Lexi Webster
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was an attempt by Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge to become the first person in history to run a marathon in under two hours. The challenge was specifically designed for Kipchoge and took place in Vienna, Austria, between 12–20 October 2019. Vienna was chosen after an extensive worldwide search, with The Prater, a large public park in the city, providing the ideal course for the challenge. The city's geographical location, temperature, and historical weather patterns also contributed to its selection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 October 2019 |
| Time | 08:15 CET |
| Location | Vienna, Austria |
| Venue | The Prater, a large public park |
| Runner | Eliud Kipchoge |
| Distance | Marathon distance (42.2km) |
| Time to beat | Sub-2-hour marathon |
| Previous attempt | Breaking2 event in 2017 |
| Pacemakers | 41 |
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What You'll Learn
Eliud Kipchoge's preference for a large crowd
Eliud Kipchoge, the world's best marathon runner, thrives on the big occasion. The bigger the event and the bigger the crowds, the better he performs. Kipchoge missed the presence of a crowd at the 2017 Monza event, which was held behind closed doors with only a few members of the press and Nike employees present.
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was specifically created for Kipchoge to help market the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly 4%. It was held in Vienna, Austria, after an extensive worldwide search that started with a map of the world and ended with a pinpoint in the Austrian capital. The Prater, a large public park in Vienna, was chosen as the venue that would give Kipchoge the optimum conditions to write himself into the history books.
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge team had several filters to narrow down their search, including time zones, altitude, and weather. Vienna is ideally situated geographically and is just one hour behind Kipchoge's home time zone, meaning his sleeping, eating, and training patterns would not be affected by the location. The city also has a high probability of providing low morning temperatures, which Kipchoge preferred to match the time of his hard training sessions in Kenya.
The event was held between October 12 and 20, 2019, with a start time between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m. local time, and Kipchoge successfully broke the two-hour marathon barrier, becoming the first person in history to run a marathon distance in under two hours.
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Time zone similarity to Kenya
One of the key factors in choosing Vienna, Austria, as the location for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge was its proximity to Kenya in terms of time zones. The INEOS team wanted a location that was close to Eliud Kipchoge's training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, to avoid disrupting the athlete's sleeping, eating, and training patterns.
Vienna is just one hour behind Kenya's time zone, which meant that Kipchoge would not have to significantly adjust his daily routines ahead of the challenge. This was particularly important given that Kipchoge had expressed a desire to start the race early in the morning, to match the time of his hard training sessions in Kenya.
The INEOS team conducted extensive research into historical weather patterns in Vienna and found that the city could provide the low morning temperatures that Kipchoge preferred. Additionally, the challenge was scheduled to take place between October 12 and 20, 2019, a time of year known for mild temperatures in Vienna.
The time zone similarity to Kenya was a crucial factor in creating the optimal conditions for Kipchoge's attempt to become the first person in history to run a marathon distance in under two hours. The INEOS team wanted to ensure that Kipchoge's performance would not be hindered by external factors such as jet lag or unfavorable weather conditions.
By choosing Vienna, the INEOS team prioritized Kipchoge's comfort and performance, demonstrating their commitment to creating the best possible environment for this historic athletic achievement.
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Optimal weather conditions
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was an attempt by Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge to become the first person in history to run a marathon distance in under two hours. The event was held in Vienna, Austria, on 12 October 2019, with a reserve window of eight days in case of poor weather conditions.
Kipchoge's performance was expected to be enhanced by the cool temperatures, which are considered ideal for marathon running. A temperature of around 10°C is often regarded as the perfect benchmark, as it combines with low humidity to create favourable conditions. The INEOS team was mindful of the issues encountered during the 2017 Monza attempt, where unexpected humidity levels arose due to an early morning rain shower.
The time zone of the host city was also a crucial consideration. Vienna is just one hour behind Kipchoge's home time zone in Kenya, minimising disruptions to his sleeping, eating, and training patterns. This factor, along with the favourable weather conditions and the ability to attract a large crowd, made Vienna the unanimous choice for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.
The specific start time of 08:15 CET on the day of the event was strategically chosen to maximise viewership while adhering to Kipchoge's preferred early start. The target date of 12 October was selected from a narrowed event window of 12–14 October, with the final decision influenced by the optimal weather conditions on the chosen day.
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The course at The Prater
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was held in Vienna, Austria, at The Prater, a large public park with a 4.3km straight path called Hauptallee running through it. The course was chosen after an extensive worldwide search that considered factors such as time zone, weather, and the number of spectators.
The Prater's location in Vienna offered several advantages for the challenge. Firstly, Vienna is situated just one hour behind the time zone of Kipchoge's training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, minimizing disruptions to his sleeping, eating, and training patterns. Secondly, the city's historical weather patterns indicated a high probability of low morning temperatures, which aligned with Kipchoge's preference for early starts to match his hard training sessions in Kenya.
The Hauptallee itself presented an ideal setting for the challenge. Created in the 16th century to improve access to the former imperial hunting grounds, this long, straight avenue provided a flat and relatively consistent course in terms of oxygen uptake. The selected course incurred a penalty of less than 5 seconds compared to a perfectly level and straight route.
The INEOS team also considered the number of spectators and the impact of their presence on Kipchoge's performance. The Prater, being a public park, could accommodate a large number of spectators, and Kipchoge had expressed a desire for a crowd, having missed their presence at the previous Breaking2 event in Monza, Italy. The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was ultimately a successful marketing strategy, with Kipchoge becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours.
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Vienna's history of hosting sports events
Vienna, Austria, has a rich history of hosting sports events, with the city offering the perfect setting for a wide range of activities. The city boasts abundant bodies of water, making it an ideal location for water sports. The Vienna Watersports Arena, located on Danube Island, is Austria's only artificial whitewater venue for canoe and kayak slalom competitions. The arena, which opened in 2013, also serves as a family water park offering rafting trips and practice provisions for individual boaters. The city's pools and the Old Danube, just seven subway stations from Stephansplatz, are other attractions for water sports enthusiasts.
Vienna is also a haven for runners, with the Prater, a large public park, providing a 4.3-kilometre-long straight path called Hauptallee that is popular for jogging. The park has a rich history, having once been an imperial hunting ground before being donated to the public by Austrian Emperor Joseph II in 1766. The city also hosts the Vienna City Marathon, Austria's biggest sports event in terms of active participation, attracting about 40,000 runners from 125 nations.
Additionally, Vienna offers a range of other sports facilities and activities. The city has numerous cycle paths, making it ideal for exploring by bicycle. Vienna's unique vineyards can be discovered through wine hiking, and the city also features a summer toboggan run and challenging treetop climbing routes. For those interested in ball sports, Vienna has a table tennis centre with a long history, and some of its golf clubs allow non-members to play with prior reservation.
When it comes to hosting major sporting events, Vienna has a notable history. The city was chosen as the venue for Eliud Kipchoge's INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019, where he successfully broke the two-hour mark for running the marathon distance. The event was held in the Prater, with Vienna being selected after an extensive worldwide assessment to provide Kipchoge with optimum conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was the result of an extensive worldwide search that started with a map of the world and ended with the Austrian capital. The Prater, a large public park in central Vienna, was chosen as the last name remaining on a shortlist of potential locations.
Vienna is 165m above sea level, providing greater oxygen availability than the 2,400m altitude of Eliud Kipchoge's training camp in Kenya. Additionally, Vienna's historical weather patterns indicated a high probability of low morning temperatures, which Kipchoge preferred for his hard training sessions. The city is also just one hour behind Kipchoge's home time zone, minimising disruptions to his sleeping, eating, and training patterns.
On landing in Vienna, Eliud Kipchoge expressed his excitement about the course, stating, "I have now seen the course for the first time and it looked great. I can't wait to run on it and hopefully I will see you all there this weekend."
