attempt in 2017, when he finished just shy of the mark in 2:00:25 at Monza, Italy, motivated him to push harder. This time, every detail was meticulously planned, with pacemakers and a pacing car helping him maintain a pace under two hours.
“It was hard actually in training, especially with a man, knowing that I’m going to try to do something more, but nobody has done it,” Kipchoge said in an interview with INEOS.
“But all in all, I consumed the whole that required positive life and move on to training, trying to do training every day, not missing even one.”
Despite his rigorous preparation, Kipchoge admitted that the final hours before the race were filled with tension and sleeplessness.
“On the warm-up day actually, it was a difficult day because it was going very fast. I tried to jump into the bed on a cold room, just relax and sleep. And no sleep, but I feel like I’m tired,” he recalled.
In an effort to calm himself, he took a morning jog, but doubts crept in as he thought about what could go wrong.
“The mind was thinking about what will happen on the 5K, 10K. Will I drop? What will the world actually see? Will the world say actually, breaking through us will be more harder if I drop?”
However, as soon as the race began, the tension dissipated.
“I had a lot of tension actually in the starting line. And you know, with the commentator announcing, the press makers announcing my name,” Kipchoge remembered. “Well, this could be the most famous Saturday run the world has ever seen. And you know the can went off and that’s where the tension actually got away.”
By the halfway mark, Kipchoge felt confident. “At the halfway I was really happy. I had a lot of energy. At the fight at the 5-o-clock I was sure enough that I would make it,” he said.
As he approached 35 kilometers, he knew he was on the verge of history. Crossing the finish line was a moment of triumph.
“At the finishing line actually it was a wonderful day that I crossed the finishing line knowing that I have made history which nobody has done,” Kipchoge said with pride.
His family, team, and sponsors were waiting just meters away to celebrate with him. “Few meters from the finishing line was actually my family, the whole team of management, the sponsor, the team at Cliff for Minions, and everybody was there to really hug and say congratulations,” he added.
Kipchoge’s monumental achievement was the result of years of dedication and training, and five years later, the memories remain as vivid as ever. His performance continues to inspire future generations of runners.
