Eliud Kipchoge has cemented his position as the greatest marathoner ever by winning his third Berlin Marathon and setting a new world record of 2:01:39.

Kipchoge ran at the front from the very first metre, and despite some turbulent times in the first third of the race when his pacers faltered, stormed home to take another win and lower the world record by a remarkable 78 seconds.

In doing so, he becomes the first person to ever run under 2:02:00, in a time that won't be beaten soon.

Amos Kipruto finished second in 2:06:22, with former world record holder Wilson Kipsang third in 2:06:47. Kipruto and Kipsang's times are an indication of how Kipchoge's pace blew the race apart from the outset.

Top put Kipchoge's new time into context, the last time the marathon world record was beaten by over 30 seconds was when Paul Tergat lowered Khalid Khannouchi's mark to 2:04:26.

You'd have to go back 50-years to find a single bigger world record leap than Kipchoge's this weekend. That's when Australian Derek Clayton took 2:25 off the record and became the first person to run under 2:10:00 for the distance in 1967.

For more perspective, to record that time, Kipchoge ran 100m in 17.30 seconds, back-to-back, 420 times.

His 1km splits averaged out to 2:52, and he covered each 5km in 14:24.

For all you ParkRunners out there, in the global history of ParkRun (the weekly, free 5km fun runs put on in parks around the world), only 21 people have ever run faster than Kipchoge's average 5km pace over the Berlin marathon. That's only 21 people from an estimated 2.9 million ParkRun participants.

Berlin Marathon 2018: Kipchoge breaks world record

Ahead of the race, Kipchoge, the defending Berlin champion, denied wanting to have a crack at fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto's world record, saying he was merely after a personal best, but he left little doubt about his intentions when the starting gun fired in perfect running conditions in Berlin.

With three pacemakers in front of him, Kipchoge ran the first kilometre in just 2:43 - gapping the rest of the elite field immediately.

As was planned ahead of the race, Kipsang ran more conservatively, aiming to go through halfway 30 seconds slower than his countryman.

Kipchoge ran 5km in 14:24 - which was 1:26 faster than world record pace - and passed under the 10km barrier in 29:01.

That 10km time was 23 seconds faster than Dennis Kimetto's world record pace, but Kimetto ran an incredibly fast second half.

Things looked to have fallen apart for Kipchoge's world record hopes after 15km.

Within the space of a kilometre, he lost two pacemakers, forcing him to reassess and re-organise with just Josphat Boit to guide him.

Eliud Kipchoge is as such a master, he directs his pace makers like some soldier giving orders in the battle field, the guy looks good. #BerlinMarathon — Bonface Osano (@bonfaceosano) September 16, 2018





At 15km, Kipchoge was on pace to run 2:02:44, but that mark would be highly unlikely if Boit couldn't hold on until at least the 25km banner.

The good news, in terms of the race rather than the record, was that Kipsang seemed to be gassed, having lost contact momentarily with his own pacers through 15km.

Up front, the race was in control, but the world record was slowly slipping from Kipchoge's grasp.

With Boit doing a stellar job of maintaining his solitary charge at the front, the pair passed through 20km in 57:56 and the halfway mark at 61:06 - almost on par with the target of 61 minutes for the first half.

Kipsang, who still had three pacemakers, went through halfway in 61:07 - well outside his target time.

“When will Kipchoge accelerate?”, ask the commentators. I don’t think it’s so much a question of speeding up as it is holding on when you’re already at 2:54/km tempo. #berlinmarathon — Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) September 16, 2018





The leading duo went through 25km in 1:12:24, and as Kipsang continued to fade in the second group, Kipchoge left Boit, who dropped out of the race.

A bold move with 17km still to race - and it wasn't just the commentary team questioning whether Kipchoge could possibly maintain the pace on his own.

“It wasn’t the plan because I thought I would go with my first pacemaker through 30 kilometers,” Kipchoge said later.

“It was unfortunate but I had to believe.”

Boosted after leaving Boit, he surged, running the 27th kilometre in just 2:51 - seven seconds faster than necessary.

But, at the 30km mark Kipchoge was 52 seconds ahead of WR pace and the magic 2:02:57 mark was within sight again.

2:55 for the 28th kilometer. If Kipchoge averages 2:55 per kilometer all the way to the finish, he runs 2:02:26, so it’s definitely on #berlinmarathon — Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) September 16, 2018





It's no longer an official world record distance, but Kipchoge's 30km split of 1:26:45 is the fastest time ever recorded for that distance.



The previous best was his own 1:27:13 split from the 2016 London Marathon. — Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) September 16, 2018





With his customary wry smile affixed, Kipchoge never looked like faltering in the final 5km.

The 33-year-old Olympic marathon champion had the world record in the bag with plenty of room left to run. It was just a matter of how much time he could take off Kimetto's record.

"It's a breathless leap in the world of marathon running," said one excited commentator as Kipchoge passed 40km in 1:55:32. That's 50 seconds inside world record pace, and the previously unimaginable time of two hours and two minutes was a real possibility.

Kipchoge passed under the Brandenburg Gate with 400m to run and powered down the finishing chute to complete the greatest marathon ever run in 2:01:39.

"I had a great belief that I would run a world record," Kipchoge said afterwards.

"But I didn't know I'd run 2:01. I didn’t know that what I was believing translated to 2:01 but I’m happy for it.

Eliud Kipchoge's world record marathon split times

Here's a complete breakdown of the split times Kipchoge ran in Berlin.

5K – 14:24

10K – 29:01 (14:37 5K split)

15K – 43:38 (14:37)

20K – 57:56 (14:18)

Half marathon – 1:01:06

25K – 1:12:24 (14:28)

30K – 1:26:45 (14:21)

35K – 1:41:01 (14:16)

40K – 1:55:32 (14:31)

Marathon – 2:01:39

Yep, you read that correctly...his 30-35K split was his quickest of the race at 14:16.

Berlin Marathon: World reacts to Eliud Kipchoge's milestone run

The tributes came flowing in thick and fast in the aftermath of Kipchoge's incredible run.

Here's a look at how the world reacted to the new record.

Congratulations @EliudKipchoge with the new WR! Fantastic run, you’re an example for each and every runner on this world. Pongezi sana @berlinmarathon pic.twitter.com/Jz7u2BUjKx — Dennis Kimetto (@DennisKimetto) September 16, 2018





Eliud Kipchoge's running milestones

Kipchoge now adds the official world record to his extensive list of achievements. Last year he set the fastest ever time over the marathon distance on the Monza race track in Italy for Nike's Breaking2 project.

With rolling pacers, Kipchoge ran 2:00:26, but the run isn't considered a world record because of the controlled conditions.

Kipchoge has now won 10 of the 11 marathons he has run. Ironically, it took a world record setting run by Kipsang in 2013 in Berlin to beat Kipchoge in what was just his second marathon since moving from the track.

His third Berlin win matches his trio of London marathon victories and a win in Chicago in 2014. That's wins in three of the six world marathon majors, with only New York, Boston and Tokyo left to conquer.

Before his stellar road career, Kipchoge was one of the leading track athletes in the running world.

The Kenyan won a bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and followed it up with a silver in the same event at the Beijing games in 2008.

His real breakthrough came at the 2003 World Championships where he outsprinted running legends Keninesa Bekele and Hicham El Guerrouj in the 5000m final.

Marathon world record

Kipchoge adds his name to the list of the greatest runners in history.

TIME RUNNER DATE MARATHON 2:08:18 Robert de Castella (Aus) 6/12/1981 Fukuoka Marathon 2:08:05 Steve Jones (UK) 21/10/1984 Chicago Marathon 2:07:12 Carlos Lopes (Por) 20/4/1985 Rotterdam Marathon 2:06:50 Belayneh Dinsamo (Eth) 17/4/1988 Rotterdam Marathon 2:06:05 Ronaldo da Costa (Bra) 20/09/1998 Berlin Marathon 2:05:42 Khalid Kannouchi (Mor) 24/10/1999 Chicago Marathon 2:05:38 Khalid Kannouchi (USA) 14/4/2002 London Marathon 2:04:55 Paul Tergat (Ken) 28/9/2003 Berlin Marathon 2:04:26 Haile Gebreselassie (Eth) 30/9/2007 Berlin Marathon 2:03:59 Haile Gebreselassie (Eth) 28/9/2008 Berlin Marathon 2:03:38 Patrick Makau (Ken) 25/9/2011 Berlin Marathon 2:03:23 Wilson Kipsang (Ken) 29/9/2013 Berlin Marathon 2:02:57 Dennis Kimetto (Ken) 28/9/2014 Berlin Marathon 2:01:39 Eliud Kipchoge (Ken) 16/9/2018 Berlin Marathon

Why are so many world marathon records set in Berlin?

The marathon world record has been broken seven times in the last 15 years, and each time, it's been done in Berlin. Why?

A flat course -

The first and most obvious reason is that it's flat. Really flat. Starting at 38m above sea level, the highest point the Berlin Marathon reaches is 53m above sea level. The lowest it goes is 37m. In comparison, London - which is still a fast course - goes from a low of 3m above sea leve, to a high of 55m, and has plenty of undulations. New York is even bumpier with plenty of bridges to traverse as the course winds its way through the five buroughs.

No corners -

There's also relatively few sharp corners in Berlin, which means runners can maintain a steady pace throughout the course. Fewer interruptions to rhythm means a quicker overall time.

Weather -

With the race being held in late-September, there's almost always perfect weather conditions conducive to fast running. There's hardly ever any wind and temperatures range from 12 to 18 degrees.

Ashphalt -

The roads of Berlin are ashphalt, which helps runners over long distances.

A world record course -

Over the past decade, Berlin has become a marathon that you associate with fast times and new records. In essence, it has become less of a racer's course, and more of a speed course. In contrast, Boston, New York and Chicago are the venues to see great duels between the fastest men in the world.

So, what you have on the start line in Berlin is one or two athletes solely focused on setting a record. They have pacers and the tactical part of marathon running is largely secondary.

In Chicago and New York, you're more likely to see tactical races. In many regards, these races are more exciting - watch the late Sammy Wanjiru's incredible win over Tsegaye Kebede in the 2010 Chicago Marathon for instance - but don't give themselves to fast times.

Berlin Marathon 2018: In pictures

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