As we have seen in the past, Sammy’s record attempt would probably come outside of a major international event such as the Olympic Games or World Championships. These tend to be tactical marathons where no one really wants to push until the last 10K. It is probable, based on past world record runs, that our 1:59 would come at the Berlin, Chicago, or London Marathons in very conducive weather to running fast for an extended duration. A solid tailwind would be excellent, as would a few non-sanctioned “pacers” to help Sammy get through the doldrums between miles 13-20.
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Photo Courtesy of bbc.co.uk
Sammy would need to approach the race with negative splits in mind, albeit slight ones. A 1:00.XX first half followed by a 59:XX second half would be prime, provided his training had gone perfectly en route to the big day. He would need a firm grasp of race course nutrition and hydration over the first 25K or so, but then I think taking anything else may cause gastric distress late in the race since his pace would be so quick; or, it would simply slow him down due to losing a few seconds at water stations along the way.
As this article has detailed, musing about a sub-2:00 marathon is easy, but the task itself would perhaps be the single most monumental running achievement to date. Sammy may come along one day, but that day is probably still many years into the future.
Author
Peyton Hoyal is a high school and post-collegiate coach, and former NAIA All-American in the marathon. He coaches athletes across the U.S. and currently trains competitively for the marathon.
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The post Breaking the 2:00 Hour Marathon Barrier: Race Day | Part 4 appeared first on Running Shoe Reviews. Written by Endurance Sport
