Kipchoge to attempt sub-2 marathon again

Eliud Kipchoge has announced that he will participate in the Ineos 1:59 challenge later this year. The runner announced the record attempt on the 65th anniversary of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile mark.

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Two years ago in Monza the world got to 26 seconds from breaking the last milestone in athletics. This fall I want to break this barrier.

Follow the journey on @INEOS159 as I attempt to rewrite history. #INEOS159 pic.twitter.com/iwULnonuGQ

— Eliud Kipchoge – EGH?? (@EliudKipchoge) May 5, 2019

Kipchoge is being backed by Ineos, a chemical firm owned by Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Kipchoge attempted to break the two hour barrier in the spring of 2017 when he ran 2:00:25 during the Nike Breaking2 project on a Formula 1 track. That time didn’t count as a world record as it wasn’t a record eligible course, but his 2:01:37 from Berlin 2018 did. After being so close two years in a row, Kipchoge has been given the green light to attempt breaking the barrier a third time.

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Back in 1991, Dr. Michael Joyner, the first expert to contemplate this concept, suggested that a sub-two marathon would eventually happen. He imagined it would be gradual, and that it would take many years, but he did calculate that it was humanly possible.

At this moment, there’s no better person to push the limits of marathoning potential than Eliud Kipchoge. More details on exact date and location to come.

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