This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
On a historic day in Vienna, Austria, Eliud Kipchoge made headlines by becoming the first person to run a marathon under two hours. The Kenyan athlete achieved this feat during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge at Prater Park, clocking 1:59:40.
Assisted by 41 pacemakers, Kipchoge entered the Guinness Book of World Records for running the first sub two-hour marathon. However, his achievement will not be recognized by the world athletics governing body, IAAF, as the new world marathon record.
This was Kipchoge's second attempt at breaking the two-hour barrier, following his previous attempt in 2017 during the "Breaking2" event in Monza, Italy, where he timed 2:00:25.
During the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, the pacemakers were divided into groups of seven, with five running ahead of Kipchoge in a 'V' formation and two behind him to dictate the pace and protect him from the wind.
Ahead of the pack was a zero-emission Audi E-tron car, which beamed green laser lights onto the tarmac to guide the runners and maintain the agreed pace of two minutes and 50 seconds per kilometre.
