marathon run one of the hardest disciplines athletics. Not every athlete is able to run a set distance. To overcome it, you need to have strength and endurance. For the body of an athlete, this is a heavy load. However, for all its complexity, it is a sport that is useful for the whole body, which, with regular training, improves heart function and prevents the development of a number of diseases.
A marathon is a race long distance with an officially accepted distance of 42 kilometers 195 meters (26.219 miles, or 26 miles 385 yards). Trained athletes who are able to withstand a long distance take part in it.
The event was organized in memory of the legendary runner, the Greek warrior Pheidippides, who ran a distance of 250 kilometers in a day and a half. He informed the Athenians about the victory over the Persian army at the battle of Marathon and immediately died of exhaustion. Pheidippides was a national hero, and his strength and courage were admired by many. A monument was erected in his honor on the road to Marathon so that future generations would not forget about his feat.
monument on the Athenian roadMore than eight hundred marathons are held annually around the world. Many people take part in them to demonstrate physical training and test your abilities. However, few, even among the marathon runners themselves, can say why such a distance was officially adopted.
This is very interest Ask, the answer to which can hardly be found in textbooks. Its history goes back to the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, at a time when the tradition of holding the Olympic Games was revived. We will talk about this below.
1896 is the date of the first modern Olympic Games. An important event that will go down in history forever. This year the marathon runners ran forty kilometers. After the victory of the Greek athlete, representatives of other countries became interested in this sport. Athletes dreamed of breaking the Olympian's record and proving their endurance. The marathon has ceased to be a distance reserved for exceptional people. It becomes clear that with the right amount of training and good health, each person is able to overcome the distance. Marathon running is gaining worldwide popularity.
It is interesting to note the fact that runners often arrived at the finish line during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games or some time before it began. This emphasizes the status of the marathon race, which is the final discipline. Over time, this has become a tradition, and the marathon completes the program of the Games. Unfortunately, athletes are not always well prepared, which is why some of them are simply not physically able to run to the finish line.
However, if in this case we can talk about a well-established rule, then there were no uniform standards regarding the length of the distance. The main condition was that the athletes must run along the same route in equal conditions. The length of the race was determined depending on the place of the marathon, and each time it was a different number.
Let's trace the history of marathon running. Since 1896, the length of the marathon has been at least 40 kilometers. Scientists have calculated that just such a distance was the distance from the city of Marathon to Athens. However, on subsequent Olympic Games new standards were set, which differed significantly from each other.
It was only in 1921 that the modern distance was established by the International Association of Athletics Federations. How was it calculated, and what influenced the commission's decision?
For the first time, marathon runners ran just such a distance at the London Olympics, which were held in 1908. However, this did not happen on purpose, it was originally agreed on a different distance, but the case intervened. At first, the marathon race was decided to be held on a 25-mile (40 kilometers 23 meters) track. During the race, it had to be changed. From Windsor Castle, part of the royal family watched the start of the runners. At the White City stadium, as you probably already guessed, there were also representatives of the royal family. It was in this place that the runners had to complete their distance. And for their convenience, the distance was lengthened. In addition, the runners had to face difficulties due to the intense heat. However, the marathon ended successfully, The Royal Family was satisfied with what she saw. Gold was won by the American athlete D. Hayes.
The London Olympics was the first time that athletes ran the distance accepted in modern competitions. However, the story does not end there. The distance that the athletes ran in London was not officially fixed as a benchmark for subsequent Olympic Games. The organizers did not develop a single figure that could be officially fixed for all competitions until 1924.
At the next two Olympics, the length of the distance was very different. In Stockholm in 1912 it was 40 kilometers 200 meters. That is, more than two kilometers less than London. Only eight years later, the length of the distance was practically close to modern standards and amounted to 42 kilometers 750 meters. It was held in Antwerp.
It is logical to assume that such a situation could not continue for a long time. The International Olympic Committee and the Athletics Federation advocated the creation of a single distance for all Olympic Games, regardless of where they will be held. It was decided to fix the exact length marathon distance.
It is difficult to say why exactly the distance of the London Marathon was taken as the standard. Members sports organizations, having consulted among themselves, decided to fix this figure. Such a decision could be influenced by many different factors, which we can only speculate about. There is no exact answer to the question. However, since the 1924 Olympics, marathon runners have run the standard distance of 42 kilometers 195 meters. This is such a complex history of marathon running. However, despite the fact that it is not fully understood, it is important and necessary to know.
The world record in this discipline belongs to Dennis Kimetto, who took part in the Berlin Marathon in September 2014. He showed excellent result, forcing professional athletes to look up to him, and amateurs to admire his capabilities and respect him for his fortitude. The best marathon runners are able to run at speeds of more than twenty kilometers per hour!
Runners all over the world consider it important to participate in a marathon. Together with the leading athletes, make a race, and thereby join the world track and field athletics movement. The organizers of many marathons hold lotteries to identify future participants, as a large number of people want to run the distance and test their abilities. This trend cannot but rejoice, because playing sports is an important part of an active lifestyle. And a person who loves sports and dedicates to it every day free time, is an example for many.
– Olympic running discipline. It is a race on the highway at a distance of 42 km 195 meters. Marathons, at the distance of which world records are recorded, should not have a height difference of more than 1 meter per one kilometer of distance. However, marathons are held in completely different conditions. There are mountain marathons, when athletes overcome a distance of 42 km 195 meters, running in the mountains, marathons are held in mines, in the Arctic, in deserts, etc.
1. World records in marathon running
The world record for the men's marathon is held by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto, who covered 42 km 195 meters in 2 hours 2 minutes 57 seconds in 2014.
The world record in the women's marathon is held by British athlete Paul Radcliffe, who covered the distance in 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds. This record has been held since 2003. In order to understand how remarkable this achievement is, it is worth saying that the closest result to the world record for women shown over the past 12 years is the result of the Kenyan runner Mary Keitany, who ran the marathon in 2012 slower than Paula by 3 minutes 12 seconds. .
2. Category standards for running a marathon among men
| View | Ranks, ranks | Youthful | |||||||||||
| MSMK | MS | KMS | I | II | III | I | II | III | |||||
| 42 195 | 2:13.00 | 2:20.00 | 2:28.00 | 2:37.00 | 2:50.00 | Zach. dist | |||||||
2. Category standards for running a marathon among women
| View | Ranks, ranks | Youthful | |||||||||||
| MSMK | MS | KMS | I | II | III | I | II | III | |||||
| 42 195 | 2:32.00 | 2:45.00 | 3:00.00 | 3:15.00 | 3:30.00 | Zach. dist | |||||||
In order for your preparation for a distance of 21.1 km to be effective, you need to follow a well-designed training program. In honor of the New Year holidays in the store training programs 40% OFF, move on and improve your score:
Olympic marathon, whose distance is 42.195 kilometers, is a serious test for both beginners and well-trained athletes with good experience. However, these are only the official conditions of the marathon, after which any long runs on rough terrain or in special conditions, including life-threatening ones, are called today. This is where the first advice comes from - before registering for your first marathon, you should carefully read its conditions and possible dangers. 42 km 195 m is a lot, you need to be ready to overcome this distance. Read about all the nuances of the race and preparation for it in the article.
Marathon: world record
The world marathon record was first recorded at the Antwerp Olympics in 1969. It was installed by an Australian named Clayton, covering 42 km 195 m in just two hours, eight minutes and thirty-three seconds. No one has been able to break the record for a long time. And this despite the fact that traditionally a marathon is held every year. The 1969 world record was broken only in 1989. The difference was only in minutes - 2:06:32 (Sammy Vanjirou). And the last world record was recorded in 2008 - 2:03:59. Installed by Haile Gebreselassie.
Fundamentals of preparation
So, the Olympic marathon, the distance of which you already know, is not so easy to run. It is necessary to have a good athletic training in simple Beginners marathon is, as a rule, experienced runners or advanced athletes who have mastered the “toe” technique, developed their own fluid intake and know how to properly monitor their heart rate during exercise.
How to run a marathon as a beginner? First and main principle- Spend enough time preparing. Even professionals do not shy away from training in advance and collecting enough information about the upcoming race. Therefore, the first thing you need for a marathon is to make a training plan. It entirely depends on the type of terrain that is chosen for the upcoming race.
How to run a marathon without training? Unfortunately not. Be sure to prepare! As a test run, it is recommended to choose a distance of 10 km in the same or similar conditions. This is the most favorable option for a sober assessment of your own potential before running 4 times more.
Body preparation
How to run your first marathon? The maximum result can be achieved only with a responsible approach to training, but we must not forget about the adequacy of the loads. The closer the day of the marathon, the shorter the distance of the next race should be. Entering the competition in a “squeezed out” state with a high degree of probability will not bring the coveted victory.
Good sleep is not only a guarantee healthy lifestyle life, but also a successful performance at the marathon. Rest should be clear and balanced, strictly according to the schedule without deviations.
Every competent runner knows what is the main fuel for a special engine in a car called an organism. It is nothing but glycogen. This substance is a product of the processing of carbohydrates from food. Their presence in the diet is mandatory. Large reserves of this substance will ensure the best well-being during a long-distance race.
How to replenish glycogen in the body? Despite the fact that carbohydrates have been mentioned, do not rush to joyfully grab everything sweet and starchy. This is all very tasty, but not so useful at all, because there are fast and slow carbohydrates, and you need the second group. You can find them in any food that is recommended in a normal balanced human diet, i.e. different kinds meat, fresh fruits (with the exception of bananas), vegetables, cereals, dairy products, lard, eggs and more. Simply put, slow carbohydrates are any food that is slowly digested and processed by the body. If you can’t do without a piece of bread at the table, you can switch to grain or any “black” or “gray” pastries.
Especially popular among runners is pasta, an Italian dish made from pasta. However, given the fact that it is slow carbohydrates that are needed for a successful race, it is necessary to choose products from special varieties of flour. A wide variety of recipes allows you to mix it with all the products necessary for a normal diet and special diet for a marathon run. Real Italian pasta is made from durum wheat and is included in the marathon diet a few weeks before the start.
Psychological self-preparation
So, the training schedule has already been drawn up, information about the terrain has already been received, the strategy for overcoming the distance has already been drawn up, everything seems to be ... but something can be missed - the mood.
How to run a marathon? The psychological preparation for the race plays the same important role like the physical one. A special attitude and a specific mindset distinguishes a professional from an amateur. After all, even for the most experienced runner, overcoming the marathon distance is a very big job.
If you are stressed, you should do everything possible to eliminate this factor on the day of the race. Stress, like a match in a gas tank, will burn out all your energy reserves in an instant and lead to a shameful result when running a long distance.
So, you are ready. Here comes the day of the race. How to run a marathon? First you need to arrive at the start site as early as possible, warm up calmly, not forgetting about the breathing technique, and then slowly go through the registration procedure. Also, do not forget about a delicious pasta breakfast, this is the best relaxant on the day of the race.
Careful study of the route is also an important element. psychological preparation. When you have an idea of what to expect in advance, there is a good basis for maintaining confidence throughout the route. You can also plan the mode of water consumption so that there is no internal conflict with yourself when it is better to do this. If you determine in advance the most difficult sections of the path, the psyche will be in full combat readiness, and will not fail at a crucial moment.
Endurance Secret
So you want to run a marathon. How many km you will need to overcome - you already know. Agree - it's a lot. That is why you need to train endurance. In order not to get hung up on fatigue and the difficulty of overcoming the distance, you can divide the entire track into equal sections, based on the various landmarks that are located on it. Thus, a person pays less attention to a high load, and concentrates more on a run. Running strategy - very important element in achieving success, it is with its help that athletes apply a rational approach to the distribution of forces.
A marathon is always a race through beautiful and picturesque places, if you feel that stress and despair are rolling in, you can always be distracted by the surrounding idyll and forget about gloomy thoughts.
Very valuable advice for beginners - keep yourself in hand at the start, never follow the example of those who are trying to dash away from the starting line with the speed of a 100m champion. The winner is the one who knows how to smoothly flare up and use forces at a crucial moment, which most often falls on the last stage.
Those who know firsthand are very familiar with the state that comes after the completion of the 30-kilometer stretch. At this point, the body begins to loudly report its fatigue through pain and increased sensitivity to discomfort. Then you need to remember your desire to win, no matter what.
How to run a marathon
What should be the Marathon not to overcome if you do not own it. This is the main part of the whole preparation for the race. In this aspect, there are many pitfalls that become an unpleasant surprise for those who have not covered long distances before.
There is a big difference in the effectiveness of a certain running technique on long and short distances. The habit of landing on the heel in front of you may not interfere in any way at the usual distances, but at the distance of a half marathon it will lead to unexpected pain or even inflammation. knee joint.
Many people think that for correct running need a special physical preparation for greater leg strength, good press and flexibility in ligaments and joints. However, in fact, almost anyone can reach this level.
The basic functional minimum of a marathon runner includes:
- Well prepared calves.
- Strong lower back, buttocks, thighs.
- Presence of a press.
The above set of muscles forms a special corset while running, which does not allow a person to bend or arch their back incorrectly while running. A protruding pelvis is the main sign of unpreparedness to overcome long distances.
Based on the foregoing, we can draw a simple conclusion - stoop is unacceptable while running. It leads to a shift in the center of gravity, which seriously spoils the running technique, complicates the work of the respiratory and cardio. vascular system. Stoop can be eliminated only by strengthening the back muscles through wide push-ups or pull-ups on the horizontal bar.
Body preparation level
When it comes to flexibility, it is not at all necessary that the athlete has the opportunity to sit on the splits. It is necessary to achieve a good balance between muscle length, ligament elasticity and work nervous system. The necessary amplitude of the joint is achieved only by special training and does not require extra effort and many years of work. To organize sufficient mobility of the hips, knee joint and foot, it is enough to regularly engage in gymnastic stretching or Pilates.
With sufficient flexibility, the amplitude of the work of the hips increases, the step becomes wider, and the casting and landing of the leg is also facilitated. The athlete runs much faster and becomes more enduring. Dynamic stretching can be done during a warm-up, and static stretching will be most effective after training on warm muscles.
Marathon: running speed
There is a special technique of running at a marathon pace (M), which everyone tries to adhere to. professional athletes. The method is very flexible and does not contain clear boundaries, everyone approaches it differently, but on average, it is recommended to run so that you can run 25 kilometers within 90-150 minutes.
The most prepared for running at such a pace are those who specialize in distances of 800 and 1500 meters, who are able to reduce the duration of such a run to 40-60 minutes. During training according to this method, it is very important to work out all the details of the upcoming competitions, find your own schedule for consuming water, carbohydrates or energy drinks.
It should be noted that the pace of running a marathon is faster, however, competent training implies an effective combination of these two techniques. A more intense one is used to prepare for the upcoming loads, and a lightweight running technique is the main way to maintain the achieved form. Also, the M-tempo is not suitable for training in bad weather, as a serious level of intensity will quickly overload the body in difficult conditions for normal breathing.
In general, there should not be any particular difficulties with the material, since a long time ago, athletes brought out a number of simple recommendations that everyone should unconditionally adhere to.
Basic marathon set
Obviously, the choice of shoes will require the most attention. And no matter how tempting a new pair of sneakers is, you should hide it away. Any shoes with low mileage are considered new, which means that they have not passed the “combat” test and are a pig in a poke. For a marathon, only shoes that are familiar to him, which are well adapted to the foot, are suitable, perhaps their size will even be slightly larger than the size of the foot. In the last 10 kilometers, this aspect makes itself felt very well.
It is worth thinking about clothing only a few days before the race, since its selection depends entirely on the weather conditions that are scheduled for that day. While running, a person experiences an incredible hot state, so you don’t have to worry about the possibility of freezing. In extreme cases, you can plan the transfer of extra things to the maintainers, which is not always possible. Headgear is a must-have piece of equipment, regardless of the weather.
The plate with the number must be firmly fixed on the clothing. Otherwise, it will get bored very quickly and reduce the effectiveness of running. The number itself must be completely protected from water ingress, otherwise a number of formal problems will arise. The easiest way is to laminate or process with tape.
Given the specifics of overcoming the marathon distance, the number of things should be as limited as possible. In most cases, the mandatory list is:
- Water and nutrients.
- The most lightweight and comfortable player.
- Pulse meter.
- Napkins in stock.
- A patch to cover calluses that are very likely to occur.
Before the start, almost all runners resort to the standard procedure - lubricating with petroleum jelly all the problem areas of the body that make themselves felt during training.
How to behave at the finish line?
This question is also important. Regardless of how the athlete finishes in a row, first, tenth, etc., it is important not to immediately stop the enormous load that the body is experiencing. To the cardiovascular system I managed to rebuild and my breathing returned to normal, in no case should you stop immediately after the finish.
When crossing the finish line, you must gradually slow down the pace of running and switch to quick step, then, after a slow walk, during which you need to restore breathing, you can gradually stop. Water should be drunk in small sips, gradually saturating the dehydrated body.
Well, you have learned what a marathon is, how many km you need to overcome, and how to properly prepare for this. Good luck on your run!
The history of marathon races has not so many years. In fact, it is a contemporary of the new Olympic movement. It all started in 1892, when the French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin undertook to revive the Olympic Games. Then, a well-known French linguist and historian, Sorbonne professor Michel Breal, who was a typical armchair scientist and connoisseur of Ancient Greece. Thus, the ancestor of the marathon is a man who himself has not run even a hundred meters in his life.
Naturally, it was decided to hold the first modern Olympic Games in Greece. And so, on the final day of the Olympics on April 10, 1896, the first marathon race in history took place. The path of the runners ran from the town of Marathon to the Panathenaic stadium and was 40 km. The winner, of course, was the Greek - Spiridon Louis, who overcame this distance in 2 hours 58 minutes 50 seconds. By the way, it was from the first Olympics that it became a tradition to organize a men's marathon race, as The final stage Games.
Over the next four years, the marathon movement unfolded throughout Europe and America.
The main mistakes of the first marathon runners:
- Wrongly chosen clothes. The runners dressed significantly warmer than required: long-sleeved T-shirts, knee-length shorts, and sometimes sweatpants.
- Wrong drinking regime. It was believed that drinking water during the race is contraindicated. But some managed to drink wine or brandy right at the distance.
- Inadequate preparation for the race. It is now that they begin to prepare for a marathon 3 months in advance, and then the majority was limited to at best three days.
At the next two Olympics in Paris and St. Louis, the length of the marathon distance was maintained within 42 km. Its current length is 42 km. The 195 m marathon is due to the 1908 Olympics in London. It was then decided to lengthen the distance to please the royal house, so that part of the royal family could see the start of the race in front of Windsor Palace, and the rest could see the finish from their royal box at the stadium.
And these last 200 meters almost killed the main contender for the victory of the Italian Dorando Pietri. Having already run into the White City stadium, Pietri fell several times from fatigue. But they lifted him up, poured water over him, and he ran again. It took the Italian 2 hours 54 minutes 46 seconds to cover the distance. But after a complaint from the US team, the Italian runner was disqualified, because. he finished the race with someone else's help, and the American John Hayes was recognized as the winner with his result of 2 hours 55 minutes 18 seconds. And four months later, these two marathon runners met in a rematch, and the Italian athlete Pietri won it. By the way, later both runners earned decent money by participating in all kinds of marathons.
And the marathon movement was gaining more and more popularity. Even their idols appeared in the circles of fans: Harry Barrett, Fred Cameron, Clarence de Mayor.
But its constant distance, as olympic look sports, the marathon found only by 1924. Probably, no one can say for sure why the IOC then chose the 1908 London race as a benchmark. At the Paris Olympics in 1924, Finn Oscar Stenroos won with a time of 2 hours 41 minutes 22 seconds.
To date, the main record holder is Kenyan athlete Dennis Kimetto, who set a world record on September 28, 2014 at the Berlin Marathon - 2 hours 2 minutes 57 seconds.
Women's marathon
But what about the fair sex? But now, women were admitted to the Olympic marathon only in 1984 in Los Angeles. Of course, before that, there were attempts on the part of runners to turn the tide. So, American Katherine Switzer, without advertising her gender, ran the Boston Marathon in 1967. Then she managed to overcome it 42 km. in 4 hours 20 minutes.
And the first Olympic champion at the marathon distance with a result of 2 hours 24 minutes 52 seconds was the American athlete Joan Benoit Samuelson.
To date, the undefeated record holder is the British runner Paula Radcliffe, who completed the marathon in 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds in 2003.
- The oldest marathon runner is the Indian Fauja Singh, who completed another run in 2011, breaking the centenary milestone in 8 hours 11 minutes 06 seconds.
- American Margaret Hagerty began training at the age of 72, and she completed the marathon distance at 81.
- In addition to the marathon, there is a half marathon and ultra marathon.
- Russian Sergey Burlakov overcame the marathon distance in New York in 2003, despite the fact that at that time both legs and hands of both hands were amputated.
- The fastest stayers are runners from Kenya and Ethiopia.
- The average speed of professional marathon runners is 20 km/h.
While tens of thousands of people train for various marathons every year, the strongest of them face the most formidable hurdle in the world of sports - running a two-hour marathon. Reporting by Chris Dennis (BBC).
A marathon distance of 42.2km in 120 minutes is breathtaking just thinking about it.
The opinions of experts on the possibility of such a result were divided.
For some it's great sports record, which is destined to surpass, for others it is an unattainable limit of endurance. Is a record possible at the 2012 Olympics?
Current world record holder Haile Gebreselassi, who ran the 2008 Berlin Marathon in a record time of 2:03:59, says it's possible, but not in the next few years.
The 38-year-old says: “I have no doubts about the feasibility of this record. It will take 20-25 years for the first 2-hour marathon, but it will certainly happen.”
Paula Radcliffe, the strongest runner in the marathon distance, agrees with this.
“Records exist to be improved, and athletes strive for this goal. But in order to set this record, you will have to make tremendous efforts.”
Just the thought that the record can be set in one generation is delightful.
“I think that over the next 20 years we will see the first marathon of 2 hours,” says London Marathon director Dave Bedforth.
current Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru, who ran the marathon in Beijing in 2:06:32, thinks it's way beyond his ability.
“It is impossible for me to run a marathon in 2 hours, my limit is 2 hours 2 minutes. Maybe the next generation... strong runners might come along. Speaking of our generation, you can’t count on the result of two hours.”
Another skeptic is Glenn Latimer, one of the leading marathon running experts in the United States. He does not believe that this can happen while he is alive. "Perhaps I am too old, but I think that this will not happen very soon."
“When you watch great runners like Haile Gebreselassi you see its power. 32nd, 34th, 35th kilometer - the athlete keeps great, but then something happens, the body starts to give up, it becomes difficult to maintain the rhythm.
Latimer, like Vanjirou, believes that the record will be set at around 2 hours 2 minutes, and this will be the limit.
But then again, 60 years ago people were saying the same thing about 1 mile 4 minutes before Roger Bannister set his own record. He became the first person. who ran 1 mile (i.e. 1609 meters) in less than 4 minutes. On May 6, 1954, he set this world record.
The science of endurance running is extremely complex, but physiologically there are three main factors that determine how fast a person can run:
- maximum level of oxygen consumption - a value known as VO2 max
- running efficiency - how quickly a distance is traveled on the ground
- endurance capacity - percentage of VO2 max maintained
There are different opinions of scientists about the limits of human capabilities. Some believe that the world record Haile Gebreselassi very close to the limit, other scientists believe that there is room for further improvement.
It is very interesting to look at the progress of world records in the marathon.
It took seven years to improve the record from 2:16 to 2:12, nineteen years to improve from 2:12 to 2:08, from the world record date of 2:08 to today's highest time of 2:03:59 has passed 24 years.
Having analyzed modern results marathons, University of Montreal professor Francois Peronnet concluded that a 2-hour marathon will be run in 2028.
Many experts agree that the world's first 2-hour marathon will require a confluence of several favorable factors.
“If you miss one detail on race day, you miss everything,” Gebreselassie says.
- First, we need an elite runner in great shape, perhaps an athlete from East Africa.
- Second: you need a straight, flat track, such as in Berlin, London or Rotterdam. The Berlin track is considered the fastest, over the past 10 years it has set 4 world records.
- Third: ideal weather conditions. No wind, air temperature 10-15 degrees Celsius.
- Fourth: strong pacemakers who will lead the race and set the right speed.
- Last: money.
As we approach the iconic marathon mark, race organizers will offer serious financial bonuses to incentivize runners to set the record. The first person who manages to run a marathon in less than two hours will not only get into the table of record holders, but also become a very rich person.
Paula Radcliffe knows what happens when things add up ideal conditions. In 2003 in London, she set the women's world record of 2:15:25
“You feel like everything is going its way. There is no compulsion, nothing hurts. You don't even think about anything - you just run. It's like your second nature. The preparation for the marathon was so hard that on the day of the run you feel lighter than in training, ”says Radcliffe about his feelings.
Everyone agrees that the first marathoner to run the distance in less than 2 hours will be the representative of Ethiopia, Eritrea or Kenya. But why?
I spent several days in Ethiopia with the leading athletes and coaches of this country.
Ethiopia is the poorest country in the world, but it has a solid achievement list in athletics.
The names of Abele Bikila, Mamo Volde, Miruts Yifter, Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebreselassi known all over the world.
Most of them started running as soon as they could walk. Haile Gebreselassi ran 10 kilometers a day to and from school.
Runners from this African country have achieved great success in the international arena due to several factors: Addis Ababa is located at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level, the region has favorable weather conditions, the people living here consume simple and organic food, and are extremely hardworking.
Ethiopian elite runners follow a monotonous routine of running, eating, sleeping. There is simply no time for other activities.
I was lucky enough to train in the suburbs of Addis Ababa with a group of athletes. After only one five-kilometer lap, I couldn't continue, and for the runners, it was just a warm-up.
I also met Ethiopian school runners who will replace the current generation of marathon runners. Perhaps among them was the first person to run a marathon in less than 2 hours?
Their dedication and self-discipline are admirable. Many of them consider maintaining Ethiopia's position in the world in endurance running their national duty.
If within the next 20 years there is a man who runs a marathon in 1:59:59, do not be surprised if it is the representative of Ethiopia.
Chris Dennis (BBC)
