I saw this in bits and drabs. I hope to catch a bit more of it. But from the look of it, it's impressive, but not as impressive as the time suggests. Eliud is an all time great. But any runner will tell you what a difference it makes to run in a pack, blocking the elements, water carriers, flattish course with gentle turns among other gimmicks you don't find in normal races.
We may not live to see a sub-2 hour under normal running conditions.
Oh yea of little faith..... Majority of folks do NOT realize that under NORMAL condition Man IS only
99 seconds outside 2 hours. Some mzungu called Jim Ratcliffe of INEOS latched on this shyness of that time to bring FORWARD the reality that man could run below 2 hours. (See the ideas that get into your head when you have money?) @Bitmask if you are in good health and god-forbid not run over by a Chicago bus or train, you will certainly see the 2 hour mark broken in your life-time "without gimmicks"
And my prediction is that it will be broken in
Berlin.
A head to head between Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) and Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) at the next big marathon event is worth a try for starters.
Here is another thing I can't get out of my head: If Samuel Wanjiru who was murdered at the tender age of 24 had been alive today and gone easy on booze and women, he and his freestyle unorthodox way of running would already have broken the record under NORMAL conditions.
10 Fastest Marathoners on Record-Eligible Course: MenRunner Finish Time Pace/Mile Marathon
Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:
01:39 4:38.4 Berlin, 2018
Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 2:01:41 4:38.5 Berlin, 2019
Birhanu Legese (Ethiopia) 2:02:48 4:41.0 Berlin, 2019
Mosinet Geremew (Ethiopia) 2:02:55 4:41.3 London, 2019
Dennis Kimetto (Kenya) 2:02:57 4:41.4 Berlin, 2014
Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) 2:03:13 4:42.0 Berlin, 2016
Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya) 2:03:13 4:42.0 Berlin, 2014
Mule Wasihun (Ethiopia) 2:03:16 4:42.1 London, 2019
Getaneh Molla (Ethiopia) 2:03:34 4:42.0 Dubai, 2019
Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) 2:03:36 4:42.9 Berlin, 2019