OT Eliud Kipchoge Ineos 159 Challenge

[Dasarbule]

Saturday October 12, 2019 Eliud Kipchoge will reattempt to run a sub 2 hour marathon in Vienna. Start is expected at 08:15 CEST.

Live stream here;

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrc3XCtBGtWErZUVVvn15jQ

For some background, here is a documentary detailing the first attempt 2 years ago;

https://youtu.be/3dJW47y5HIo

I can’t imagine the focus that is required to keep this pace. This man is something else.

[C40_guy]

With the new pacing strategy, I think he's going to be comfortably under the target. I'm calling it 1:59:30. :)

Which is just under my PR for half that distance!

[dustyrider]

It really is an amazing feat considering how close some have gotten in the past. I thought it was going to happen at the Berlin marathon just a few weeks ago, so you’d think he should nail it with the setup they’re using...but there is something about the sub 2 hour marathon that is elusive. I’m rooting for him and everyone who has worked so hard to even attempt such a thing!

[Dasarbule]

Wow. 1:59:40 and he could still run around draped in the flag afterwards. Amazing.

These two look like they are family

[duff_duffy]

That’s just one 4:33 mile followed by another, and another, and another, and another, and another...most of us could not keep up with him for even 1/4 mile!

[Louis]

That’s just one 4:33 mile followed by another, and another, and another, and another, and another...most of us could not keep up with him for even 1/4 mile!

What are you talking about? On a good day I can easily ride 13.2 mph... ;)

[GregL]

That’s just one 4:33 mile followed by another, and another, and another, and another, and another...most of us could not keep up with him for even 1/4 mile!
My high school’s mile record was 4:32. As a teenager, I looked at those numbers with awe and nearly passed out to get under 5:00. I can’t wrap my mind around that pace for a marathon!

Greg

[wc1934]

Amazing feat, but not an official record.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/12/sports/eliud-kipchoge-marathon-record.html

"Those pacemakers, wearing black jerseys and stern expressions, formed a protective, aerodynamic pocket around Kipchoge, five of them running in front in an open-V formation and two more in the back. They knew exactly where to run thanks to a pattern of thick, green laser beams projected onto the street by the timing car. At predetermined times, the seven pacemakers would make way for another group of seven to slide in and take over.

A team member on a bicycle periodically pedaled into the pack to deliver Kipchoge a carbohydrate-heavy cocktail of gels and fluids".

[Dasarbule]

I'm sure that a "natural" sub 2 marathon time will follow at some point, but this is an important step in that direction. This event should bring a lot of data points to the table in terms of what is required to produce a runner capable of accomplishing it.

[Climb01742]

My feelings are a little mixed. Mostly it's huge admiration. It's incredible what he did, physically and mentally. But a small part of me wants to wait and cheer him, or whoever, when they run a sub 2 in an open, sanctioned race. His 2:01 in Berlin is, maybe, a greater feat? Maybe it's the romantic in me but a big part of what I love about running is its simplicity and openness to the elements and fate. So 90% hooray and 10% for his 2:01 and the day he beats that on the roads.

[fiamme red]

His shoes gave him a bit of an advantage too: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/nike-zoomx-vaporfly-eliud-kipchoge-ineos-marathon-159-record-explained-a9153191.html.

[dustyrider]

Amazing feat, but not an official record.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/12/sports/eliud-kipchoge-marathon-record.html

"Those pacemakers, wearing black jerseys and stern expressions, formed a protective, aerodynamic pocket around Kipchoge, five of them running in front in an open-V formation and two more in the back. They knew exactly where to run thanks to a pattern of thick, green laser beams projected onto the street by the timing car. At predetermined times, the seven pacemakers would make way for another group of seven to slide in and take over.

A team member on a bicycle periodically pedaled into the pack to deliver Kipchoge a carbohydrate-heavy cocktail of gels and fluids".

Right! He already holds the world record.
This amazing feat might mean even more if you consider his motivations.

From the man himself:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=srVo49nKR0Q

In response to what his run means to the people of Kenya: “...do what’s required by a human being to do, and all of them can earn a good life, and together we can make the world a running world, and after making a running world you can make this world a beautiful word and peaceful world...”

What should the world remember about his run: “...the positivity of sport...make the sport a clean sport...make the sport an interesting sport whereby all human beings can run...”,“...together when we run we can make this world a beautiful world, you can kick away most of your decisions by just running...”

Dude is a rare bread, and I’m so glad there are people like him out there! I bet Brigid Kosgei with a 2:14:04 today in Chicago had a little extra in her kick.

[rwsaunders]

First autonomous cars and now autonomous running.