Marathon - New WR 2hr 3min 38sec

[Dinny Breen]

Outstanding, how long before the 2 hour mark is beat...

Before Sunday's Berlin marathon, Patrick Makau talked openly about his desire to take the world record back to Kenya. In the event, he delivered spectacularly, not only breaking Haile Gebrselassie's existing mark by more than 20 seconds, but also breaking Gebrselassie himself with an exhilarating burst away from the leading group around the 15-mile mark.

"In the morning my body was not good but after I started the race, it started reacting very well. I started thinking about the record," Makau said, and from the earliest split times it was clear that something special was in the offing on the same wide, flat, famously fast course on which Gebrselassie set the previous record three years ago.

Makau and Gebrselassie were in a leading group of four up to just past halfway, at which point Makau accelerated like a 1,500m runner hitting the home straight, leaving the world-record holder bent double, holding his stomach on the Mitte pavement. Gebrselassie rejoined the race but eventually dropped out at the 27km mark.

Makau kept up a two-and-half-minute lead over the field and entered the final stretch beneath the Brandenburg Gate at a grimacing canter, taking the tape in 2hr 3min 38sec, an achievement that will be leavened further by the £218,000 purse for setting the new record mark.

[ballinaman]

Awesome performance. He said in the interview he knew he was on for it after 1km...unbelievable jeff!

[Shamrock Shore]

That's some feat. Will we see a sub 2 hour marathon?

[ballinaman]

That's some feat. Will we see a sub 2 hour marathon?

2.2 is possible in the next 5-10 years. Record is coming down by seconds now not minutes but it does look like it could happen in our lifetime. They are breaking an hour comfortably for the 1/2 so its possible.

[imtommygunn]

I'd say we'll be pensioners before 2 is beat but I think it'll be beat as will 9.5 in the 100.

Feel for Haille - hope we haven't seen the last of him. Legend of a man.

British guy finished 5th there today too in 2h10 - some going.

[Bingo]

One of the lads done it today, 3hrs 22m, he was delighted as he set himself 3hr 20 as a target. I told him he was 1hr 20m behind the winner so he'd alot of catching up to do!

[muppet]

Wow, first the neutrinos beat the speed of light and now this.

[orangeman]

Savage run !

[bcarrier]

I ran in the race the last time the WR was set. HG came into after run party dancing after settiing record. 2 hours will happen in next 10-15 years imo.

[ONeill]

Not that impressed. Give me a ball, a camera, a year and a housing estate with some hoops and I reckon I could do it in under 2 hours.