1:59

We live in extraordinary sporting times. Not only have we seen a bolt from the caribbean blue who destroyed the sprint records in the last decade, but we have this year witnessed marathon magic too!

Eliud Kipchoge ran 1:59:40 to achieve the seemingly impossible; 26 miles under 2 hours.

He achieved this in special conditions in Vienna where the course and the Ineos-sponsored pacing team were designed to enable best possible performance. But ultimately, he still needed to show up and maintain a pace of 4:34 per mile – yes, four-and-a-half minute miles for 26 miles!!

Roger Bannister did the first sub four minute mile in 1954 – ironically, another seemingly impossible feat at the time.

Kipchoge had made one earlier attempt at the two-hour barrier in 2017. This one was organised by Nike in Italy. It was called “Breaking 2” but he finished just outside the 2 hour mark on that occasion. He basically ran 2 hours and some seconds.

What I find very interesting is the psychology involved. The first run was focused on the “2” and it seems that for a long time, Kipchoge was running around the 2 hour mark. Then finally Ineos decided to focus on 1:59 and guess what? Kipchoge ran 1:59.

When Bannister finally broke 4 minutes for a mile, and ran 3:59.4, many others broke the 4 minute barrier within a matter of months. What we focus on we manifest.

Kipchoge was recently a guest at the Aberdeen-hosted BBC sports personality of the year award. The point he made during his speech was that human potential is unlimited. He has proven wrong all the forecasters who said that a sub 2-hour marathon would only be likely many decades from now. The same was said to Bolt about the 100m sprint.

What is your 1:59? Be specific and target exactly what you want, no matter how “impossible” someone tells you it is.

Our human potential should not be limited by a limited mindset. Rather, it should be unlocked by a belief in brilliance.