Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe has revealed the disciplined routine and cutting-edge support system that powered him to a historic sub-two-hour marathon at the London Marathon.
Sawe stunned the athletics world after clocking 1:59:30, becoming the first man to break the two-hour barrier in an official race.
His performance, witnessed by an estimated 800,000 spectators lining the streets of London, is already being described as a defining moment in modern marathon running.
The Guardian has revealed that at the core of Sawe’s success is an intense training regime that saw him average over 200 kilometres per week in the final build-up to the race.
According to the Guardian, at peak, Sawe covered as much as 241 kilometres (150 miles) weekly, an extraordinary workload even by elite standards.
Despite the high-performance output, his pre-race routine remained strikingly simple: a breakfast of bread and honey. Combined with meticulous preparation, this approach ensured he entered the race fully fueled yet light.
“I had the courage to push even when the pace was very fast,” Sawe said after the race.
“I knew I was ready.”
The Guardian stated that Sawe’s performance also highlighted the growing influence of technology and sports science in long-distance running.
He competed in the ultra-light Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, the first “super shoes” to weigh under 100 grams, designed to maximise efficiency and speed.
In addition, he relied on energy gels from Maurten to maintain endurance during the latter stages of the race, an increasingly common strategy among elite marathoners.
His coach, Claudio Berardelli, said these elements combined with Sawe’s natural ability and mindset to deliver a near-perfect performance.
“We are in a new era of marathon running because of the shoe and proper fuelling,” Berardelli noted, adding that Sawe’s preparation for London surpassed even his previous attempt in Berlin, where heat conditions had hindered him.
Sawe described the moment as unforgettable, crediting the London crowd for pushing him through the final stages.
“The crowd gave me energy. They were cheering and calling my name,” he said.
Sawe said he could have run even faster, powered by just "two slices of bread, honey and tea", which he revealed in an earlier interview as what he had for breakfast.
"How much faster do you think you could have gone yesterday?" he was asked while speaking to BBC Sport on Monday.
"Even 1:58:59 is possible. I hope in future we will be able to run faster; it was possible to run fastest yesterday."
Sawe made his debut in distance running in 2022 at the Seville half marathon as a pacemaker after ditching track racing under Italian coach Claudio Berardelli, who recognised his marathon potential.
He surprisingly went on to win the race in a course record time after dropping off the elite athletes he was pacing within the first 10km.
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