Marathon World Record

Between Myth and Modernity: The Demands of Distance

The marathon is not just about speed. It’s a delicate balancing act where each runner must manage their breathing, energy reserves, and mental fortitude for more than two hours – or even four for amateurs. This demanding discipline requires meticulous preparation to avoid the dreaded “wall” at the 30-kilometer mark, where the body feels like it's collapsing from within. Since 2006, six iconic races – New York, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo, and London – have been united under the prestigious banner of the World Marathon Majors. Amid growing excitement, Sydney joined this elite club in 2025, becoming the seventh stage on a circuit where the world’s top athletes compete in front of millions of passionate spectators.

A Messenger, A Legend: The Roots of the Marathon

The history of the marathon traces back to ancient Greece 🏺. In 490 B.C., legend has it that a messenger named Pheidippides ran 246 kilometers in thirty-six hours between Athens and Sparta to rally troops against the Persian invasion. This feat inspired the creation of the marathon event at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. On that day, in a jubilant stadium, Greek runner Spyridon Louis crossed the finish line in 2h58’50, becoming an instant national hero 🇬🇷. Initially, the marathon distance varied between 40 and 42 kilometers before being officially set at 42.195 km in 1921 by the International Association of Athletics Federations – a choice inspired by the 1908 London Games, allowing a start from Windsor Castle 🏰 and a finish in front of the royal box.

For women, the path was fraught with obstacles. In 1966, Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb broke conventions by running the Boston Marathon unofficially (3h21) disguised as a man. The following year, Kathrine Switzer registered using her initials and became the first woman to run an official marathon, despite the violent attempt by the race director to pull off her bib number 261 – which has since become a symbol of women’s emancipation. It wasn’t until 1984 that the women’s marathon debuted at the Los Angeles Olympics with Joan Benoit’s victory in 2h24’52.

In the Shoes of a Marathoner: Runner’s Lexicon

The marathon has its own terminology, often mysterious to newcomers. Here’s an overview of key terms in the running world.

Timing & Performance:

• RP / PB: Personal Record / Personal Best.
• Sub 3h / Sub 2h: Time goals (to run under 3h, 2h...).
• Pace: Running speed (expressed in min/km).
• Negative Split: Running the second half of the race faster, a strategy often synonymous with strong performance.
• Positive Split: Running the second half of the race slower, often indicating a loss of energy.
• Popcorn: A familiar term for starting too fast in a race, often leading to premature exhaustion and finishing at a slower pace.
• The Wall: The point, often around the 30th kilometer, where a runner feels intense muscle pain and a sudden drop in energy due to depleted glycogen stores.
• Pain Cave: An extreme mental and physical state where the runner is isolated, battling against pain and fatigue to continue running.
• DNS: Did Not Start. When a runner, though registered, doesn’t start the race, often due to training injuries.
• DNF: Did Not Finish. When a runner drops out during the race.

Training & Preparation:

• Base Endurance: Slow and comfortable pace, building aerobic foundation without excessive fatigue.
• VMA (Maximum Aerobic Speed): Running speed at which a person reaches their maximum oxygen consumption (VO₂ max). Typically, a marathon is run at around 80% of VMA.
• Threshold: The intensity at which the body starts producing more lactate than it can eliminate, marking the boundary between sustainable and quickly exhausting effort. Marathon pace hovers around this limit.
• Long Run: A crucial marathon workout involving running longer distances at a moderate pace to build physical and mental endurance.
• LSD (Long Slow Distance): Long, slow runs to develop aerobic endurance, accustoming the body to sustained efforts.
• Mileage/Volume: Total weekly kilometers run.
• Taper: Period of relative rest before a competition, where athletes gradually reduce their training intensity and volume. This allows the body to fully recover and peak for race day.
• Conserve Energy: Term for the recovery phase before a race, aiming to preserve maximum energy.
• Peak Performance: Physiological moment when an athlete reaches optimal physical condition, often planned for race week.
• Shakeout Run: A very light jog done a day or two before a race to get the legs moving (usually 20 to 30 minutes at an easy pace).

Physiology:

• BPM: Beats Per Minute. Measurement of heart rate, indicating workout intensity.
• Cadence: Steps per minute, often optimized around 170-180 for efficient running.
• Aerobic: Long-duration effort fueled by oxygen, typical in endurance activities.
• Anaerobic: Short, intense efforts without sufficient oxygen supply, causing more fatigue.
• Hypo: Hypoglycemia. Sudden drop in blood sugar, causing fatigue, dizziness, or fainting. It’s a main cause of the “marathon wall.”
• Electrolytes: Essential minerals (like sodium, potassium) lost through sweat, which need replacement to prevent cramps and dehydration.
• Gels: Concentrated doses of carbohydrates consumed during a race to maintain energy levels.

Race & Gear:

D+: Positive elevation gain, i.e., the total climb of a course.

D-: Negative elevation, i.e., the total descent of a course.

Flat Course: Race route with little elevation, ideal for maintaining a steady pace and achieving personal bests.

Aid Station: Refreshment point offering water and food.

Starting Corral: Starting zone designated by ability or goal time.

Bib Number: Square or rectangular shape, with a unique number and timing chip for tracking and identifying the runner.

Carbon Shoes: High-performance running shoes with light, dynamic foams and a carbon plate in the sole to enhance stride efficiency.

GPS Watch: Tool for real-time tracking of distance, pace, heart rate, and other useful training data.

Race Week: The week leading up to the race, marked by tapering, recovery, and final preparations.

Race Day: The highly anticipated day of the race following weeks of preparation.

Race Recap: Post-race experience sharing, usually to reflect on feelings, results, objectives, and lessons learned.

Cheer Station: Area where spectators gather to enthusiastically support runners.

Carb Load: Carbohydrate intake in the days before the race to maximize energy reserves.

Pasta Party: Pre-race social meal, generally pasta, to optimize carbohydrate reserves.

Flow: Mental and physical state of full concentration where running feels easy and enjoyable, free from the pain of effort.

Marathon Blues: Post-marathon mood dip as the adrenaline fades and the goal is completed.

World Marathon Records: Legendary Performances

Kelvin Kiptum: The Shooting Star of Men’s Marathon

On October 8, 2023, Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum shook the record books. At 23 years old, and in only his third marathon, he shattered the world record at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2h00’35. An awe-inspiring feat: 21 km/h average for over two hours, or 2’51 per kilometer. Everything aligned for this achievement: an ultra-flat course (74 m elevation), ideal weather (7°C, cloudy skies, light wind), and an athlete at the peak of his talent. From the start, Kiptum set the tone: 14’26 at the 5km mark, 28’42 at 10km (2'52/km). He crossed halfway in 1h00’48 (2'53/km) before doing the unthinkable: speeding up when others slow down. His specialty? The “negative split”, a rare skill to run the second half faster than the first 💨. In Chicago, true to his reputation, he waited until the 30th kilometer to strike. Alone in the lead, deserted by his pacers, he kept accelerating. Between the 30th and 40th kilometer, he clocked a staggering 10km in 27’52 (2'47/km) – a time that would dazzle many 10,000 meters specialists! This stratospheric performance crowned the marathon with its next heir, and the dream of seeing someone run under two hours in official conditions seemed within reach. But fate had other plans. Six months after his feat, on February 11, 2024, Kiptum tragically lost his life in a car accident in Kenya 🇰🇪. Three marathons run – all won, all in “negative split”, all with breathtaking times – and an indelible mark on marathon history.

Ruth Chepngetich: The First Woman Under 2h10

While Kiptum pushed the limits of the men's marathon, Ruth Chepngetich 🇰🇪 redefined those of the women's marathon. On October 13, 2024, on that same Chicago course, the Kenyan achieved a time many deemed impossible: 2h09’56, or 3’05 per kilometer. Such an extraordinary performance that it placed Ruth Chepngetich in 3rd position in the World Athletics rankings of the greatest performances in history, right behind Usain Bolt's legendary 100m and 200m sprints. From the start, her pace seemed unsustainable: 15’00 at 5 km, 30’55 at 10 km (3'05/km). At the halfway point, she crossed in 1h04’16 (3'03/km), targeting a 2h08 finish. The athletic world held its breath. Despite growing difficulties after the 25th kilometer, she maintained an impressive pace thanks also to her pacer's support. The result? A massive gap with her chasers: 7 minutes ahead of Sutume Kebede (2h17’32) and Irine Cheptai (2h17’51). In the emotion of the finish, she dedicated her record to her compatriot Kelvin Kiptum, who left too soon – their destinies forever linked by excellence and Chicago. On that day, Ruth Chepngetich didn’t just set a record. She redefined what was thought possible in women's sports.

The Legends Who Shaped the Marathon

The marathon is also a gallery of heroes and heroines who made history with their strides. Eliud Kipchoge 🇰🇪, dubbed “the GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time), has reigned supreme for over 15 years. Double Olympic champion (2016, 2020), winner of 11 Marathon Majors, he became the first man to break the 2-hour barrier in an unofficial marathon in Vienna in 2019 (1h59’40). His philosophy, epitomized by his mantra “No human is limited,” inspires millions of runners worldwide. Before him, Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie 🇪🇹 dominated long-distance running for years, setting an exceptional time of 2h03’59 in 2008. Earlier still, his compatriot Abebe Bikila entered legend by winning the 1960 Rome Olympic marathon in 2h15’16… barefoot! The first African to shine on the world stage, he paved the way for a dominance that continues to this day. On the women’s side, pioneers Bobbi Gibb and Kathrine Switzer defied prohibitions so women could finally run officially. Later, British runner Paula Radcliffe made her mark with a record of 2h15’25 in 2003, a standard that stood for 16 years and established her as one of the few Europeans to dominate the discipline globally. Through these exceptional champions, the marathon tells a universal story: one of women and men pushing the boundaries of what is possible, stride by stride, second by second, in this eternal quest for self-transcendence.

The Record Courses: Where History is Written

Some road races have built their reputation on pure performance. They are not only fast; they are historically crafted to break records. The Berlin Marathon, for example, is unquestionably the queen of record-breaking races: its ultra-flat course (just 73m of elevation), the cool September weather, and precise organization make it a true laboratory for setting new times. No fewer than twelve marathon world records have been set here, including that of Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge in 2022 (2h01’09), before Kelvin Kiptum broke it in Chicago in 2023 (2h00’35). Chicago, too, with its electrifying atmosphere and flat profile, has become a major event for performance-seeking runners. Records have been shattered there for both men and women, with the phenomenal achievement of Ruth Chepngetich in 2024 (2h09’56). London is no slouch: while the course is a bit less favorable to world records, it still hosts high-caliber battles, with top world performances frequently occurring. 9 marathon world records have been broken there, mainly in women's categories. The Rotterdam Marathon also deserves a special mention: although less publicized, its fast course has seen several national records fall, and its “specialist race” atmosphere attracts elites seeking fast times. Finally, it’s hard not to mention Valencia. In just a few years, the Spanish city 🇪🇸 has become the essential year-end gathering. Every December, times explode, personal records abound, and the world elite flocks there. With its speed-friendly course (only 76m of elevation) in the city center, and nearly perfect weather ☀️, Valencia is primed to host a world record in the near future.