Just over a week ago, the Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum set a new world record in the Chicago Marathon. He completed the 26 miles and 385 yard distance in 2 hours and 35 seconds (2:00:35). The previous world record was set in 2022 by Eliud Kipchoge with a time of 2:01:09.
It may not seem like much of a difference, but Mr. Kiptum’s performance is a significant improvement over the previous record and makes it more likely that a runner will complete a marathon in under two hours in the near future. For distance runners and sports scientists, a sub two-hour marathon is a bit like the four-minute mile once was—an arbitrary, but significant, goal.
This is the topic of my Health & Fitness column in the Aiken Standard this week.
Let’s put Mr. Kiptum’s performance in perspective. He sustained an average pace of 4:36 per mile at a running speed of over 13 miles per hour for just over two hours. Most runners I know would be hard pressed to complete just the final 385 yards at that pace…forget about the 26 miles that came before it! It is also more than twice as fast as the average marathon time of over 4 hours. If you are brave, you can experience how fast this is yourself by getting on a treadmill and cranking the speed up to 13 miles per hour. Hang on, though, because you won’t last long!
Mr. Kiptum is an exceptional distance runner. This is due partly to the fact that he has been running his whole life and he has dedicated years to marathon training. Because of the success of other Kenyan runners, he also benefitted from a culture of competitive running and access to the best coaches, trainers, and nutritionists. Ultimately, though, Mr. Kiptum’s record-breaking marathon performance is due to his dedication to physical and mental preparation.
Recent advances in sports science and running technology also helps elite runners like Mr. Kiptum. The shoes he and other runners use were designed by Nike to be exceptionally light and provide extra recoil to propel them forward. The weather was ideal for distance running, too. The temperatures were in the high 40s and low 50s with moderate humidity and light wind. These conditions make it easier for runners to stay cool and reduce the amount of water they need to drink to replace sweat loss.
As remarkable as Mr. Kiptum’s performance was, it is not the fastest anyone has completed a marathon. In 2019 Eliud Kipchoge ran a marathon in under two hours—1:59:40, to be exact. This was the first time a runner has completed the marathon distance in under two hours.
During that race, a group of runners ran in front of Mr. Kipchoge so he could draft behind them, much like race cars do. These runners also acted as pacers, keeping him at the right speed to break the record. There was even a pace car that projected a laser line on the road for the runners to follow. In all, it was a perfect scenario to run a sub-two-hour marathon. However, because of the pacing strategy used, this run is not considered a world record.
Marathon performances like Mr. Kiptum’s world record highlight the sports science, technology, and training advances that are currently being used by elite athletes. Most important, though, are the physiological adaptations that result from years of dedicated training. While you may be tempted to purchase the latest model of running shoe, the best way to prepare for your next race is to put in the necessary time training.
Dr Parr Says... 