25 Sub-2:07 Marathons in 2009

What was once unthinkable and recently rare is now commonplace.

Science of Sport website editor Ross Tucker, PhD, has written an interesting piece on the marathon revolution of 2009. He observes that 20 different male runners ran sub-2:07 marathons in the 2009 calendar year, a 56 percent increase from last year and a more than threefold increase from 2007. Most amazingly, this year’s 20 sub-2:07 marathon performers hail from just three countries: Kenya, Ethiopia, and Morocco.

The bulk of Tucker’s piece is devoted to explaining the East African dominance of marathon running.

For more: Science of Sport