This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
On October 12, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge made history by becoming the first person to run a marathon under two hours, achieving a time of 1:59:40 during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge at Prater Park in Vienna, Austria.
Assisted by 41 pacemakers, Kipchoge's feat earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, although the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) does not recognize it as a new world marathon record.
His achievement marked a significant improvement from his previous attempt in 2017, where he fell short by 26 seconds during the "Breaking2" event in Monza, Italy, with a time of 2:00:25.
During the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, the pacemakers were strategically positioned to dictate the pace for Kipchoge, with five runners ahead of him in a 'V' formation and two behind to protect him from the wind.
Ahead of the pack, a zero-emission Audi E-tron car guided the runners with green laser lights, maintaining a steady pace of two minutes and 50 seconds per kilometre.
With each runner equipped with a chip in their shoe and a backup car at the ready, the organizers ensured a precise pace was maintained throughout the event.
