The World Record For A Marathon Could Be Broken In Dubai Next Week

Etiopian athlete Kenenisa Bekele holds the second fastest marathon time of all time at 2:03:03. The world record is 2:02:57, held by Dennis Kimetto of Kenya. Benkele announced that he is going to try to break the record in Dubai next Friday morning while taking part in the annual Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. 

Benkele holds the world records for for  5K (12:37) and 10K (26:17), this would be an amazing trio should he achieve it. 

‘Breaking 2’ – Nike launched a campaign this year to break two hours for a marathon

To help achieve a sub two-hour marathon, Nike is working with a diverse team of leaders across several fields of science and sport with a holistic approach to athletes, product, training, nutrition and environment. They’ve even got a website dedicated to it. 

In typical Nike style, it’s got great style and copy:

Some believe it’s impossible. Many think it’s improbable.
Everyone agrees it’s a moonshot.But it’s not about common sense or logic.
It’s about human potential: heart, guts, and that part of us that asks
“what has yet to be done?”
It’s about science and innovation:
sweating every detail, every gram, every stride.In 2017, Eliud Kipchoge, Lelisa Desisa, and Zersenay Tadese
will attempt to break the 2-hour marathon barrier.
Because barriers exist to be broken.

It’s taken 100 years to get to where we are today