Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier (nytimes.com)

Article summary

Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour marathon barrier with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds. This achievement will not be recognized as an official world record due to the use of a team of rotating pacemakers and other conditions. Kipchoge's run was an experiment to see if it was possible to shave a couple dozen seconds off the marathon time. The run was assisted by a pacing car with a laser projection to help the runners maintain a consistent pace.

Main themes

• marathon running
• world records
• pacemakers and assistance
• running technology
• sport accessibility and competition
• record recognition and certification

What commenters say

• The use of pacemakers and other assistance should not disqualify Kipchoge's achievement from being considered a world record.
• The conditions of the run, including the pacemakers and laser projection, gave Kipchoge an unfair advantage.
• Kipchoge's consistency and dominance in the sport are more impressive than his individual record-breaking achievements.
• The accessibility of running as a sport is both a blessing and a curse, as it allows for a wide range of participants but also creates a high level of competition.
• The technology used in the run, such as the laser projection, could be used to help other runners achieve faster times.
• The official recognition of records is not as important as the achievement itself, and alternative certification bodies could be established to recognize exceptional performances.
• The comparison between running and other sports, such as cycling, is not always fair due to the different conditions and requirements of each sport.