Testing the Limits of the Human Body | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

Testing the Limits of the Human Body

Kenyan native and professional runner, Eliud Kipchoge, partnered with Nike to achieve one of the greatest feats a human has ever accomplished

130
Testing the Limits of the Human Body

On October 12, 2019, Eliud Kipchoge, an Olympic long-distance runner, broke one of the greatest barriers in human history. He completed a marathon in just under 2 hours, coming in at 01:59:40. To non-athletes and people who are not runners, it may be confusing as to why this is such a big deal. Kipchoge partnered with Nike a little over two years ago with the sole purpose of "Breaking 2", or breaking the two-hour mark in a marathon. Their journey involved heavy training and regulation of everything from eating to sleeping to workouts. In May 2017 Kipchoge made his first attempt to "Break 2" in Milan, Italy, along with two other professional runners. He finished with a time of 02:00:25. A mere 25 seconds stood between him and his goal. On September 24, 2017 he won the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:03:32. Kipchoge continued his domination of the long-distance field by winning the London marathon two years in a row in 2018 and 2019. He also won the Berlin marathon in 2018. Every year brought fresh opportunity for Kipchoge to decrease his times and increase his performance, leading up to his most recent feat.

When I saw what Kipchoge had done, I was truly inspired. I have been a runner for many years; I ran cross country and track all throughout high school. I was on the varsity teams for both and so I was running for most of my four years. The only way to fully understand Kipchoge's sheer strength and determination is to be a runner because I am able to see his journey from a unique perspective. Running is truly a mental sport because it takes so much mental strength to be able to continue a race, even though you want to bend over and take a breath and you can feel the lactic acid build up in your legs. I have not had nearly as much training as Kipchoge, but I can still recognize how awe-inspiring his efforts are. To put things into perspective Kipchoge ran 26.1 miles at an average pace of 4:35 per mile; during cross country, my average mile time for 3.1 miles would be 7:30 and I was dead tired after only 3 miles. I cannot fathom running a straight 26.1 miles at such as fast pace; it truly blows my mind.

Kipchoge ran this groundbreaking time at Prater Park in Vienna, Austria, a relatively flat course chosen for its speed advantage. Although this time was an extraordinary achievement, it will not be counted as an official time because it was not run under the true conditions of a real marathon and the fact that Kipchoge also had pacers running with him every mile. I believe that one day soon Kipchoge will break two hours in a real marathon, and I await this day with excitement!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 Of The Best Shows To Binge Watch Over Winter Break

As the semester is coming to an end, most of us are going to have more free time on our hands. This calls for binge watching a new show on Netflix and really using this break to relax from the stress of school. Here are some of the best shows on Netflix that you should be watching.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Gifs That Explain Your Lazy Weekend

Get ready for 2.5 days of doing absolutely nothing

104
netflix
Kayla Master

Admit it: everyone loves to have a lazy weekend every once in a while. Not too much work to do, comfy clothes, Netflix binge sessions: just a few of the perfect components of a relaxing weekend. While you may get to a point where you regret doing absolutely nothing with your weekend, you just got to pull through and finish out this weekend to prove that you can go 2.5 days without accomplishing a single thing.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

10 Truths About Being In A Sorority

(For Girls Who Are Interested In Greek Life)

2003
Sorority
Rebekah Lee

I remember my freshman year oh so well. I remember feeling terrified the night before orientation. The one thing that I dreaded the most was not the new people, the new environment, or even the academic pressure. I was dreading having to talk to sorority girls about Recruitment. I remember cutting off and avoiding any Rho Gamma/Panhellenic Officer that came my way during First Week. I looked at them like they had asked me to cut my arm off whenever they asked me if I wanted to rush. To be honest, I did not even know what rush was, but I knew that I did NOT want to be a part of it. To me, it was dumb. It was a waste of money. It was a waste of my time.

And guess what? I did not rush my freshman year. I spent the first half of my freshman year isolating myself from everyone on campus. I spent all of my time in the library, and then (since I was a commuter) went back home once my work was finished.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 Must Watch Shows During Winter Break
Netflix

Now that the semester is over, you are probably wondering what your purpose of life is beside writing essays and constantly studying. Breaks give you time for some rest and relaxation, and what better way to relax than cuddling with some hot cocoa and some Netflix. Here is a list compiled of shows that must make it into your binge watching sessions, with the website in which you can find it. Enjoy!

Keep Reading...Show less
Disney Princesses
The Odyssey
Tiana would no doubt be disappointed in the food our cafeteria has to offer.

And hopefully she would cook for everyone in her dorm.

She definitley would not take any 8:00 am classes because she would be up late baking and cleaning up the communal kitchen that are available in every dorm.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments