Keeping the pace: How Eliud Kipchoge ran a sub-2-hour marathon

On October 12, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge did what most runners thought to be impossible: running a sub-2-hour marathon. This historic run was made during a marathon in Austria with a record of 1:59:40.2, the fastest record today. According to Steven Rindner, while the feat in itself was inhuman, there are those who insist that this was not a world record.

Image source: nbcnews.com

Image source: irishtimes.com

The 34-year-old Kenyan runner made the record thanks to an entire team of rotating pace setters, a car that used laser guidance system that indicated the best place to run in the road. According to some professionals, these are advantages that a regular marathon runner would not have. During the run, Kipchoge ran a kilometer for every 2:48 – 2:52.

Kipchoge did not simply breeze through the 26 miles as he felt the pressure of his run. Supported by fans all over the world, even receiving a call from the president of Kenya before the race, Kipchoge brushed aside his pacemakers in what he calls the toughest race of his life.

In 2018, Kipchoge made his best record at the time in Germany, finishing at 2:01:39. The next closest record belonged to Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia back in 2008 with a record of 2:03:59.

According to Steven Rindner, the use of technological advancement in sports cannot be avoided. Even if the use of these luxuries disqualifies Kipchoge from any record, it was still his own two feet that crossed the finish line with a record the world will not forget.

A graduate of the University of Delaware and St. John’s University School of Law, Steven Rindnerhas served in various companies across different industries. He is also a fan of marathon running. To know more about Mr. Rindner, visit this website.

Marathon 101: Setting a winning pace

Eliud Kipchoge’s spectacular sub-2 marathon stunned the world. It was one of the most incredible, if not, the most incredible track and field feat ever achieved in history. And while some people may argue its legitimacy with all the technicalities involved, Steven Rindner believes that at the core of Kipchoge’s run was a pace unlike any other before it.

Image source: athleticsweekly.com

Image source: yahoo.com

Completing the marathon in itself is already a feat that not too many people can boast of. To do it in under two hours is something beyond most people’s wildest dreams.

While Steven Rindner explains that Kipchoge’s record may stand for decades to come, runners may still learn a lot from it. As mentioned earlier, one of the main factors in Kipchoge’s epic run was his pace.

But how can a person increase his pace for a run?

Steven Rindner notes that pacing while running is as much mental as it is physical. First, people have to establish a steady rhythm in their heads while running. That consistent beat allows a person to cover vast distances without pushing himself.

Next up, and this is important, especially during races, runners shouldn’t increase their pace during the first half. The early part of the race should be covered through a relaxed speed. When they reach the halfway point or even ¾ for some, that’s when they should run faster.

Read more tips on marathon training by checking out this Steven Rindner blog.