Thursday, 5 November 2026
Kenyan Digest

Kipchoge's sub-2hr marathon set for Vienna

11 min read
Published

Eliud Kipchoge will attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier — the last great landmark in modern athletics — in Vienna in October © AFP/File / Ben STANSALL

LONDON, United Kingdom, Jun 27 – Eliud Kipchoge will attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier — the last great landmark in modern athletics — in Vienna in October, his London-based INEOS 1:59 Challenge team announced Thursday.

The Kenyan world record holder will attempt the unprecedented feat in the Prater park in the Austrian capital on October 12, with an eight-day window to October 20 in case of bad weather.

“This is a golden chance for me to make history and show the world that no human is limited,” said Kipchoge.

The effort will be run in 9.6-kilometre laps of the park’s dead-straight Hauptallee tree-lined avenue. Kipchoge will change direction on a roundabout at each end.

In his previous attempt at running the first-ever sub-two-hour marathon on the Monza Formula One racetrack in Italy in 2017, Kipchoge completed the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometre) distance in 2:00:25.

The in-form marathon great is preparing for his new record attempt at his Kaptagat training camp in Kenya, 2,400 metres (7,900 feet) above sea level.

“Vienna has a fast and flat course, nicely protected by trees,” the 34-year-old said.

Since Monza, Kipchoge set the official world record of 2:01:39 at the 2018 Berlin Marathon.

His last outing was at the 2019 London Marathon in April, which he won in 2:02:37 — the second-fastest time ever recorded in an official race.

“This gives me further belief that I can break two hours,” he said, given that he went into Monza with a personal best of 2:03:05.

The Olympic champion is skipping the biennial 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha from September 27-October 6 to concentrate on the record attempt.

– Finding 26 seconds –

Vienna was chosen after meeting particular criteria, as Kipchoge looks to shave off a second per mile from his 2:00:25 Monza landmark.

They included a fast, flat and straight track; fresh air due to the horse chestnut trees; wide, traffic-free and illuminated roads with space for spectators; optimum performance weather conditions in October, and a one-hour time difference from Kipchoge’s training camp.

The course is 165 metres above sea level, while the Vienna average weather conditions are 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), with six days of rain in the month.

The attempt will be run in the early morning, to match Kipchoge’s training patterns.

As at Monza, pacemakers will be rotated in and out — one of the factors that would prevent the feat of human achievement from being an official world record sanctioned by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

    %authornetworks%
%authordescription%
    %authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Olunga double earns Kenya AFCON hope

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Mahrez and Algeria top Mane’s Senegal in heavyweight clashrn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Ferreira smashes course record as Snow settles for T2rn

rn rn Golfrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Roma’s El Shaarawy rejects lucrative China movern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Rapinoe urges teammates to join White House boycottrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Neymar wants Barcelona return, says club’s vice-presidentrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 14 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn ‘Shunning is not the answer’: Salah says Warda can changern

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn I didnu2019t recognize my team, says Mignern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Joash ruled out of Algeria AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Soi, Tanui book 10k slots for Africa Gamesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Ex-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn rn Stage set for WRC Safari Candidate Eventrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Stars handed Algeria loss in AFCON openerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn KPL trio eager to help Burundi at AFCONrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wanyama, from Nairobi streets to UCL finalistrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Manyatta, Al-Ahly clash in Chapa Dimba finalrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

‘No fear’: England confident of overcoming semi-final curse after beating Norway

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Mahrez and Algeria top Mane’s Senegal in heavyweight clash

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Ferreira smashes course record as Snow settles for T2

rn rn rn Golfrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Roma’s El Shaarawy rejects lucrative China move

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Rapinoe urges teammates to join White House boycott

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL EGYPT WIN 2019 AFCON AT HOME?

    ntt
  • YES
  • ntt
  • NO
  • ntt

View Results

ntnnLoading ... Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Neymar wants Barcelona return, says club’s vice-president

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

‘Shunning is not the answer’: Salah says Warda can change

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Rooney smashes winning goal from inside his own half

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Liverpool snap up Dutch teenager Van den Berg

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Stars in battle with destiny against Taifa Stars

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn Olunga double earns Kenya AFCON hopern rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn ‘No fear’: England confident of overcoming semi-final curse after beating Norwayrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Mahrez and Algeria top Mane’s Senegal in heavyweight clashrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn Capital Sportrn rn rn Capital Sportrn Ferreira smashes course record as Snow settles for T2rn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn Capital Sportrn rn rn Capital Sportrn Champions Upper Hill into Copa U16 semisrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tI didnu2019t recognize my team, says Mignern

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 24th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tJoash ruled out of Algeria AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 23rd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSoi, Tanui book 10k slots for Africa Gamesrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEx-England star urges Tottenham to keep Wanyamarn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStage set for WRC Safari Candidate Eventrn

rn Motorsrn rn Wednesday, 26th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tStars handed Algeria loss in AFCON openerrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Monday, 24th Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKPL trio eager to help Burundi at AFCONrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWanyama, from Nairobi streets to UCL finalistrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 21st Jun 2019rn rn rn t

rn tManyatta, Al-Ahly clash in Chapa Dimba finalrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 22nd Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn ALEX ISABOKErn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn Olunga double earns Kenya AFCON hopern rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn ‘No fear’: England confident of overcoming semi-final curse after beating Norwayrn rn rn Viewrn rn Friday, 28th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Mahrez and Algeria top Mane’s Senegal in heavyweight clashrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn Capital Sportrn rn rn Capital Sportrn Ferreira smashes course record as Snow settles for T2rn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn Capital Sportrn rn rn Capital Sportrn Champions Upper Hill into Copa U16 semisrn rn rn Viewrn rn Thursday, 27th Jun 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */