Eliud Kipchoge falls just 25 seconds short of becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours

ELIUD KIPCHOGE fell just 25 seconds short of becoming the first person to ever run a marathon in under two hours.

The reigning Olympic champion, 32,was running at Nike‘s ‘Breaking2’ event – designed to see the world’s first sub-two hour race.

AP:Associated Press

However, Kipchoge – despite being on pace with just seven miles to go – began to flag in the latter stages.

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The Kenyan bravely attempted a sprint finish, but his fatigue was obvious as he came agonisingly close to the two-hour marathon target… and £770,000 prize pot.

On the effort, Kipchoge said: “My mind fully was focused on the two hours, but in the last seconds I was a bit behind.

Reuters

“This journey has been good. It's been hard. It's been a long journey. It’s taken seven good months of preparation.

“I'm happy to have done it. With the race I felt good, I’m a happy man to run a marathon in two hours.

"Now it is just 25 seconds [I need to lose].

“I believe in good preparation and planning and if I stick to that the 25 seconds will come.”

AP:Associated Press

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Even if Kipchoge had accomplished the monumental feat, it would not have counted.

The race was arranged by Nike, specifically engineered to beat the two-hour mark - including the use of 30 rotating elite runners as pace-setters.

Those runners also protected the three competitors - Kipchoge, Lelisa Desisa and Zersenay Tadese - from the wind, running in an arrowhead formation.

Getty Images

EPA

On top of that, the Monza Formula One circuit, where the attempt took place, did not meet the governing body's strict specifications.

Regardless of that, to come to within half a breaking the two-hour barrier is no mean feat.

After all, the marathon world record time currently sits at 2hr 2min 57sec... a whole two minutes and 32 seconds slower than Kipchoge's stunning run.