# 2 hour marathon mark is now officially on life support **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [October 9, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319 "2023-10-09T15:54:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/1 "2023-10-09T15:54:42Z")
[Thousands participate in Chicago Marathon as race winner Kelvin Kiptum sets unofficial world record](https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chicago-marathon/ct-2023-chicago-marathon-spectators-20231008-nsbxmucytfg7debl75pxp4rfvm-story.html) 2:00:35. We should have a pool for this, either for the date/race when it is finally broken and/or for the runner who ends up doing it; definitely within the next year or so. I read an article a few years ago that tried to extrapolate the long tail into the future, iirc it suggested it would fall in the late 2020’s, which now looks to be overly pessimistic, since now every top endurance runner will likely be gunning for it to be the one who goes into the history books. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/2 "2023-10-09T16:16:11Z")
It’s so absolutely bonkers. That’s averaging over 13 mph speed running. It’s a 4.6 minute mile over and over and over and over again. Just incredible. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/3 "2023-10-09T16:26:10Z")
I didn’t think I would see a sub-2. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/4 "2023-10-09T17:28:51Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > We should have a pool for this, either for the date/race when it is finally broken and/or for the runner who ends up doing it; definitely within the next year or so. I read an article a few years ago that tried to extrapolate the long tail into the future, iirc it suggested it would fall in the late 2020’s, which now looks to be overly pessimistic, since now every top endurance runner will likely be gunning for it to be the one who goes into the history books. I think people were saying similar things about a 3:50 mile when Jim Ryan ran 3:51.1, and a 3:45 after Steve Cram’s 3:46.32. Both took eight years to be reached. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/5 "2023-10-09T17:28:53Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I didn’t think I would see a sub-2 Neither did I. Thought that Kipchoge’s run was an amazing feat (and of course it was), but that no one would ever do that in a real race, without the pacers-slash-windbreaks and the most efficient path painted on the street that Kipchoge had. Now, it feels like a matter of time - 2:00:35 is so much closer than 2:01:09. Of course, now we’re all clamoring to see Kiptum and Kipchoge race. Scuttlebutt I’ve heard is that Nike made Kiptum do Chicago rather than Berlin because they wanted to have both races won by one of theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/6 "2023-10-09T17:32:31Z")
Anyone else think someone named Mark was on life support after running a 2 hour marathon? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/7 "2023-10-09T17:47:16Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > [Thousands participate in Chicago Marathon as race winner Kelvin Kiptum sets unofficial world record](https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chicago-marathon/ct-2023-chicago-marathon-spectators-20231008-nsbxmucytfg7debl75pxp4rfvm-story.html) > > 2:00:35. By the way, it’s only unofficial at this point because the IAAF goes through a certification process for _any_ world record claim, road or track. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/8 "2023-10-09T19:05:27Z")
I remember reading somewhere that there are special requirements for a marathon course to be eligible for a world record. Runners shouldn’t get an advantage from running downhill or with a tailwind, so the start and finish have to be within a certain distance, both horizontally and vertically. The Boston Marathon, for example, would not qualify for a world record. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/9 "2023-10-09T19:21:45Z")
Chicago’s course is eligable, the start and finish lines are very close to each other. As long as the course is accurately measured that should be enough. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/10 "2023-10-09T19:30:02Z")
Yes, and the governing body must have checked the course in advance. I just find the details of those sorts of things to be interesting. I’m sure there’s an involved process for measuring the course as accurately as required. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/11 "2023-10-09T19:45:11Z")
The odd thing, though, is that (so far as I’m aware) there are no rules against collusion within a race to pace a record attempt. That can surely make as much difference as gradient or wind. Perhaps it’s just that in practice there aren’t enough runners who are in that ultra-elite class that you could have three in a line in front breaking the wind for the first half. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/12 "2023-10-09T19:50:56Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Yes, and the governing body must have checked the course in advance. I just find the details of those sorts of things to be interesting. I’m sure there’s an involved process for measuring the course as accurately as required. - > **[How a race course is certified - RunWashington](https://www.runwashington.com/2015/04/13/how-a-race-course-is-certified/?__cf_chl_f_tk=0U2FqIpPnz_FV41l95kuNm7kVnM41lD.e3QjouAK7dY-1696880917-0-gaNycGzNC7s)** > > Have you ever finished a race thinking you’ve just set a personal record time, only to look down at your watch to discover that the race might have been too short? If so, you’re not alone. Many races — from 5ks to marathons — are, in fact, not the... ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/13 "2023-10-09T19:52:51Z")
I think some distance races actually hire pace setters to run at particular speeds to help the competitors. Everyone starts at the beginning though, so at some point the winner will separate and finish on his own. When Kipchoge did his staged attempts to break the two-hour mark, pacers came and went so he’d have drafting partners all the way to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/14 "2023-10-09T19:55:39Z")
I’ve done some long bike rides where the distance measured by my bike computer doesn’t match what was promised. I never know which is correct, though. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/15 "2023-10-09T21:08:07Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I think some distance races actually hire pace setters to run at particular speeds to help the competitors. Everyone starts at the beginning though, so at some point the winner will separate and finish on his own. Kiptum had a couple of pacers for his race. Dropped them by mile 19, though. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/16 "2023-10-09T21:17:26Z")
There have been cases where the pacer (“rabbit”) ended up winning the marathon. There is nothing stopping them from continuing if they are feeling it. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/17 "2023-10-09T22:29:20Z")
Marathon paces have always been the athletic feat that breaks my brain the most. Sprints, lifting, throwing, etc all seem comprehensible. At my most athletic (starting varsity soccer player) I could have run at that pace for probably like 200m. I’m definitely not naturally athletic, but being fit and just dying after 30-40 seconds of what someone does for 2 hours is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/18 "2023-10-09T22:45:36Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > At my most athletic (starting varsity soccer player) I could have run at that pace for probably like 200m. Yeah, when I was about 35 and in _very_ good shape I could do 10km in 37 min, pretty good for a mortal (6-minute miles). Just to see what it felt like, I once set up world record marathon pace on a running machine. I’m not sure it’s even possible now, most of them have much more conservative speed limits out of liability concerns. I think I managed about 30 seconds, but I wasn’t really sure how long I was at full speed because I had to concentrate on not tripping and flying off. It’s hard to believe that these guys are the same species. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/19 "2023-10-09T22:56:13Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Yeah, when I was about 35 and in _very_ good shape I could do 10km in 37 min, - My best lifetime mile(in college) was 4:32. Kiptum, Kipchoge, et al would be a few seconds back and _just getting warmed up._ ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319/20 "2023-10-09T23:19:30Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > It’s so absolutely bonkers. There’s a speed monitor on my running path and it clocked me at 10mph along the straightest, flattest stretch. I could do that for a mile, tops. Going faster than that for 2 hours straight is just nuts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-hour-marathon-mark-is-now-officially-on-life-support/991319.md?page=2)