Kipchoge to attempt sub-2-hour marathon in Vienna on Oct. 12

LONDON (AP) — Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge’s attempt to run a marathon in under two hours will take place in Vienna on Oct. 12.

The attempt will be on a multi-lap course in The Prater, a park in Vienna. If the weather is poor, organizers have reserved eight more days.

Kipchoge says Vienna offers “a fast and flat course, nicely protected by trees.”

Kipchoge lowered the marathon world record to 2 hours, 1 minute, 39 seconds last year in Berlin. He has tried to break the 2-hour barrier before, running 2:00:25 at the Monza auto racing track in 2017. That wasn’t considered a world record because pacers entered mid-race and drinks were given to runners via mopeds.

The attempt had originally been planned for London, though no date and no course had been chosen.