What Did Sabastian Sawe Do to Break the 2-Hour Barrier in the London Marathon? The Keys Revealed
Athletics experienced a historic moment at the London Marathon, where the two-hour barrier was broken for the first time in an official competition.
TL;DR
- Sabastian Sawe broke the 2-hour barrier in the London Marathon with a time of 1:59:30.
- This was the first time the 2-hour barrier was officially broken in a marathon.
- Sawe's performance was aided by advanced training, high carbohydrate intake (115g/hour), and new Adidas shoes.
- The shoes feature a carbon plate for energy return and ultra-light foam for cushioning.
- Technological advancements in running shoes, like those used, are estimated to improve performance by around 4%.
- World Athletics has regulated shoe technology since 2020, setting limits on sole thickness and plates.
- Sawe's rapid improvement has drawn comparisons to unprecedented athletic leaps.
- The context of over 140 doping sanctions in Kenyan athletics since 2017 raises questions, though Sawe asserts his transparency.
- Yomif Kejelcha also broke the previous record, finishing second with 1:59:41.