Super shoes and perfect conditions - how Sabastian Sawe broke the two-hour mark at the London Marathon
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Kenyan Sabastian Sawe and Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha both ran sub-two-hour marathons in London, with Sawe clocking 1:59:30 and Kejelcha finishing just 11 seconds behind in his marathon debut, marking a historic dual achievement in record-legal conditions.
- Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa set a new women’s-only marathon world record at 2:15:41, leading a podium where all three top finishers broke 2:16 for the first time.
- Ideal weather conditions, strong elite fields, strategic pack running, and significant financial incentives contributed to these exceptional performances at the 2026 London Marathon.
- Advances in marathon shoe technology, particularly Adidas’ lightweight Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 models worn by the winners, have played a key role in improving running economy and enabling record-breaking performances.
- The combination of favorable conditions, elite competition, tactical pacing, and cutting-edge equipment culminated in one of the greatest days in marathon history, with multiple records shattered.
