Breaking the Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

When I think about a sub-2 marathon I think of the immortal Kenenisa Bekele. Bekele was so absurdly fast over 10K that he might have the most wonderful chance to carry a high percentage of that speed over four times the distance--but of course he'd need to be both super-fit and injury-free. He's also 34, which is not too old, but starting to get there.

Scientist spent years studying how to run a faster marathon after much time and money the conclusion, run downhill and with the wind at your back. Gee, I wish I had thought of that.

I'm amazed that the article and the comments do not mention Breathing Training. There is established factual data that Nose Breathing provides adequate oxygen to running. It alone probably makes all the difference.

Cautionary tale about running barefoot:

Several decades ago, I permanently damaged one of my foot arches and have had a lot of pain over the years. (I was walking on flipflops on pavement: granted not ideal.) It seems to me running barefoot is more than likely to cause trouble, lifetime trouble in the foot's bone structure.

Here's a picture of those bones, there are a lot of them (chosen arbitrarily from an image search)! http://eorthopod.com/sites/default/files/images/child_flatfoot_anat02.jpg

The human body is a miracle of organization, but we can collaborate with it to save and protect it.

When an internal combustion engine operates at night it runs better than during the day because the air at night is cooler and richer in oxygen. The two benefits, cooler and richer, are proportional however there may be even denser oxygen at night over and above the cooler air temp. If there is richer air at night, relative to day, at a higher level than the pressure/temp relationship, than running at night should help improve running time, by how much or if at all, could be determined with hamsters (or human) on a wheel and modifiable closed exercise environment.

Other than optimal training, selecting a slightly downhill/flat course (steep downhills cause the quadriceps muscle group to contract eccentrically (lengthen) and that can cause a lot or stiffness later in the race) and lowering body mass as low as one's genetics allow within reasonable bounds, there are a few race day strategies that may help. First, I would think that the big city marathons have so many participants that there is usually some shield from the wind. Second, grab a cup of water and pour it over your head or skip the aid stations completely. Overheating is not prevented by water and sports drinks and dehydration is not a problem unless it exceeds about 2% of body weight.

You forgot to mention temperature. A 50 F weather vs a 45F ot a 60F can make for huge efficiency gains or losses

When Roger Bannister was the first runner to break the 4 minute mile barrier it was viewed as one of the greatest athletic achievements of all time. When the first 2 hour marathon is run I wonder if it will get the world wide attention it would deserve.

It appears that the sub-two hour marathon can be achieved by gimmicks rather than pure training, effort, and genetics. Under the category of lighter, improved footwear, this logic would suggest a runner rollerskate, so to speak, on long descents, saving energy for later in the race. Thus, if design were to allow a shoe somehow to contain small wheels for this advantage, another strategy is gained. I wonder if the athletes of decades past would be envious of these reported prospects? I think not. When I qualified for Boston by beating my needed time by several minutes, I am glad I did it the "old-fashioned way."

Sure, maybe they could get this done if the run was carefully staged and they paid enough to make training for months worthwhile. I could see Nike and other big companies doing it. It would be big news but, also, everyone would know it was contrived, not a real race. I think it's actually illegal for elites to use pacers in a marathon and planned drafting is probably included.

Could a run on a straight course be counted? They could always close off a flat, straight road and run 26.2 on a day with a nice tailwind. It's just not the same as a traditional marathon, though.

Right now, the incentive to go fast is just to win the race and that means just a second faster than guy #2. There is a bonus for breaking course records, too. Maybe, a 5-million bonus for breaking 2 hrs might get it done (without tricks).

If you were a marathoner, what class of fluid would you be? Do you see yourself as flowing parallel to a plane or also in circulatory motion?

This "close look" at marathons is science-ing it to death. A race is a race. When you have runners in high numbers competing, it is really the luck of the draw.

Lessons learned the hard way are the most valuable. i'm also training for a half marathon with SportMe marathon training which calculates distance, time, pace and calories.

Cycling packs are different from marathon packs. In cycling, the lead pack is trying to distance itself from the pelaton. Many of the strongest racers are in the pelaton, which has the advantage of being a bigger pack. So the lead racers have to do whatever they can for each other for most of the race, with breakaways made close to the finish.

In running, the lead pack has little concern for those behind them, who are generally inferior runners. The competition for the pack comes from each other. If those in the lead back wanted to maximize speed, they would draft. But the idea is to win, which requires wearing down the competition. The effect of drafting would be to keep more competitors in the race longer and to shift breakaways closer to the finish. Increasing the number of competitors is counterproductive. Delaying breakaways helps those with the greatest finishing speed. Bottom line, the slowest runners in the pack are the ones who have an interest in drafting, and they are not going to break 2 hours.. The best runners will go it alone and will not get the benefit of drafting. So they are unlikely to break 2 hours either.

Maybe my understanding of fluid dynamics is wrong, but the lead runner should be expending LESS energy than if running alone. The low pressure area behind him or her would be filled by another runner. The high pressure in the front would be the same whether there is someone behind or not.