Eliud Kipchoge tries to become first person to run a marathon in sub two hours

A WORLD record holder is attempting to become the first person to run a gruelling marathon in under just two hours today.

Eliud Kipchoge, 34, is hoping to smash the attempt after missing out by just 25 seconds in his first bid two years ago.

The Kenyan, who is considered to be the greatest marathon runner of all-time, is taking part in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna today.

But his feat will not stand as an official record because it is not in open competition and it uses rotating pacesetters.

His 41-strong team will protect him from any head wind, ensure he is on schedule and supply him with drinks as he runs 4.4 laps of a flat, 9.6km circuit.

There will also be a green laser to Kipchoge where he needs to be in order to beat the record.

Despite not being considered a world record, the bid will still make history – with no one ever running 26.2 miles quicker than 1:59.

‘I’M RUNNING TO MAKE HISTORY’

An average runner completes a sub four-hour marathon – with just two per cent of the global running community ever making the distance in under three hours.

Kipchoge has been training for six months to prepare for today’s marathon at The Prater.

Speaking ahead of the race, he said: “I’m running to make history.

“I’m running to show that there are no limits, no human is limited.”

The Olympic champ, who won the London Marathon for the fourth time earlier this year, missed out as part of Nike’s Breaking 2 project at the Monza grand prix circuit in Italy two years ago.

But he believes the favourable climate, excellent air quality and almost completely flat terrain in Vienna will help him run to victory.

He broke the official record by running 2:01:39 in the 2018 Berlin Marathon.

Kipchoge said: “Berlin was running and breaking a world record – Vienna is running and making history, like the first man to go to the moon.

“I am trying to stay as calm as possible.”