This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
On October 12, world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge will attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna. This will be his second attempt at achieving this feat, following his previous attempt at the Nike 'Breaking2' project on May 6, 2017, at the Monza Formula 1 racetrack near Milan, Italy.
According to Kipchoge, his training pattern ahead of the challenge is similar to his previous attempt, with some minor adjustments. He has been reading the book '11 Life Lessons from Nelson Mandela' by Ndaba Mandela to help him get into the right mindset for the challenge.
At the Isuzu East Africa offices in Nairobi on Wednesday, Kipchoge expressed his confidence in his ability to break the two-hour barrier. He noted that his training has been normal, but he now knows what to do in Vienna after his experience in Monza. Kipchoge also emphasized the importance of having a strong mind in achieving his goal.
Isuzu East Africa, Kipchoge's vehicle manufacturing partner, has offered him an Isuzu single cabin pick-up worth Sh 4.1 million if he breaks the two-hour barrier. This is a follow-up to their previous promise of presenting Kipchoge with an Isuzu double cabin worth Sh 5.9 million after he set a new world marathon record in Berlin in 2:01:39 on September 16, 2017.
Kipchoge's mission in Vienna is not just about breaking the two-hour barrier, but also about inspiring a generation and telling the story that no human being is limited. He wants to inspire people from different professions, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, doctors, and engineers, to strive for more and make a positive impact on society.
