Kenya's Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first man to run a sub-two-hour marathon in an official race. The 31-year-old clocked an astonishing one hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, shattering the world record in front of an estimated 800,000 spectators lining the capital's streets.
Training and Preparation
Sawe's remarkable achievement was fueled by an intensive training regimen, including running 150 miles (241 kilometres) per week at peak. His pre-race breakfast consisted of bread and honey, and he wore the lightest super shoes ever made, the Adidas Pro Evo 3, weighing under 100 grams. Additionally, he used carbohydrate gels from Maurten to maintain energy levels in the final stages.
Historic Moment
After crossing the finish line, Sawe expressed his disbelief and joy. "I have made history today in London," he said. "For me, I have shown that nothing is not possible. It's something that will remain in my mind forever." He credited the crowd for their support, stating, "The crowd helped me a lot because they were cheering and calling my name and feeling strong. The world record today is also because of them."
Coach's Insights
Sawe's coach, Claudio Berardelli, hailed his athlete as a "special one" and revealed the secrets behind his success. "In the last six weeks he was averaging 200km (125 miles) and above a week, while the peak was 241km (150 miles)," Berardelli said. He noted that Sawe was even fitter than during his previous world record attempt in Berlin, which was thwarted by heat. "I knew he was super-good for Berlin, but he couldn't express himself because of the conditions. But when I started to see him running the way he ran before London, I was like, hey, something special might come out."
Berardelli also highlighted the role of advanced footwear and nutrition. "There is no doubt we are in the new era of marathon running because of the shoe and proper fuelling," he added. "All the pieces come together perfectly, because of his attitude, because of his character." He believes Sawe could potentially run under 1:59 on a faster course like Berlin or Chicago, stating, "Sabastian hasn't reached his maximum potential. It was only his fourth marathon."
Comparisons to Bannister
Steve Cram, former 1500m world champion, compared Sawe's feat to Sir Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile. "Absolutely incredible," Cram said. "I've never seen anything like that. Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. People thought no human being could run that for the mile but he did."
Sawe's victory marks a watershed moment in athletics, proving that the two-hour marathon barrier can be broken in an official event. His achievement has been hailed as one of the greatest in sporting history.
