Sabastian Sawe’s sub-two-hour marathon in London on Sunday has been described as the 21st-century equivalent of Sir Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile. The London Marathon’s race director, Hugh Brasher, made the comparison, noting that Bannister’s feat was the greatest sporting moment of the 20th century and that this may be its modern counterpart. Brasher’s father, Chris, paced Bannister to his 3:59.4 mile in 1954.
Sawe’s run was both unexpected and historic, dividing the sport into ‘before’ and ‘after’ just as Bannister’s did. The idea of a sub-two marathon was once dismissed as impossible. In 2003, Paul Tergat became the first runner under 2:05 but said running under two hours was not possible, though he added that time might prove him wrong.
Technological advances have been crucial. Sawe wore 97-gram Adidas shoes and consumed 325g of Maurten carbohydrates, avoiding the wall. Super shoes and improved nutrition have enabled athletes to train harder and race faster. Nick Anderson, a coach, noted that top middle-distance runners are moving to the marathon earlier, bringing speed and strong mechanics.
Looking ahead, faster courses such as Berlin, Chicago and Valencia exist, and technology will continue to improve. John Landy, who broke Bannister’s record a month later, described the four-minute mile barrier as a brick wall. The marathon record may similarly fall further.
