Damon Mcknight
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was an attempt by Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge to run a marathon in under two hours. The event took place on 12 October 2019 in Vienna, Austria, and saw Kipchoge complete the marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds. Vienna was chosen as the location for the challenge after an extensive worldwide search that considered factors such as time zone, weather, and the number of spectators. The Prater, a large public park in the city, offered a flat course with minimal elevation change and long, straight sections, ideal for Kipchoge's attempt. The time zone of Vienna was close to that of Kipchoge's training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, reducing the impact on his sleeping, eating, and training patterns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 October 2019 |
| Location | Vienna, Austria |
| Venue | The Prater, a park in Vienna |
| Time zone | Close to Kaptagat, Kenya |
| Weather | Low morning temperatures, low humidity |
| Altitude | 165m above sea level |
| Course | Multi-lap, 9.6km, flat, straight, tree-lined |
| Spectators | High capacity |
| Historical link | Last distance running world record set in Vienna in 1978 |
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What You'll Learn
- The time zone of Vienna, Austria is close to Eliud Kipchoge's training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya
- The Prater, a park in Vienna, has a long, straight and flat course with minimal elevation change
- Vienna's temperature and humidity are ideal for marathon running
- The city's administration was excited to support the event
- Vienna's historic link to distance running made it a perfect choice
The time zone of Vienna, Austria is close to Eliud Kipchoge's training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya
The Ineos 1:59 Challenge was an attempt by Eliud Kipchoge to break the two-hour mark for running the marathon distance. The event was specifically created for Kipchoge and held in Vienna, Austria, on 12 October 2019.
The time zone of Vienna, Austria, is close to that of Eliud Kipchoge's training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya. This was one of the factors in choosing Vienna as the host city for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. Kipchoge would not have to worry about jet lag or disruptions to his sleeping and eating patterns due to the similar time zones.
The organisers of the event conducted an "extensive search of venues fitting Eliud's criteria," and Vienna was chosen as the optimal location. The time zone similarity with Kaptagat, Kenya, was a crucial factor in this decision, as it ensured that Kipchoge would not experience any physical disadvantages due to time zone changes.
Vienna's famous Prater park, a former imperial hunting ground, provided a 9.6-kilometre multi-lap course centred on Hauptallee, a long, straight, and tree-lined avenue. This flat course, lined with tall trees to reduce wind resistance, offered ideal conditions for Kipchoge's attempt.
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was supported by INEOS, one of the world's largest manufacturing companies, to promote children's running programmes and encourage regular exercise among youngsters.
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The Prater, a park in Vienna, has a long, straight and flat course with minimal elevation change
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was held in Vienna, Austria, where Eliud Kipchoge successfully ran a sub-2-hour marathon. The Prater, a park in Vienna, was chosen for the marathon course because it offered optimal conditions for Kipchoge to achieve this feat.
The Prater is a large public park in Vienna's 2nd district, Leopoldstadt, covering an area of 6 km². It has a rich history, dating back to 1403, and served as an imperial hunting ground from the 16th century onwards. Over time, it transitioned into a popular recreational and leisure area, offering a wide range of sports facilities and entertainment options.
The park's long, straight, and flat course, known as the Hauptallee, was specifically selected for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. The Hauptallee is a roughly 4.3 to 4.5 km long avenue that runs through the heart of The Prater. It was created in 1537 or 1538 by clearing parts of the forest to establish a direct connection between the Palais Augarten and the hunting grounds.
The flatness of the course and the protection it offered from the wind were crucial factors in its selection. The route was carefully chosen to minimise the impact of wind and incline changes, ensuring that Kipchoge's performance would not be hindered by external factors. The tall trees lining the Hauptallee also contributed to reducing wind resistance. Additionally, the low altitude of the location increased the oxygen levels in the air, further optimising the conditions for Kipchoge's record attempt.
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Vienna's temperature and humidity are ideal for marathon running
The time zone of the host city was also a key consideration, with the INEOS team wanting to select a location that was close to the time zone of Kipchoge's training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, so that his sleeping, eating, and training patterns would not be disrupted. Vienna is just one hour behind Kipchoge's home time zone, which made it an ideal choice.
In addition, the altitude of Vienna was a factor in its selection. The city is 165m above sea level, which provides greater oxygen availability compared to the 2,400m altitude of Kipchoge's training camp in Kenya. This was important to enhance performance, as higher altitudes have thinner air, which can negatively impact an athlete's ability to perform.
Finally, the flat topography of the course in Vienna was carefully chosen to ensure that no effort would be wasted on battling the wind or on directional or incline changes. The route was lined with tall trees to reduce wind, and the course was very flat, with minimal elevation change.
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The city's administration was excited to support the event
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge was a historic event, with Eliud Kipchoge becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours. The event was specifically created for Kipchoge to help market the Nike Vaporfly 4% shoe. The city of Vienna's administration was excited to support this event and share this historical moment.
The INEOS team conducted an extensive worldwide assessment process to find the perfect location for the challenge. The Prater, a famous Viennese park, was chosen as the venue that would give Kipchoge the best conditions to achieve this feat. The Prater is a large public park with a long, straight and historic stretch of road called the Hauptallee, which runs through its heart. This provided the long, straight sections with minimal elevation change that the INEOS team was looking for.
The Prater's location in Vienna was also ideal due to its time zone, weather, and number of spectators. Vienna is just one hour behind Kipchoge's home time zone, which meant his sleeping, eating, and training patterns were not affected. The city's administration was excited to support an event that would attract a large number of spectators, with Kipchoge himself requesting a big crowd.
Additionally, Vienna's historic connection to distance running also made it a perfect choice. In 1978, a Kenyan athlete, Henry Rono, set a new 10,000m world record in The Prater, paced by Jos Hermens, who later became Kipchoge's manager. The city's administration was proud to host another historic moment in distance running and support Kipchoge's incredible achievement.
The INEOS 1:59 Challenge has had a lasting impact, with INEOS and Kipchoge creating new challenges and educational initiatives to inspire young people and celebrate the anniversary of this historic event.
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Vienna's historic link to distance running made it a perfect choice
Vienna, Austria, was chosen as the location for Eliud Kipchoge's INEOS 1:59 Challenge after an extensive worldwide search. The selection was based on several factors, including time zone, weather, and the number of spectators. Vienna's historic link to distance running, dating back to 1978, made it a perfect choice and contributed to its appeal as the venue for this record-breaking attempt.
The Prater, a famous and historic park in central Vienna, played a crucial role in the decision-making process. The park's large, public space offered an ideal setting for the event. Within The Prater lies the Hauptallee, a long, straight, and tree-lined avenue that served as the centre of the marathon course. This avenue holds historical significance in distance running, as it was once an imperial hunting ground only accessible to the aristocracy. Created in the 16th century, the Hauptallee was donated to the public by Austrian Emperor Josef II in 1766.
The INEOS team sought a location with long, straight sections and as few corners as possible, and The Prater's Hauptallee provided just that. With minimal elevation change, the avenue offered a 4.3-kilometre stretch between two roundabouts, creating a 9.6-kilometre circuit—perfect for the multi-lap course required for the challenge.
Additionally, Vienna's temperature and humidity conditions were optimal for marathon running, with low morning temperatures and low relative humidity. These climatic factors were carefully considered, taking into account historical weather patterns.
Beyond the practical considerations, Vienna's historical connection to distance running added a layer of significance to the event. In 1978, a Kenyan athlete named Henry Rono set a new world record for the 10,000-metre run at the Vienna LAZ track in The Prater. This record was broken by a fellow Kenyan, just 15 kilometres away from Kipchoge's birthplace, and paced by Jos Hermens, who later founded Global Sports Communication, the agency that manages Kipchoge today.
The combination of Vienna's geographical advantages, optimal weather conditions, and historical significance in distance running made it the ideal choice for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.
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Frequently asked questions
Vienna was chosen after an extensive worldwide search that started with a map of the world and ended with a pinpoint in the Austrian capital. The time zone was a key factor, with Vienna being just one hour behind Kipchoge's training camp in Kaptagat, Kenya, meaning his sleeping, eating, and training patterns would not be disrupted.
The INEOS team also considered historical weather patterns, with Vienna providing low morning temperatures and low humidity, which are perfect for marathon running.
Yes, the course was chosen to be at a low altitude to increase oxygen availability. The route was carefully selected to be flat with minimal elevation change, and to have long, straight sections with few corners to ensure no effort would be wasted battling wind or incline changes.
The Prater, the large public park in Vienna where the race took place, provided a 4.3km long straight stretch of road called the Hauptallee, which was ideal for the multi-lap course. The Prater also had the capacity to bring a large crowd, which was important to Kipchoge.
Yes, the last distance running world record set in Vienna was in 1978 by a Kenyan named Henry Rono, who was paced by Jos Hermens, the founder of Global Sports Communication, the management agency of Kipchoge.
