This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
On October 7, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge, the world marathon record holder, was set to attempt to break the 2-hour marathon barrier in Vienna, Austria. This feat has been a topic of discussion for a while, with many athletes and fans eager to see if it's possible.
According to reports, Kipchoge will be using special shoes by Nike, specifically the Vaporfly 4% shoes, which are engineered to make athletes 4% faster. These shoes have been a topic of controversy in the past, but Kipchoge is confident that they will help him achieve his goal.
On Sunday, a special mass was held at the St Paul's University Catholic Parish for Kipchoge and his quest to break the 2-hour marathon barrier. The church's choir was dressed in unique, black, INEOS 1:59 branded polo shirts, showing their support for the Kenyan marathoner.
Kipchoge will be attempting to finish the race in under 2 hours with the help of 41 pacesetters. 10 athletes among those Kipchoge chose participated in the recently ended World Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar. The pacesetters include Ethiopia's Selemon Barega, who won the 5,000 meters silver medal on Monday, and Uganda's Ronald Musagala, the two-time Diamond League 1,500m winner in 2019.
For Kipchoge, the INEOS 1:59 is more than just breaking the record. He hopes it will bring some change to the World and inspire others through it. His message to the World has been that 'No human is limited' and he hopes to prove this to the World by achieving the INEOS 1:59.
On October 12-20, Kipchoge is expected to attempt the sub-two-hour marathon between, depending on weather conditions. This is the second time that Kipchoge will be attempting to finish a marathon in under 2 hours after his first in 2017. Kipchoge ran the 42Km in 2:0025 on May 6, 2017, and will hope to shave off 26 seconds to dip under the landmark two-hour barrier.
