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Breaking the Two-Hour Marathon

two hour marathon

Now: Oct. 12, 2019 

On Oct. 12, 2019, with a time of 1:59:40, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya became the first person to complete a marathon in under two hours. He wore a custom, upgraded pair of Nike Vaporfly 4% shoes, proven by CU Boulder research to reduce the metabolic cost of running by 4 percent. 

Prior to his historic race in Vienna, a mathematical CU study led by integrative physiology professor Rodger Kram determined the course exhibited near perfect conditions for Kipchoge to succeed. 

“I love math with a purpose,” study co-author and former CU fellow Kristine Snyder told CU Boulder Today

 

Photo by REUTERS/Lisi Niesner