On September 9th, 2026, The VergeCast, hosted by senior policy reporter Lauren Feiner, delved into the technology enabling athletes to run a marathon in under two hours – an average pace of less than four minutes and 35 seconds per mile for 26.2 miles. This feat was once considered impossible, with scientists like Michael Joyner predicting a 1:58 marathon in 1991, and Alex Hutchinson, the guest, initially forecasting it for 2075.
Before the main discussion, Senior Reviews Editor Nathan Edwards presented "90 Seconds on The Verge" for Tuesday, September 8th, 2026. He highlighted Allison Johnson's positive review of the Fairphone 6 Plus, the first to launch officially in the U.S. and praised for its repairability (iFixit gave it 10/10, Allison an 8/10 as a phone). Ronnie Mola's report explained why tech, including phones and computers, is becoming more expensive, attributing it to demand from AI data centers, manufacturing capacity struggles, and record profits for manufacturers. Edwards then previewed Apple Announcement Day, expecting the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (possibly with a smaller Dynamic Island and new camera, almost certainly a higher price), a "wide" foldable iPhone (like the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8), new watches, and potentially AirPods 5, with live blogging and a YouTube reaction planned.
Feiner then welcomed Alex Hutchinson, a journalist and author specializing in human performance limits, to discuss the two-hour marathon barrier. Hutchinson explained that while the number's significance is partly its roundness, the breakthrough came half a century earlier than his own conservative prediction. The primary reason, he stated, was the dramatic improvement in running shoes, specifically the "super shoes" that emerged in 2016-2017.
Super shoes feature a thick sole made of super light, resilient foam, embedded with a stiff carbon fiber plate. While the exact mechanics are debated, they work by compressing upon landing and springing back, propelling the runner forward. This allows runners to maintain a given pace with less energy or run faster with the same energy. Nike's initial Vaporfly 4% was named for the 4% efficiency improvement it offered, a "wild finding" at the time. Hutchinson noted that while all running shoes have a "spring," super shoes represent a radical leap in materials and design.
Nike’s 2017 "Breaking2" project, an exhibition race, aimed to break the two-hour barrier under highly controlled conditions. These included selecting the optimal day and time, using a perfectly cambered Formula One track in Monza, Italy, and employing multiple pacemakers in an arrowhead formation to set a precise pace and minimize wind resistance. Eliud Kipchoge ran 2:00:25, falling just short. Two years later, in 2019, under similar artificial conditions in Vienna, Kipchoge successfully ran under two hours, though it was still not an official record. The shoes evolved, with continuous innovation in foam resilience and carbon plate designs, leading to a "bit of an arms race" and eventually World Athletics imposing a 40-millimeter stack height limit.
Hutchinson recalled visiting Nike's lab during the Breaking2 project, observing personalized testing, rapid prototyping of shoes, and meticulous optimization of every detail, from carbon plate stiffness for individual runners to garment threads.
This year, the two-hour barrier was finally broken on an official course in the same race, the London Marathon, by both Sebastian Sawi and Yomov Kajelcha. Hutchinson admitted he didn't watch it live, as the "sub-two-hour watch" had tapered off, especially after the tragic death of promising young runner Kelvin Kipton. He noted the surprise, as Kajelcha, running his first marathon, had dismissed the possibility just days before.
Beyond the shoes, Hutchinson emphasized other crucial factors. He cited "generational athletes" who train intensely and "carbolution" – a carbohydrate revolution in fueling. Athletes now ingest unprecedented amounts of carbohydrates during races (e.g., 120 grams per hour), an amount once deemed physiologically impossible. This is enabled by new sports drinks, like hydrogel-based formulas, which encapsulate carbohydrates to bypass stomach sensors, allowing for greater absorption. The fact that cyclists are also going faster suggests broader advancements in endurance sports beyond just shoes.
The Adidas Pro Evo 3, worn by Sawi and Kajelcha, further exemplify this evolution. They are exceptionally light (under 100 grams, giving the impression of an empty box) and optimized for a single marathon, not durability. The design philosophy is to eliminate anything that doesn't aid fast, linear running for 26 miles.
Hutchinson expressed "complicated thoughts" on the use of these shoes by recreational runners and the "purity of the sport." While high-end shoes like the $500 Pro Evo 3 (often reselling for $2,000) are not for the mass market, there's a "bottomless appetite" for advanced footwear. Runners seek "free speed" and often find the shoes make running more enjoyable due to their cushioned feel. However, Hutchinson views it as a "collective action problem": while he personally resists the idea of paying for speed, competing in races where everyone else uses them makes them a necessity, leading to adjustments like the Boston Marathon qualifying times becoming faster. He concludes that while he doesn't have a "bright line" for what constitutes too much innovation, a $500 shoe that only lasts two races prompts reflection on what running truly means to an individual.