Kipchoge Departs for World Record Marathon Attempt

Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge, 34, has left for Vienna in an attempt to become the first person to break the two-hour barrier in a marathon.  If successful, he would smash his own world record of 02:01:39 set in 2018 in Berlin.

He will be taking part in an event organised by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, which will be sponsored by his chemical company INEOS.  The INEOS 1:59 Challenge has been put together to see if Kipchoge can break that ever elusive two-hour mark in the marathon.

The Kenyan took off from Eldoret International Airport in Sir Jim’s private jet, a Gulfstream G280.  They are expected to briefly stop in Luxor, Egypt, before continuing on to the Austrian capital.

The event is at the mercy of the weather, meaning INEOS have yet to confirm the date of the run, although the window has now been narrowed to a window between 12th-14th October.

The team at INEOS will make the decision today on whether Kipchoge’s first attempt will take place on 12thOctober, or if a delay will be necessary.  

The organisers explained that if the day is set for Saturday, “the three-day countdown begins and Kipchoge will switch his nutrition and begin carb-loading.  Kipchoge and his team can then make their final preparations and the world can start getting ready to watch the INEOS 1:59 Challenge live”.

The 2016 Olympic gold medallist has assembled 41-member pacing squad, ten of which competed at the World Athletics Championships in Doha.