The Greatest Marathon Since 490 BC (And Why You Should Care)

One could be forgiven for not paying attention to the TCS London Marathon this past weekend. For most people, the idea of watching people run 26.2 miles sounds about as fun as actually running it which is to say, it isn’t.

Spending 3 to 6 hours watching what humorous spectator signs describe as “the worst parade ever” is not everyone's cup of tea. Most would rather watch golf, NASCAR, or paint dry, thinking the most exciting thing that might happen is someone losing control of their bowels after mile 20.

I get it. But for the 800,000+ spectators in London and those watching online, we just witnessed arguably the greatest marathon since 490 BC when Pheidippides collapsed and died after running to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians. This race was so significant that I finally decided to add a blog section to BusyDadFitness.com just to process it.

The History Makers

On April 26, 2026, Sabastian Sawe made history as the first person to record an official sub-2-hour marathon at 1:59:30.

Just 11 seconds later, in his debut marathon, Yomif Kejelcha (in his DEBUT MARATHON!) became the second. In third place, Jacob Kiplimo ran a time that would have been a world record just an hour earlier. Let’s break down the magnitude of what just happened.

Testing the Edge of Human Limits

A sub-2-hour marathon was long considered the "edge" of human potential. Ever since Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile in 1954, we’ve been cautious about using the word “impossible.” But running 26.2 miles at a 4:33/mile pace is a different beast entirely.

It wasn't a matter of if, but when. Arguably the G.O.A.T. of marathon running Eliud Kipchoge proved it could be done in a controlled environment in 2019. Then, the phenomenal Kelvin Kiptum brought the official record down to 2:00:35 in 2023. Tragically, Kiptum passed away before he could chase the sub-2 barrier himself, leaving us wondering who would take his place. We didn't have to wait long.

Why London?

The London Marathon isn't "supposed" to be where world records fall. Unlike the dead-straight boulevards of Berlin, London is technical. It features over 90 turns and "mini-roundabouts" that force runners to constantly adjust their center of gravity.

But the stars aligned in 2026:

• The Weather: A perfect 50°F at the start with a helpful easterly breeze.

• The Physics: At 6’1”, Yomif Kejelcha brought a "long-lever" stride length rarely seen in elite marathoning, proving that height isn't a handicap if you have the engine to back it up.

• The Speed: On Mile 24, these men clocked a blistering fast 4:12 mile. That’s 14.3 mph. If you ever find a treadmill that goes that fast, don’t try it! You will undoubtedly hurt yourself.

What About the Shoes?

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the gear. While Nike’s Vaporflys have dominated the podium for years, there is a new king. Both Sawe and Kejelcha were wearing the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.

Weighing in at a mere 3.4 ounces (lighter than a deck of cards), these shoes are designed for one thing: energy return. Should you drop $500 on a pair for your local 5K fun run? If you have the cash, go for it—but don’t expect a world record. These shoes are the "Formula 1" cars of the running world; they require a high-performance engine to actually work.

A Flood of Sub-2s?

Now that the barrier is broken, will we see a rush of 1:59s? I doubt it. When Bannister broke 4 minutes, it didn't suddenly make the mile easy. It's still incredibly hard.

There are likely only a handful of humans on Earth capable of this feat right now. However, with the Berlin Marathon coming up in September. Berlin is the site where the marathon record has fallen many times. If the conditions are right again, I wouldn’t be surprised if the record falls again.

Final Thoughts

There is so much more to say about human potential, but this is a start. I’m writing this to get back into the habit—much like training for a race, the first mile is the hardest.

Whether you like, share, or subscribe doesn't matter much to me yet. I’m just glad you’re here to "nerd out" on the science of speed with me.