Long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge set a new world record in the Berlin Marathon on Sunday. In 2.01.09 he broke his own top time, which he set in 2018 in the same city. For the 2022 edition, the 37-year-old Kenyan had his sights on the ‘magic’ limit of two hours, but he stayed above that. The fastest woman was Ethiopian Tigist Assefa, with a time of 2:15.37, the third best time among the women ever walked.
In Berlin, where the course is mainly flat, records are more often attacked. Kipchoge was thirty seconds faster than his own reigning record of 2:01:39 on Sunday. He has been trying to run the marathon faster than two hours for years, an ambition supported by his team NN Running. His attempt was widely measured on Sunday on social mediaand the official organization of the Berlin Marathon followed him closely during the race.
In the long preparation that preceded the Berlin record attempt, mental training had been of great importance, according to the athlete. It was already known that he can run the distance of 42 kilometers and 195 meters in less than two hours. In October 2019, he succeeded under ideal conditions, on a route mapped out in Vienna. The Kenyan was supported in that attempt by a group of riders, who sheltered him from the wind and helped him keep pace. The achievement of 1:59:40 was not recognized as a world record, as the International Athletics Federation only records records run in official competitions. Pacers may also not be used in marathons through the city.