Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance.
And now we turn to this.
Under two hours, nobody's ever done this. They said it couldn't be done. Sebastian Solveig is going to break the two-hour mark. He's going to win the London Marathon in incredible style. An historic performance. 1.59.30. Absolutely incredible. I've never seen anything like that. What a finish!
Chapter 2: What historic achievement did Sabastian Sawe accomplish in the marathon?
Steve Cramm commentating there as Sebastian Saway shattered the marathon record yesterday, completing the London race in one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. And this made him the first athlete to complete an official marathon in under two hours. Many reasons have been cited for the performance, but one of them is the pair of super shoes that Sebastian was wearing.
I'm joined by chief sports reporter with The Guardian, Sean Ingle. Good morning, Sean.
Good morning.
Can you put that achievement into context for us?
Well, I was speaking to Hugh Brasher, who is the race director of the London Marathon yesterday, and his dad paced Sir Roger Bannister to the sub four minute mile. And he said it was very much like that. This was this generation's four minute mile. And it really was that special because it's cut through to
Everyone that runs, a good example for your listeners, imagine trying to run 100 metres in 17 seconds, which isn't slow, and then trying to keep doing it for over 26 miles, because that's what Sebastian Saue did yesterday. It really was remarkable.
And was it that much of a surprise or were we on the cusp of this?
And we were definitely on the cusp. I mean, the big change happened about 10 years ago where these super shoes with very bouncy and fast foam first started coming in. And since then, the marathon world record has come down to sort of 203 to sort of slowly come down. But even so, to take another big chunk out of it yesterday, 65 seconds off the world record in one mighty swoop was a surprise.
And what are these super shoes? What makes them so special?
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Chapter 3: How did Sabastian Sawe's performance compare to previous marathon records?
Last week in Boston, I think another shoe company, Asics, had seven of the top ten on the podium. So these shoes companies, they're trying to fight out for smaller technological varnishes. There isn't the big jumps or the big differences between the brands anymore.
So it's fair as long as everybody has the same sort of technology available to them, right?
Yes.
Yeah, I think so. I mean, obviously, there are old timers that back in the day, they look at their times and a three-hour marathon, which is a very good achievement 15 years ago, is not the same as a three-hour marathon now because the shoes may give you three, four, five minutes extra time. But I think as long as everyone has them, I think people accept that. And also...
there is a preventative effect. If you run in shoes that have more foam in them and different foams, they can help you run safer as well as faster. And actually, it's quite interesting. There's a big growth of run clubs across the UK and I'm sure Ireland where people that run very slowly, 12, 13, 14 miles are getting into running now.
And a lot of it is because they use a different type of foam, which isn't as fast, but it's very protective. And again... That's a good thing. So technology and sport isn't always a bad thing.
Yeah, and it's not just for the elites as well. There's another technological advancement as well. Tell me about CarboGels.
Yeah, so anyone that's run a lot and tried to eat on the run will know that it can have effects on your gastro system. But a few years ago, a Swedish company called Mertens came up with what they call a hydrogel.
And essentially what athletes can do is they can take this and consume enormous amounts of carbohydrates, which means they don't hit a wall during a marathon, but also they don't get tummy issues. And to put it into context, Sebastian Sauer yesterday had about 230 grams of carbohydrates during his marathon. And that's the equivalent of eating about 25 digestive biscuits.
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Chapter 4: What role do super shoes play in marathon performance?
So he has been tested more than other athletes. Does that mean he's clean? No one knows for sure. However, it does give a level of reassurance that hopefully he is clean.
It certainly is a new era, Sean. Thank you very much. Sean Ingle there, Chief Sports Reporter with The Guardian.
The Clare Byrne Show. With Aviva Insurance. Weekday mornings at 9 on Newstalk. Conversation that counts.