What is the Definition of an Elite Time in a Marathon? Has the Definition Changed Over Time?
An elite marathon time is a time that is considered to be among the best in the world. The definition of an elite time has changed over time, as the sport has evolved and runners have become faster.
In the early days of marathoning, an elite time was considered to be anything under 3 hours. In the 1950s, the first sub-3 hour marathon was run by Jim Peters of Great Britain. In the 1960s, the sub-3 hour marathon became more common, and by the 1970s, a sub-3 hour marathon was considered to be a world-class time.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the definition of an elite time continued to evolve as runners became even faster. In the 1980s, the first sub-2:10 marathon was run by Carlos Lopes of Portugal. In the 1990s, the sub-2:10 marathon became more common, and by the 2000s, a sub-2:10 marathon was considered to be an elite time.
Today, the definition of an elite time in a marathon is considered to be anything under 2 hours and 10 minutes. This is a very demanding time, and only a small number of runners in the world are able to achieve it.
Related Questions - What is the current world record for the marathon? - What are the factors that have contributed to the improvement of marathon times over time? - How can I improve my marathon time? - What are the benefits of running a marathon? - What are the risks of running a marathon?
Related Hot Selling Items - Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% 2 - Hoka Clifton 8 - Garmin Forerunner 955 - AfterShokz Aeropex - TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller
Pre：Does it matter if you add coolant when the car is on or off
Next：How would you do to time 9 minutes with a 4 minute hourglass and a 7 minute hourglass