LONDON — Most people said it couldn't be done and the record books say it hasn't been, but for the thousands watching in Vienna and millions more online, Eliud Kipchoge unquestionably this year became the first human to run a marathon in under two hours. When the peerless Kenyan unleashed a final kick to charge through the tape in one hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds in the specially set-up event in October, the sporting world reeled at not only that such a notable barrier could be broken, but destroyed - and seemingly with ease. It did not count as an official world record due to the use of "in and out" pacers and a moving drinks provider, yet probably the greatest aid of all - the latest version of Nike's Vaporfly shoes - were entirely legal. Anyone still unsure how much the combination of carbon plates and super-compressed foam was the x-factor that enabled Kipchoge to reach such levels, would have been convinced 24 hours later when Brigid Kosgei used Vaporfly trainers to smash the women's marathon record.

Source: International New York Times December 16, 2019 09:56 UTC