A very good morning from us. Welcome for this Live commentary of this historic moment where Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge is attempting to cover 42km in under 2 hours for the second time.
His first attempt was in 2017 in Italy when he missed the target by a whisker clocking 2:00:25-though the record is not officially recognized by IAAF, just like this edition anyway. Facilitated by chemical firm INEOS, Eliud’s aim in Austria, Vienna is to simply prove that human beings can break any limits.
He’s still the fastest marathoner on earth having won the Olympic marathon in 2016 and is the current marathon world record holder with a time of 2:01:39 hours. Can he break his own record and make HISTORY?
Notably, this project has taken a lot! For about a whopping seven months, he has been under a super training programme.
From Vienna, everything is now set…
Eliud has had breakfast and ready to hit the road. Official kickoff time is 9:15 Kenyan time.
The weather is perfect here in Vienna. Correct humidity. Correct temperature. And Eliud is in good health!
9:06
The clock is ticking. Eliud Kipchoge is already warming up. With his huge team of pacemakers. We should expect some entertaining scene here.
9:15
Eliud Kipchoge starts his historic moment. He starts with seven pacesetters.
4′
The first kilometre is completed.
Five pacesetters are in front, two behind him.
8′
Eliud Kipchoge looks comfortable.
10′
Three kilometres approaching. We expect another change of pacesetters.
11′
Team two of pacesetters take over. Another bunch of seven men.
19’
His current average speed is 21.0km/h. This is unbelievable!
21′
Seven (7) km completed. 35km to go.
22′
Projected time at this point is 1:59:49.
22′
Team Three of pacesetters takes over.
Note: There are 15 Kenyan pacesetters in the 41-man team.
28′
Ten kilometres completed.
37
13 kilometres completed. Team Four of pacesetters takes over. That was a smooth transition.
45′
So far so good. Everything is going on as planned.
1hr
Eliud Kipchoge is still on track. The projected time at this point is slightly less than 2 hours.
21km completed.
1.06
The sixth team of pacemakers take over. Eliud is still moving fast as planned. 23km gone!
Social media is awash with good luck messages for Eliud Kipchoge in his quest to break the human limit;
Tumeamka! We’re all rooting for you @EliudKipchoge #Eliud159 pic.twitter.com/YgcjK9XDIn
— Asha Mwilu (@ashamwilu) October 12, 2019
A big day for Kenya today!
All the best @EliudKipchoge #Eliud159
To @kenyalioness we hunt till the last dropWe Play Ghana, Botswana and Senegal in the Olympic Qualifiers #TryAndStopUs #TheLionesses pic.twitter.com/GOUHRKNpaQ
— Grace Adhiambo (@OkuluGrace) October 12, 2019
Yesterday a local primary school here in Kenya 🇰🇪 planted 159 trees then posed for a 1:59 photo in respect to @EliudKipchoge to wish him well! #Eliud159 #ineos159challenge pic.twitter.com/5yDqDYeZi9
— #Eliud159 (@IrriHub) October 12, 2019
#Eliud159
For sure no human is limited, you can overcome all challenges to beat your goal, Join all kenyans today as we cheer Eliud kipchoge who is going to try and break the INEOS 159 challenge live from Austria, Vienna. Kipchoge keep jogging. pic.twitter.com/12XCUhMumS— Onchonga Davis (@DavisWispers) October 12, 2019
1:18
The seventh team of pacesetters take over. All transitions have been smooth save for one which experienced a bit of challenge. So far so good.
1:29
30km gone! Four pacesetters in front. Two behind him. He is in white, the pacesetters are in black.
1:37
34km completed. 8.2km to go. Can he make it! his current speed is 21.1km. Pretty good.
1:42
The last team of pacesetters led by Bernard Langat takes over to the last stretch.
1:50
Eliud Kipchoge gets electrified, goes past pacesetters and makes history!
1:59:40:2 it is!