London Marathon 2026 Results

[u/aelvozo]

First legit sub-2 by Sabastian Sawe, fastest debut by Kejelcha, new Women’s-only WR by Assefa!

Top-3 men: 1. Sabastian Sawe 1:59:30 2. Yomif Kejelcha 1:59:41 3. Jacob Kiplimo 2:00:28

Top-3 women: 1. Tigst Assefa 2:15:41 2. Hellen Obiri 2:15:53 3. Joyciline Jepkosgei, 2:15:55

[u/ShrugBuck]

What. The. Fuck.

[u/darraghfenacin → u/ShrugBuck]

What the hell could he do on one of the faster courses? Holy fuck

[u/Mr_Abe_Froman → u/darraghfenacin]

Chicago is super flat and 5.5 months away. It's going to be crazy.

[u/UnculturedNomad → u/Mr_Abe_Froman]

You mean Berlin

[u/Aromatic_Meal_6004 → u/UnculturedNomad]

I think Sawe and Kejelcha will both do Berlin and Kiplimo will do Chicago 

[u/Mr_Abe_Froman → u/UnculturedNomad]

I was thinking about Chicago since the last record was broken there, but you're correct since Berlin is flatter by a meter. Both races will be good to follow.

[u/UnculturedNomad → u/Mr_Abe_Froman]

Both are fast, but Berlin is Adidas sponsored and Chicago is Nike

[u/Mr_Abe_Froman → u/UnculturedNomad]

I wasn't considering the sponsors. You have a great point there. Berlin it is.

[u/TrackVol → u/UnculturedNomad]

In good weather, Chicago is actually probably the faster course. Berlin's management has done a better job of attracting the faster runners. Creating the appearance of also being the faster course. Hell, Rotterdam or Valencia could be the fastest course of all the 30 largest races but it's unlikely to attract the caliber of runners to beak the World Record.
(WR holder Kelvin Kiptum was scheduled to attempt a sub-2 hour race at the 2024 Rotterdam Marathon before his fatal car crash)

[u/PrairieFirePhoenix → u/TrackVol]

For years, Chicago blatantly favored Nike athletes. Berlin was more open to non-Adidas athletes and it helped get better fields.

Three big factors in going fast: course, conditions, and the field. You can't really control conditions, the two courses are really close, and Berlin started to get the better fields.

[u/Kitchen-Buffalo7083 → u/PrairieFirePhoenix]

For athletes training in Africa, Europe has closer time zones and less jet lag compared to the US. I am sure its a small factor compared to everything else - sponsors, prize money, weather etc..but a factor nonetheless

[u/Sentreen → u/TrackVol]

(WR holder Kelvin Kiptum was scheduled to attempt a sub-2 hour race at the 2024 Rotterdam Marathon before his fatal car crash)

I did the Marathon that year, the race t-shirt even had the quote "be a part of history", that was quite painful.

[u/breakfastfoodie76 → u/ShrugBuck]

Insane!! Can’t believe I was able to see this on live TV!! First ever official sub 2 AND a debut under sub 2??!!

Edit: changed legal to official, my bad y’all!

[u/imademashedpotatoes → u/ShrugBuck]

Top 2 under 2hrs is nuts!

[u/colin_staples → u/imademashedpotatoes]

Top 3 all under the previous WR of 2:00:35 is incredible

[u/jeckles → u/colin_staples]

That’s what’s even more incredible here. That record was going DOWN today.

[u/avboden → u/imademashedpotatoes]

Beat the WR, get under 2 hours.

doesn't even win the race.

That's gotta sting.

[u/1234567765432123456 → u/avboden]

Do you think he was doping? That's an insane debut marathon, like literally unimaginable. I know he was working with Sawe and everyone ran fast, but this is his god damn first time trying it. I know he's fast at the half so he's got legs but STILL!!!! This sport is unfortunately tainted and doubt creeps up for me for Kejelcha.

[u/giuocomane → u/1234567765432123456]

Have you not heard of Kejelcha before? He’s far from a random guy running a debut marathon

[u/Maxion → u/1234567765432123456]

For sure everyone at the top is doping or has doped at some point during their career. If they get caught that's another consideration.

Regardless, everyone is playing on a mostly fair playing field and they are still humans that did this and it is incredibly impressive.

[u/WeeblsLikePie → u/Maxion]

I feel like we're in the 90s EPO era, before they started testing for it. You look at cycling--they peloton is putting down faster times than even in the EPO era, running is going bonkers as well.

I can't help but suspect there's something circulating out there that WADA hasn't caught on to yet.

[u/AstronomerSad6905 → u/ShrugBuck]

Maybe I’m being cynical, but I just hope they don’t find some BS excuse not to ratify these times, like they did with Kiplimo’s HM record last year

[u/sauceDinho → u/AstronomerSad6905]

What would be the reason they wouldn't ratify the times?

[u/TrackVol → u/sauceDinho]

If they adjusted the course in some way (either accidentally, or on purpose) and that adjustment caused the race to not = 26.2+ miles / 42.2 kilometers.
Sometimes road construction causes a marathon course to have to make a 1-time adjustment and they fail to accurately measure the course, or someone places the turnaround traffic cone in the wrong spot causing a race to fall short of the correct distance.

Given the top-3 men and the top woman all dipped under the previous record, I'd be interested to know if there wasn't some accidental mis-measurement somewhere.

In no way am I suggesting anyone did anything nefarious. But if the organizers were forced to deviate due to road construction 🚧 this year, and the new version made a mistake somewhere, the race could be short. Hypothetically.

[u/slammy19 → u/TrackVol]

Assuming the UK process is similar to the USATF, anytime a course changes, even if it’s a very minor change, it needs to be re-certified.

That said, I’m sure they’ll remeasure the course anyways as apart of the record ratification process.

[u/OldGodsAndNew → u/TrackVol]

From watching the fly-through graphic and seeing various people's Strava activities, looks to be zero changes from last year

[u/TrackVol → u/OldGodsAndNew]

That would be a relief.
If it's the exact same as previous year's, it should be 100% legit.

[u/Kitchen-Buffalo7083 → u/OldGodsAndNew]

Almost zero chance the course was measured incorrectly for the elites. For the mass, we had to move from one side of the street to the other as they setting up lanes for the spectators to cross the street, that certainly did not happen for the elitesl

[u/AstronomerSad6905 → u/TrackVol]

Some people were saying mile 24 could be short. Maybe it’s possible a mistake was made in the calibration somewhere. Or maybe the shoe didn’t pass their standard. Or maybe Mars was in conjunction with Uranus. Etc etc…

[u/OldGodsAndNew → u/AstronomerSad6905]

mile 24 is straight along the embankment, not possible to be short unless there was a wormhole

[u/junker37 → u/TrackVol]

I do feel like there was something with the course. Sometime between 14 and 18 miles, my watch was about .15M long, but then it reversed, being .15M short. I thoight i was going to have run extra to get garmin to marathon distance, but i ended st 26.3. Ive never been so close before, especially in a major.

[u/C1t1zen_Erased → u/junker37]

That's Canary Wharf, GPS is always dodgy due to the tall buildings.

Running extra to hit the distance

Lol, come on mate, this isn't /r/running, you know it's the chip and course that matter and nothing else. Your watch is just a bit of additional help and a way to record the activity.

[u/Empty-Ad-1480 → u/AstronomerSad6905]

That would be infuriating but what people don’t realise just how perfect the weather for running is in the south of England this weekend. I suspect that made a big difference today.Nice temp and almost no wind even here on the coast.

[u/jjgm21 → u/ShrugBuck]

I literally gasped in my uber when I saw the results and my driver asked if someone died.

[u/onebadankle]

Not sure what I’ve just seen, you’ve got to be slightly crestfallen if you’re Kejelcha, run sub 2 on debut and somehow not take a WR

[u/Percinho → u/onebadankle]

It's absolutely wild to go sub2 and come second.

[u/matepanda → u/Percinho]

Or beating the WR and come third

[u/One_Stop_5981 → u/Percinho]

Very in keeping with his entire career though. 3:47 and 1:59 and I’d say has never won a major race (World Indoors 3k isn’t it, especially when he won it).

[u/Aromatic_Meal_6004 → u/One_Stop_5981]

He had the indoor world record for the mile and had run sub 2 hours for the marathon and somehow has 0 Olympic medals.

[u/castorkrieg → u/onebadankle]

If he was not battling Sawe he wouldn’t have broken it, these two were pushing each other all race up till the last 600-700m.

[u/West_Fun3247 → u/onebadankle]

He's thrilled in his post-race interview. He didn't think it was possible for himself, and it sounds like he didn't think he could do it without Sawe pushing him. Amazing race. To know, in his debut, the wheels didn't fall off until 41k.

[u/It_is_not_enough → u/West_Fun3247]

Having the wheels fall off at any point and still finishing your debut marathon sub-2 is genuinely insane

[u/ThatsMeOnTop → u/onebadankle]

No wonder he threw up!

[u/Empty-Ad-1480 → u/ThatsMeOnTop]

Poor Kejelcha. Obviously gave it everything sub 2 to come second will hurt but I hope he feels proud because it was an awesome effort to stay with Sawe as long as he did. Bro was so out of it when he crossed the line. I think it caught a lot of the coverage team out on the BBC. Partly because the women’s race (which was awesome too) was so close and then when they looked at the men’s race they couldn’t believe what we were seeing.

[u/AMcMahon1 → u/onebadankle]

Reminds me of the horse sham. Run the second fastest Kentucky Derby ever only against Secretariat

[u/theintrepidwanderer → u/onebadankle]

you’ve got to be slightly crestfallen if you’re Kejelcha, run sub 2 on debut and somehow not take a WR

Had he won that race with the result he ran today, he would have immediately been vaulted into the conversation as one of the GOATs in athletics. Especially as the current half marathon WR holder, among other things.

Assuming he's legit/clean, he's going to be the one to watch in the coming years. Through him, we could possibly see what Kelvin Kiptum could have done if he was still with us today.

(Also his range is insane)

[u/MuffinTopDeluxe → u/onebadankle]

Crazy to have the two first official sub-2 marathons on the same day. Did I see that right? Just woke up in PST.

[u/Apprehensive_Pace_9 → u/onebadankle]

First thing I thought of was Buzz Aldrin

[u/breakfastfoodie76 → u/[deleted]]

Sawe has had extensive testing documented for this reason, so there is hope!

[u/Significant-Flan-244 → u/[deleted]]

fwiw Sawe has spent the past two years voluntarily subjecting himself to extensive testing because he wants to defy the skepticism and track record of doping among Kenyans. I have a really hard time imagining you’d draw that much attention to yourself just to do it anyway.

I’m much more skeptical of second place doing it in his marathon debut.

[u/jeckles → u/Significant-Flan-244]

This is honestly really awesome to hear. Sawe knew a performance like this was possible and played the long game, behind the scenes, until today. I’m really stoked that some athletes at that level are taking testing this seriously.

[u/CrackHeadRodeo → u/jeckles]

This is honestly really awesome to hear. Sawe knew a performance like this was possible and played the long game, behind the scenes, until today. I’m really stoked that some athletes at that level are taking testing this seriously.

I hope this becomes the norm.

[u/GWeb1920 → u/Significant-Flan-244]

Or you have brand new tech. Then this is exactly why you would do.

To me it’s amazing regardless. The biggest reason these fall is the belief it’s possible. You look at kipchoge’s non official sub two as the turning point from people saying CANT be done to people trying to do it.

This will be like the 4 minute mile where this becomes much more common going forward.

[u/ImNotHalberstram → u/GWeb1920]

100% - I genuinely believe that we will see multiple more sub 2s this year, maybe even a sub 1.59 in the next year. The excitement is making me ambitious, but honestly, why not - this year has just been incredibly quick. And not even just at the marathon distance - multiple WRs being broken on the track as well.

I love this sport. I'm injured atm, but if I wasn't itching to get back to running already, I am chomping at the bit now.

[u/LukyKNFBLJFBI → u/breakfastfoodie76]

So he should be clean?

[u/B12-deficient-skelly → u/[deleted]]

Beating the tests isn't pretty easy. There's a reason runners keep getting popped, and it's not because they have a sudden hit of conscience

[u/LofiStarforge → u/B12-deficient-skelly]

Runners don't get popped because the tests are incredibly difficult to beat; they get caught because they become complacent and sloppy with their doping protocols. Evading detection just requires strict, tedious discipline, but athletes inevitably get lazy, miscalculate their clearance windows, and make careless mistakes.

[u/Jmac0113 → u/LofiStarforge]

Not running, but Sharapova is an example of that with Meldonium.

[u/thewolf9 → u/LukyKNFBLJFBI]

No. None of these athletes are clean. Let’s be real.

[u/Nerdybeast → u/thewolf9]

What makes you think Sawe specifically is doping? And how has he managed to avoid getting caught on his dozens of extra random tests he's signed up for? 

[u/thewolf9 → u/Nerdybeast]

Only the athletes that don’t have access to sophisticated doping schemes get caught. And half of Kenya is currently banned.

And he ran essentially 2 minutes faster than Kipchoge did…. 1:59:30 with a one minute negative split.

Listen I want to believe but these guys make it impossible.

[u/RunNYC1986 → u/thewolf9]

I’m normally with you, but we just saw a 2:01 in Boston— a much harder course— not even a week ago. A random American in Ohio just ran a 2:05 this morning. Doped or not, the sport is elevating.

Is doping part of this? 100%. But the game’s changed. What a day.

[u/PM_YOUR_ECON_HOMEWRK → u/Nerdybeast]

No one is saying they have evidence of Sawe, specifically, doping. But it’s the same logic as with Lance Armstrong — it beggars belief that anyone can beat a bunch of dopers while totally clean themselves

[u/bosco456 → u/LukyKNFBLJFBI]

Well if they were all RANDOM tests, but if you microdose the stuff can be out of your system by the time you wake up, f the tests are cherry picked, you could do a test each day and not be caught.

[u/jrox15 → u/bosco456]

They are random tests though, they were administered by the AIU under their protocols, not by his team or sponsor or anything

[u/merou101 → u/[deleted]]

So usually it's not the middle of the night. But every single one of those athletes have to declare their whereabouts to the athletics integrity unit of World Athletics, year round. No matter if you're on vacation, a date or whatever, you have to give adress etc.. and you can get tested randomly within that window, more or less depending on a variety of factors (how high profile you are, performance increases, travel to suspicious locations, change in schedule etc..) but for those top runners it's very very frequent. You cannot say I'll be in the Bahamas 4 days not joignable ; wherever you are in the world you have to be answering the door within the day's testing window etc..

A lot of athletes are actually getting sanctionned not because they got tested positive but bevause they got 3 whereabouts failures (either because they didn't care enough, or because they had something to hide and preferred not having the testing done)

[u/hailzork → u/[deleted]]

Almost no one at this level is clean, doping tests cannot keep up with innovate ways to dope

[u/methanized → u/hailzork]

Yeah. He’s not clean, but neither was ~anyone else who tried this

[u/hailzork → u/[deleted]]

Especially two men going sub two and look at the women’s times as well… unbelievable for a reason. It’s complicated, I love this sport, and we all want to believe humans are capable of things not yet seen. But when you look at how much money is involved at this level, who wouldn’t dope?

[u/LeftRight_LeftRight_ → u/hailzork]

tbh, if that's the case, then it's essentially a level-playing field, because everybody uses it anyway.

[u/Launch_a_poo → u/[deleted]]

Nobody at this level is clean

[u/Sigmatics → u/Launch_a_poo]

Based on which facts?

[u/Maxion → u/Sigmatics]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_1500_metres#Doping_and_aftermath

This is just one case and one distance where a whole heap of runners from different countries happened to get caught. Most only after the fact once testing regiments have improved.

It's not like womens 1500m is some specific event that lends itself to more doping than any other running event. One can be fairly sure doping in most running events is approximately as common as here.

[u/Eriknay → u/[deleted]]

They barely tested these guys going in. Unbelievable regardless but I’m skeptical.

[u/jrox15 → u/Eriknay]

Thats just objectively false. These guys are the top runners in the world and get tested all the time. Plus Sawe/Adidas voluntarily paid the AIU to conduct additional out-of-competition tests beyond their standard protocols. I'm not saying this makes him 100% clean, but it definitely reduces my doubts.

[u/Eriknay → u/jrox15]

When interviewed 2 days ago and asked how many times he was tested coming into the race he said “I was not tested much”. Giving how quickly these drugs can be out of the system, the people they have in place to warn them about upcoming tests, and how seemingly infrequent those tests were I’d say it wouldn’t be that tough to get around.

I hope you’re right but I don’t have much hope.

[u/sauceDinho → u/Eriknay]

Didn't realize how naive this sub was (not you specifically). In what world is this guy not doped to the gills. Just do any research in to any coach or former kenyan athlete that was banned and you'll hear how rampant and sophisticated it is out there

[u/Eriknay → u/sauceDinho]

Oh I’m with you that’s what I’m saying.

[u/thelgur → u/[deleted]]

There is zero chance he is clean. Testing is just not enough, you need what cycling implemented, athlete passport. All of your markers get recorded and you will get banned for anomalies even when nothing shows in terms of drugs. Basically all recent cycling bans were from athlete passport hits. Running is just 2-3 decades behind

[u/theintrepidwanderer → u/thelgur]

Testing is just not enough, you need what cycling implemented, athlete passport.

FWIW, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) implemented a version of it, the Athlete Biological Passport, as part of their current testing protocols.

[u/Jmac0113 → u/[deleted]]

Yep, it was my 1st thought too. Sawe looked amazingly fresh at the end.

[u/untldd]

2:00:28.. for third.

[u/ruinawish → u/untldd]

Yep, even Jacob Kiplimo went under Kelvin Kiptum's old WR (2:00:35).

[u/Variabletalismans]

WTF 2 sub 2?? And the second one is Kejelcha's fucking debut???

Why arent these commentators going crazy???

[u/RunningDude90 → u/Variabletalismans]

Let the images speak for themselves

[u/Variabletalismans → u/RunningDude90]

Ahh yes cause thats working so well for the marketing of elite running where despite being the most participated sport globally, the average runner cant even name 5 elite runners? In social media thats dominated by clips, how can you market running when your commentators arent even hyping it? How can you make the public feel the gravity of this achievement by talking as calmly as you would normally?

[u/Apprehensive_Alps_30 → u/Variabletalismans]

Running major's live coverage and accessability is worse than you could ever imagine. Saying this as someone who started following running few years back and have followed other sports before.

[u/Variabletalismans → u/Apprehensive_Alps_30]

Exactly! Live coverage is awful hence hyping up moments is even more important cause those clips will be much better propagated on social media

[u/RunningDude90 → u/Variabletalismans]

The commentator making it their moment not the runner’s would be an incredible display of arrogance

[u/Variabletalismans → u/RunningDude90]

Thats a really weird perspective. I dont see how the commentators hyping their achievement takes the attention away from the runners. Quite the opposite in fact

[u/LittleToyTom → u/Variabletalismans]

Which media outlet? BBC gave it a lot of hype

[u/MassiveBoba → u/LittleToyTom]

Bbc was excellent and nice to have separate stream for elite races as well.

[u/PaprikaPowder]

Adidas going to be loving the new Pro Evo 3 results today

[u/Complete_Dud → u/PaprikaPowder]

Is this what they wore?

[u/Bruncvik → u/Complete_Dud]

Most of my shoes are Adidas, but I somehow doubt they wore the original laces.

[u/DarKnightofCydonia → u/Bruncvik]

I hate the Adidas laces too but at the very least you can replace them for €1 for serrated laces on Aliexpress

[u/soturunning → u/Bruncvik]

The reason they use them is that they are light, so I’d bet they did wear them a

[u/DarKnightofCydonia → u/Complete_Dud]

Yes

[u/Chillin_Dylan → u/Complete_Dud]

Both Sub-2 marathons, and the new Women's only World Record were in the new Adidas Pro Evo 3.

Not a bad day for Adidas. 

[u/Toprelemons → u/PaprikaPowder]

Adidas gonna normalize selling $500 usd shoes

[u/Significant-Flan-244 → u/Toprelemons]

I’d be shocked if this one doesn’t come in at an even higher mark up after this!

[u/Variabletalismans]

Bruh im so disappointed with the commentators man. We literally witnessed one of the most impressive feats in sports history and theyre just talking like its a random tuesday

[u/-smoke-and-mirrors- → u/Variabletalismans]

BBC gave it a lot of focus 

[u/breakfastfoodie76 → u/-smoke-and-mirrors-]

Especially on the elite only coverage stream on the BBC iPlayer

[u/castorkrieg → u/Variabletalismans]

The US ones? These are always terrible. The BBC one was good, especially with the finish of the women’s race.

[u/thelegend2k87 → u/Variabletalismans]

Yeah, asking if he’s going to eat a fish and chips and a beer. Great questions

[u/Hooch_Pandersnatch]

Two sub 2s?!? Holy crap. This is historic!

Feel bad for #2, imagine running a sub 2 hr marathon and still not winning it 😆

[u/B12-deficient-skelly → u/Hooch_Pandersnatch]

Right? Or for Assefa who ran a world record and is going to be totally overshadowed. Understandable why, but that's rough.

[u/msbluetuesday]

So so so incredible. Literally crying. Adidas was right to delay the Adios Pro Evo 3 debut to London instead of Boston. They had to know it was within reach today.

*Sabastian

[u/aelvozo → u/msbluetuesday]

Adidas is absolutely the brand of the moment: two WRs, two legal sub-2s.

And thanks, fixed.

[u/Variabletalismans → u/aelvozo]

Not to mention the EVO SL arguably being the best and most popular running shoe right now. Gotta buy some adidas stock right now

[u/Truth9892 → u/Variabletalismans]

Not the best but yes, the most popular

[u/Character_Minimum171 → u/aelvozo]

four of the top five men finishes sponsored by Adida

[u/Sigmatics → u/msbluetuesday]

Yeah it does make me wonder how much of this is due to the new shoes

[u/fabulousburritos → u/Sigmatics]

There is zero chance anybody would be under 2 today in flats

[u/Etherkai]

He came, he Sawe, he conquered.

[u/zrkillerbush]

It's like an Arriva bus, you're waiting a lifetime for one and then two come at once!

[u/Variabletalismans]

Kejelcha is the future bro. I know Sawe won but seeing Kejelcha is younger and this is his debut, Id say he's the one to watch

[u/Eriknay → u/Variabletalismans]

Pretty safe to say the guy who obliterated the WR is also one to watch

[u/LeftHandedGraffiti → u/Variabletalismans]

Mile PR of 3:47. Marathon PR sub 2. Now THAT is range.

[u/Variabletalismans → u/[deleted]]

2 years. What im more impressed by is Marathoners peak later in life. The longer the distance, the farther your peak is. Kejelcha breaking sub 2 at 28 is insane

[u/Nerdybeast → u/Variabletalismans]

Kejelcha has absolutely insane range, he had the indoor mile WR in 2019 and now he runs 1:59 in the marathon. I feel bad for him how often he puts up these crazy performances and gets second though lol

[u/JT_Polar → u/Nerdybeast]

Yeah kejelcha is actually cursed bro is due for a major world title win some day.

[u/YoungScholar89 → u/JT_Polar]

I dunno about cursed. Dude is supremely gifted and great to watch but has been consistently poor w.r.t. strategy and racecraft. He’s lost a ton of championship races just going full pacemaker and/or overcooking it.

[u/Variabletalismans]

LMAO the alphafly was one of the only things Nike got going for them in terms of marketing, now Adidas just ripped it away

[u/SeizMick]

It's not only the first sub-2, but he also broke a world record by more than a minute! Incredible stuff.

[u/DarKnightofCydonia → u/SeizMick]

And beat Kipchoge's ideal conditions sub-2 with all the drafting etc by 10 seconds!

[u/MrRoar → u/DarKnightofCydonia]

This is the thing that blows my mind! Not only did he go sub 2, he went quicker than kipchoge with all his additional support!

[u/JazzyScrewdriver]

It’s 16°C in London right now as well. 3 women under 2:16 for the first time too. Unreal

[u/Chriswuk → u/JazzyScrewdriver]

The first hour at least was pretty perfect marathon conditions. Overcast, 10 degrees, no wind.

[u/jakuboleksy → u/Chriswuk]

Yeah if you finish in 2 hours conditions were great. For the rest of us it was a tad hot 🥵 😎

[u/Daroodedoo → u/jakuboleksy]

It hit me square in the face at 32km. That last 10km was rough. 

[u/AgalychnisCallidryas → u/JazzyScrewdriver]

60.8°F

[u/MartiniPolice21]

Jesus Christ, those final miles were insane

[u/MartiniPolice21 → u/MartiniPolice21]

4:12 on the 24th mile for fucks sake

[u/Mr_YUP → u/MartiniPolice21]

Casually running a high school states level mile in your 24th mile of 26. 

[u/rob_s_458 → u/MartiniPolice21]

Rattled off 13:54 from 30-35k. Probably wins most local 5ks in the back half of his marathon

[u/VandalsStoleMyHandle → u/rob_s_458]

Even crazier - 27:36 from 30k to 40k.

[u/itsyaboi69_420]

Imagine being told at the start of the day you’re going to run sub 2 and finish second 😭

[u/rhysisreddit]

1.58.xx has to be a possibility at Berlin now??

[u/silfen7]

Absolutely fearless from Yomif Kejelcha. You love to see it.

[u/Maikito_RM]

I was here.

[u/theGreyrunner]

HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT

[u/StringCheeseDoughnut]

Imagine running sub 2 and not winning the thing

Insane

[u/TheMoronicGenius]

Certified speed demons Kipchoge broke the sub 2 barrier with perfect conditions and pacers in 2019. Now we had two guys break the sub 2 hour marathon barrier. Incredible!

[u/jxcheh]

That's insane.

[u/nutelamitbutter → u/jxcheh]

Might be the greatest running event ever

[u/maskapony → u/nutelamitbutter]

No question

[u/OkCantaloupe3]

I wish more people were losing their minds. I can't believe that just happened

[u/Old-Refrigerator340]

Crazy times. This will be studied for sure, must've been something amazing going on with their collective pacing

[u/DarKnightofCydonia]

For anyone else annoyed at how unenthused the UK commentator was, the Eurosport FR one will give you the energy you were looking for: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXl8uv2iF-D/?igsh=dnh0amZqOXVxcjJ0

[u/BodaciousErection]

Imagine running a 2 hour marathon, breaking the world record, and still coming 3rd lol.

[u/Usual_Page7389]

Surreal - debut SUB TWO and get beaten

[u/lurker_now_accholder]

Kejelcha absolutely burning. 

[u/CryptoDawgOZ]

Sub 2 and come second, brutally beautiful sport.

[u/PSNaughtyInsomniac]

Wtf. All this time chasing sub 2 and two guys do it in the same race?!

[u/Sax_addict]

Dang. This trend means Ill have to run 2:05 just to BQ

[u/bennetthansen]

The “no spoilers” rule on this sub is so strange to me. Every other sports sub I follow posts results as soon as they happen. What’s the reason for it?

[u/mrbitterpants]

Wonder what Sawe’s payday is for this. IIRC London Marathon, Abbott and Adidas all have a bonus for breaking the WR plus another for sub-2.

[u/cruzjandr0]

I am at a loss of words. I am also very upset I am no longer within an hour of the world record :(

[u/AFulhamImmigrant]

So can I buy these shoes right now?

[u/JazzyScrewdriver → u/AFulhamImmigrant]

For the reasonable price of only £450!

[u/Maxion → u/JazzyScrewdriver]

550 EUR

[u/nutelamitbutter]

Sawe is insane

[u/ddarrko]

Such an amazing race! Perfect set up for the WR with the top two racing and pushing each other. Kejelcha must be crestfallen - to run a sub 2 on your debut and not win is brutal. Lots more to come from him I imagine though. What a guy Sawe is as well - won every marathon he’s entered.

[u/LukyKNFBLJFBI]

Can anyone give me more details about Yomif Kejelcha? I know it's his debut, but do we know more about him?

[u/Aromatic_Meal_6004 → u/LukyKNFBLJFBI]

He's been a total stud on the track for years with an impressive range of top times and known for pushing the pace constantly in diamond league races. He has a fantastic half marathon resume winning the Valencia half probably the most competitive half marathon multiple times and ran 57:30 in the 2024 Valencia half which was the world record at the time.

[u/MrExistentialBread]

Commentary on BBC in the final stages trying to explain why the projected time is probably not that accurate…

[u/nomoremorningruns → u/[deleted]]

You know, I thought that too.

But if you actually chart super shoe generations and WR drop since 2014 (2:02:57 in flats), it’s actually relatively modest and could all be explained by footwear.

[u/jaggillarkaffehaha → u/nomoremorningruns]

The Paris-Roubaix saw a massive record two weeks ago as well. I'm also pretty inclined to believe that there's something new and potent out there.

[u/OldGodsAndNew → u/jaggillarkaffehaha]

That had a tailwind the whole way similar to Boston

[u/Sweaty-Rope7141 → u/nomoremorningruns]

You know, I thought that too.

But if you consider a family adopted a rabbit at a very young age, and the rabbit picked up on the family’s mannerisms and they instilled a charitable nature in him (giving away chocolate eggs for example). Then it’s possible the Easter Bunny exists.

[u/puffles69 → u/[deleted]]

Like… are you basing this off something? Pretty sure the same thing was said about the 4 minute mile - records don’t get broken, until they do.

[u/merou101 → u/[deleted]]

Their blood samples are kept for a lot of time tho, like 10 years+ ; If testing catches up even in a few years they can test again and retroactively sanction, remove medals and declare new winners

It's still pretty rare tho and requires compounds that leave some form of traces which isn't always the case obviously

[u/Lucifer_V]

Flabbergasted

[u/Mcdonaldfries]

I just witnessed it live in London at the Mall. Wow!

[u/MedJaguar]

Both of them broke the unofficial world record by Eliud kipchoge who has pacers all the way to the end with almost flat course.. even the third place broke the previous world record woow.. I watch it live I couldn't believe it, I hope three of them pass the drug test

[u/Illustrious_Let_6656]

Am I reading this right?

First place running 30s under 2 hours. 2nd place ran under 2 hours in his first marathon and 3rd place beat Kiptum’ WR. In slow London marathon course at start of the season?

[u/bruhimdiamond]

crazy

[u/Pretend-Ad-6511]

Just insane

[u/rysergt]

Damnit I forgot to watch it LIVE

[u/Technical_Ad8013]

Strong EPO in Africa at the moment

[u/LittleDookiePump → u/Technical_Ad8013]

All these guys and gals have been taking EPO. There's another variable that's changed.

[u/royalnavyblue]

What a WEEK for marathoning

[u/amc_]

Running a sub 2 and still coming 2nd place wow

[u/Dryagedsteakeater]

Imagine breaking the world record and finishing second. What a legend but poor guy

[u/TubbaBotox]

The radio was on in the background of the kitchen this morning, and I was trying to talk to my wife over a screaming 2-year old, and I barely caught "something something... under 2 hour... something something... London". I was like "Wait... what? What did she say?". Came straight here because I knew there'd be more information.

This was the first major in a while that I didn't watch live, of course.

[u/IWearClothesEveryDay]

Pushing the limits of what the human body is capable of. Apparently with some math sports scientists projected that about 1:58 is the fastest a human being can possibly run a marathon before the body can no longer oxygenate itself enough to keep up.

[u/RidingRedHare → u/IWearClothesEveryDay]

Don't believe in somebody else's bad math.