Eliud Kipchoge ran 2:00:25 in Nike’s Breaking2 marathon attempt in 2017. He finished the experimental marathon-distance run at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy on May 6, just 25 seconds outside the two-hour target.
Nike announced Breaking2 in 2016 and selected Kipchoge, Lelisa Desisa, and Zersenay Tadese for the project. The course was a Formula One circuit chosen for its relatively flat layout, controlled conditions, and short laps. A pace car and rotating groups of elite pacemakers helped the runners maintain the extraordinary speed required.
The result was not recognized as an official world record because the event did not meet standard competition rules. Pacemakers entered and left during the run, and the pace car and formation reduced wind resistance. That is why 2:00:25 should not be confused with Kipchoge’s later 1:59:40 in the 2019 INEOS 1:59 Challenge.
Breaking2 nevertheless became a landmark in marathon science, race strategy, footwear development, and sports marketing. Kipchoge’s average pace was roughly 2:51 per kilometer.