Multiple Legal Sub-2 Hour Marathons

What the report says

Next Big Future reports that the 2026 TCS London Marathon produced what it describes as the first two official, record-eligible men’s marathons under two hours. According to the article, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe ran 1:59:30 for a world record, while Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished in 1:59:41 in his marathon debut, also described as a national record and the fastest debut at the distance. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo was listed at 2:00:28, with the report saying Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 from 2023 had been the previous official world record.

The article emphasizes that the London result was not only about the winner but also about unusual depth. It says the top 10 included historically fast marks, with Amos Kipruto at 2:01:39, Tamirat Tola at 2:02:59, and the rest of the leading group finishing around the 2:06 range. It distinguishes these official performances from Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:59:40 in the 2019 Ineos Challenge, which was not record-eligible.

Next Big Future attributes the acceleration in marathon times to several factors, led by “super shoes” using carbon-fiber plates, advanced foams and rocker-shaped soles. The article says such shoes improve running economy and may be worth meaningful time gains for elite marathoners, while also helping athletes train harder and recover faster.

The report places the marathon trend within a broader pattern in elite running, citing faster sprint, mile and road-racing performances. It also points to refined training, altitude-based programs, stronger professional support, pacemaking, optimized courses and deeper international fields as possible contributors to more athletes reaching once-rare performance thresholds.