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1:59

The Sub-Two-Hour Marathon Is Within Reach—Here's How It Will Go Down, and What It Can Teach All Runners about Training and Racing

By Philip Maffetone

What will it take to run a marathon in less than two hours?

The world’s fastest times for the marathon have been dropping since the distance of 26.2 miles was made official nearly one hundred years ago. But after a noticeable decline that occurred for a half century, the times, while still edging lower, have stalled several minutes north of two hours for the past decade.

For the first time, 1:59 examines what it will take for an elite distance runner to go sub–two hours. It will require more than raw talent, optimal body size, and great athletic genes. In order to become marathon’s Roger Bannister and smash this elusive record, this runner must follow a healthy diet and an individualized training regimen that takes advantage of specific environmental factors (“live high, train low”). Because precious seconds count over each mile run, other critical considerations include improved running form and economy, sharpened mental focus, and wearing the right type of racing flats (or even going barefoot).

The athlete who finally breaks distance running’s most tantalizing barrier will become a worldwide celebrity overnight. Will the runner be a Kenyan, an Ethiopian, an American, or a marathoner from another country? And how soon will it happen?

By providing a unique window into the highly competitive world of elite marathon running, this book also allows running enthusiasts to have a thorough understanding of the true potential of endurance athletes. And in turn, they can apply the same training and racing principles discussed in 1:59 to their own running, whether it’s a 10K, half marathon, marathon, or ultramarathon.
Philip Maffetone

Philip Maffetone has been a private practitioner, health and athlete coach and consultant, published independent researcher, respected pioneer in the field of complementary sports medicine, and internationally recognized educator and author in the fields of nutrition, biofeedback, exercise physiology, and athletic training over the course of his forty- year career. Since 1977, he has used the term “ overfat” and has recommended low-carbohydrate and healthy fat eating.

"Phil predicts that soon, probably within the next few years, someone will break the two-hour barrier for running a marathon. The person who does it first may become as famous as Roger Banister became for breaking the four-minute mile barrier when he was a student at Oxford University. Personally, I admire Roger more for becoming a brilliant physician. That’s another story, but speaking of fellow multi-talented physicians who change the world’s thinking, Phil Maffetone is one of these." —D. Casey Kerrigan, MD, former tenured professor at University of Virginia (sports medicine and aerospace engineering), and co-founder of Oesh Shoes

"Phil predicts that soon, probably within the next few years, someone will break the two-hour barrier for running a marathon. The person who does it first may become as famous as Roger Banister became for breaking the four-minute mile barrier when he was a student at Oxford University. Personally, I admire Roger more for becoming a brilliant physician. That’s another story, but speaking of fellow multi-talented physicians who change the world’s thinking, Phil Maffetone is one of these." —D. Casey Kerrigan, MD, former tenured professor at University of Virginia (sports medicine and aerospace engineering), and co-founder of Oesh Shoes

1:59

The Sub-Two-Hour Marathon Is Within Reach—Here's How It Will Go Down, and What It Can Teach All Runners about Training and Racing

By Philip Maffetone

More books from this author: Philip Maffetone