Once thought to be impossible, two runners finished the London Marathon in under two hours on April 26th. Sabastian Sawe of Kenya clocked in at 1:59:30, while Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia followed at 1:59:41. If those two hadn't participated, the third place finisher, Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, would still have set a world record. Such accomplishments require talent, dedication, and training. But what kind of East African training brings such results?
There's a big difference between marathon training in Ethiopia and the US, which harness completely different athletic philosophies. In the US, training relies heavily on science, using the latest technology to monitor the physiology of runners, leading to custom-tailored training regimens for each athlete. Although it's called the Norwegian style, this training uses the philosophy of rugged individualism America is noted for. In Ethiopia, training focuses on community, leadership, and mentorship. No one runs alone. The idea is that endurance can be taught, and the secret of long distances lies in knowing when to hold back and let the body recover, and when to push harder. This method also keeps runners going because they enjoy doing it together. Read about the differing philosophies of marathon training at Aeon. You can also listen to it as a podcast. -via Nag on the Lake
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