History was made and limitations were shattered last week when Eliud Kipchoge became the first human to run a sub two-hour marathon in Vienna. His incredible feat has been rightly compared to the first sub-four minute mile by Roger Bannister in 1954.
As Kipchoge ran his way into the record books, four Australians played a significant role as pacemakers: Rio 2016's Pat Tiernan and, Brett Robinson along with Stewart McSweyn and Jack Rayner.
“The pacemakers did a great job, they are among the best runners of all time,” Kipchoge said after he ran the jaw-dropping time of 1:59.40.2 hours. “I thank them and appreciate them for accepting to do the job.”
Melbourne distance running guru, Nic Bideau, who manages all four Australian athletes and personally coaches McSweyn, Robinson and Rayner, was involved with the project from the very start and outlined some of the detailed planning.
“There were five pacing teams of seven runners, all with a captain who took the position immediately in front of Kipchoge and controlled the group,” Bideau said.
The pacing teams ran an efficient V-shape following a green laser projected onto the ground ahead of Kipchoge. It was a distinctive formation with Kipchoge in all white shoes and kit and the pacesetters dressed in black and running in pink shoes.
“Brett Robinson was one of the captains and he controlled the group that paced Kipchoge from 8km to 13.5km and again from 28km to 33.5km,” noted Bideau.
“Jack Rayner was on the start line with Kipchoge and had the position on the front and on the right of the reverse V formation of seven runners around Kipchoge and he drove the pace for the first 4km and had the same role for the final 5.5km to the finish. Pat Tiernan and Stewy McSweyn also had turns in that position during the race for a 5.5km section.
“McSweyn was then part of Robinson’s team from 28km to 33.5km and Tiernan was leading the group that went from 23km to 28km.”
The pace was spot on, only varying between 2:48 and 2:52 for the required 2:50 for the 42.195km journey.
The Australian’s realised their opportunity to be part of history.
"It was a real privilege to help the greatest marathon runner of all-time achieve something that will long be remembered as a part of history," Jack Rayner said, who has run a marathon qualifier for Tokyo.
While Rio Olympian Brett Robinson was impressed with the planning and logistics.
“The whole event was so professionally set up everyone really got into it. It was a great experience cooperating with so many athletes that you normally compete against to help one of our sport's champions record an amazing achievement."
“They all loved the experience being part of an historical event and really enjoyed working for Kipchoge who is such a humble champion,” Bideau added.
The planning for the race had started in April after Kipchoge had won his fourth London Marathon.
“Representatives told me that Kipchoge had decided rather than another race he wanted his next great challenge to be to run a sub two-hour marathon again - he had tried in Monza a couple of years ago,” Bideau said.
“They asked if I would be able to provide some of my runners to help pace. After discussions with the London Marathon elite field organiser, Spencer Barden, we agreed that McSweyn, Robinson, Tiernan and Rayner would be among 41 athletes brought into pace the event.”
The planning was meticulous. In August, Robinson, Rayner and Bideau had gone to Vienna along with many of the pacemakers and others involved in the event to work out the strategies and practice the pacing for the actual event. Tiernan and McSweyn were excused from the weekend to allow them to concentrate on their Doha World Championships preparations.
They spent close to $20 million on infrastructure and re-surfacing parts of the road to improve the surface. The course was flat and 90% in a straight line and during the race, a team of cyclists passed drinks to Kipchoge.
Nic Bideau noted the strong team feeling in what is largely an individual sport.
“It was a great event to be at and one of the key things that struck me was the way everyone was so united toward the goal. There was a great vibe of positivity around the event so when the day approached everyone was confident it would work out.
“It was a great team effort but there was no doubting the shining light was Kipchoge who was simply phenomenal on the day and looked like he could probably have run under 1.59!"
David Tarbotton
olympics.com.au
