Failing Ineos Challenge would have been a disaster, says Kipchoge

Eliud Kipchoge during Ineos 1:59 Challenge

Eliud Kipchoge during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge at Prater Park in Vienna, Austria on October 12, 2019.

Photo credit: Pool | INEOS 1:59 Challenge

What you need to know:

  • Kipchoge made history on October 12 last year when he became the first man to run a marathon under two hours, conquering the course in Vienna, Austria in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 41 seconds
  • Kipchoge said missing to double in 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2012 London Olympics Games after missing a flight is so far his lowest moment in athletics
  • Kipchoge had tried to break the two-hour mark for the first time during the Monza Nike Breaking2 on May 6, 2017 but fell short by 26 seconds



World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge has described last year’s Ineos 1:59 Challenge as the toughest race in his athletics career.

The 35-year-old Olympic marathon champion also disclosed that missing the 2012 London Olympic Games remains as his lowest moments in his athletics career spanning close to 18 years.

“Ineos Challenge was my toughest. It took all my mind since I was running against the unthinkable,” said Kipchoge. “It consumed all my thoughts…I can say it was really hard for me.”

Kipchoge said he doesn’t know what could have happened if he failed to conquer the Ineos 1:59 Challenge, having fallen short before in Monza, Italy during the Breaking2 event.

“I told myself that here is one man running and failing the whole world that was watching…it would have been a disaster,” said Kipchoge during the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) webinar dubbed “Mind set and Discipline of Success” on Thursday evening.

Also in attendance in the discussion moderated by journalist Lyn Wachira, was Kenyan international volleyball setter Janet Wanja.

Kipchoge made history on October 12 last year when he became the first man to run a marathon under two hours, conquering the course in Vienna, Austria in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 41 seconds.

The run did not count as a new marathon record, as standard competition rules for pacing and fluids were not followed and it was not an open event.

Kipchoge had tried to break the two-hour mark for the first time during the Monza Nike Breaking2 on May 6, 2017 but fell short by 26 seconds.

Kipchoge had the previous year shattered the world marathon record when winning the 2018 Berlin Marathon in 2:01:39, becoming the first man to run a sub-2:02 in a marathon. Kipchoge shattered compatriot Dennis Kimetto’s world record time of 2:02:57 set at 2014 Berlin Marathon.

Kipchoge said missing to double in 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2012 London Olympics Games after missing a flight is so far his lowest moment in athletics.

“I was really down but all in all, I went back to launch my return. I told myself that missing one big event isn’t suicide and that there is always tomorrow, which is another day,” said Kipchoge adding that he treated that moment as a challenge and had to understand why it happened.

“I got lessons from failing, I learnt the hard way after being locked out from the team for the London Olympics,” Kipchoge explained. “For 10 years in track and field, I had attended all the championship events, but this one was shocking to me. I felt it all from head to toes.”

Kipchoge said that he is lucky to have been surrounded by good professional people. “My coach came in handy. He knew how to handle people who are in bad situations like me and here I am today,” said Kipchoge.