INEOS 1:59 Pace Challenge: Eliud Kipchoge returns to Vienna

Yesterday the INEOS 1:59 Pace Challenge was unveiled. My personal highlight was the interview I had with marathon star Eliud Kipchoge. He is a modest and friendly man who, despite his success, has kept his feet on the ground, although his running style sometimes makes you think he is floating.

Flashback: Kipchoge breaks the marathon magical barrier in October 2019

Four years ago, Kipchoge broke the 2-hour mark in a marathon in a perfectly planned run. As part of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, he completed the 42.195 km distance in Vienna in 1:59:40 hours. I was also able to present this event in the finish area.

What is the INEOS 1:59 Pace Challenge?

Yesterday, two pillars were unveiled on the Prater Hauptallee, marking a 352.6-meter-long route. Anyone who runs this distance in 1 minute will achieve the same pace as Eliud Kipchoge in his fabulous run: 21.8 km/h. With the claim “Don’t set a limit, set a challenge”, the exceptional runner is calling for participation. All runners can share their time in the Strava app.

Honor for Eliud Kipchoge

With the unveiling of the challenge, which will be rolled out worldwide on October 12, 2023 (the anniversary of his record run), Kipchoge was also honored for his achievement. The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, the organizer of the Vienna City Marathon, Wolfgang Konrad, and other celebrities from the worlds of sports and politics were present. Eliud Kipchoge came directly from Berlin, where he had just won the Berlin Marathon, to Vienna to receive the “Wiener Rathausmann”. It was also a great honor for me to have been part of this ceremony.

What was your biggest challenge?

What was your biggest challenge so far, where you went beyond your limits? Was it something athletic, an entrepreneurial venture, or a personal problem? Feel free to comment on this.