First Runner to Break 'Sub-2' Is Coming to Run With South Korean Runners

Kenya's Sebastian Sawe, who became the first human in history to break the elusive two-hour marathon barrier, is visiting South Korea to run alongside local marathon enthusiasts.

The Korea Marathon Association announced today (the 30th) that it will host the "Sebastian Sawe Invitation Marathon" in the area of Geumsan County, South Chungcheong Province, on December 5 and 6.

The event will feature a single 14-kilometer category held over two days, with a scale of 15,000 participants per day, totaling 30,000 runners.

Registration for the event is scheduled to open on a first-come, first-served basis starting September 1.

Previously, Sawe completed the 42.195-kilometer full course in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds at the men's event of the 2026 London Marathon held last April, achieving the "sub-2" milestone (completing a full marathon in under two hours) for the first time in human history.


The association explained that this visit marks the first time Sawe will attend a non-official, event-style competition since setting the world record.

The invitation was reportedly finalized after Chang Young-ki, president of the Korea Marathon Association, personally visited Sawe's training base camp in Kenya on the 28th.

"We are thrilled to invite Sawe, who has left a monumental record in global marathon history, to provide an unforgettable experience for local enthusiasts," President Chang said. "We will make thorough preparations for the event to ensure that runners from all over the country can run safely against the backdrop of Geumsan's beautiful nature."

The association plans to finalize detailed schedules and side events with Sawe's management next month, and specific guidelines regarding the competition will be announced on the association's official website prior to participant recruitment.
 
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.