Kipchoge targets second attempt to break two-hour barrier in marathon

Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge arrived in Nairobi on Monday buoyant he will be successful in his new mission to break the two-hour barrier in marathon.

Kipchoge, 34, says he will make a second attempt to break the two-hour mark limit in running marathon after he secured sponsorship from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

The race venue has not been confirmed, but London has been picked as possible venue in November.

"I always believe in my training and I want to unlock that thought that there are limitations in the human being," said Kipchoge on Monday.

"Two years ago in Monza (Italy) the world got to 26 seconds from breaking the last milestone in athletics. This fall I want to break this barrier," he added.

In 2017, Kipchoge ran two hours and 25 seconds in his "Breaking Two" project on Italy's Monza motor racing circuit, though the time was not ratified for record purposes as he used "in and out" pacemakers and a moving drinks station.

In Berlin in September, however, Kipchoge lowered the legal world record by 78 seconds clocking 2:01:39 in Berlin to beat compatriot's Dennis Kimetto's time of 2:02:57.

To cement his place in the legends fort, Kipchoge set a new London marathon course record by running the second-fastest time in history when winning the race in 2:02:37.

"This would really surpass everything because this will go in the history as far as the human family is concerned," said Kipchoge. "It is not about recognition or ratification but to make history and to pass on a message that no human is limited. Running the fastest-ever marathon of 2:00:25 was the proudest moment of my career."

Kipchoge will be taking a deserved rest as his body recovers before resuming full time training at his training camp in Kaptagat, Eldoret in Kenya under his coach Patrick Sang, a former Olympian steeplechaser.

"I am back in Kenya after a great trip in London. What should I do next time, I am back?" said Kipchoge.

He said more details will be ironed out and announced by his management soon. However, he believes once his mind is set on breaking the two-hour mark, he will do it. The new project is labelled "The 1.59 Challenge".

Kipchoge believes it is possible to attain this new challenge running clean. "I always run clean. It will offer me another chance to prove to the whole world that you can run in a positive way," Kipchoge said, "and in a clean way and actually make history."