The incredible science behind Eliud Kipchoge's 1:59 marathon

[crimsonaudio]

Absolutely amazing!

Before we get into what helped Kipchoge cross the line in 1:59:40, it's worth pausing and considering how ridiculously quick this is. To break it down, it's under a 2:50 min/km pace for 42 kilometres or around 4:34.5 per mile for each of the 26 miles. Each of Kipchoge's kilometres were between 2:48min/km and 2:52min/km – meaning at no point did he fall behind the target 1:59:59 pace. Those figures might not mean much when they're viewed on their own but when compared to regular humans, they're ridiculous.

According to Runners World, the average 5km finish time in the UK (an equivalent distance to a Parkrun) is 33 minutes and 54 seconds. For men it is 29:08 and women 38:12. Completing a marathon in less than two hours required Kipchoge to run 5km in 14:13, eight times in a row.

Equally, the 10,000m (10km) male world record sits at shade over 26:17 and Kipchoge had to repeatedly run 28:26. A 1:59:59 marathon is the equivalent of running 100m sprints in just over 17 seconds – 422 times in a row.

The incredible science behind Eliud Kipchoge's 1:59 marathon

 

[mrusso]

I'm a runner I run and I can't imagine keeping that pace for 1 mile, much less 26. Of course I'm a lot older, but my best 5K was roughly an 8:10 pace about a year ago. Best mile I've done was maybe 7:00'ish. But I'm not in it for the speed. What he did is nothing short of amazing.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I'm a runner I run and I can't imagine keeping that pace for 1 mile, much less 26. Of course I'm a lot older, but my best 5K was roughly an 8:10 pace about a year ago. Best mile I've done was maybe 7:00'ish. But I'm not in it for the speed. What he did is nothing short of amazing.

I mean, it's averaging >13mph for two straight hours!

 

[Crimson1967]

I remember when he did this. It caused a bit of controversy in the running world due to the way it was set up and it wasn't a "real" marathon.

While it was rigged to an extent and wasn't an official world record, he still ran 26 miles 385 yards in under two hours. Amazing.

 

[JDCrimson]

I was in grad school and in a regimen of running. I would routinely run 3-4 miles in 30-35 minutes. Fastest mile I ever remember running was 6:02.

But on an afternoon when it was around 98 degrees, I went for a run, felt good, and ended running 4 miles in 26 minutes. I have never been able to do that again...

 

[crimsonaudio]

While it was rigged to an extent and wasn't an official world record, he still ran 26 miles 385 yards in under two hours. Amazing.

Yup. And a sub-two-hour official race will happen eventually.

 

[Crimson1967]

Yup. And a sub-two-hour official race will happen eventually.

The record is 2:01.39. So it's not like this cut ten seconds off.

 

[crimsonaudio]

The record is 2:01.39. So it's not like this cut ten seconds off.

I'm aware, but it will fall. Sub two-hour is 'only' 1.1% faster...

 

[Crimson1967]

I agree. Natural human progression.

 

[Crimson1967]

I was watching Vin Scully's call of Kirk Gibson's home run and I said that's how I look when I run.