Bread and honey: Inside simple breakfast that saw Sabastian Sawe smash London Marathon record
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe produced a remarkable performance at the London Marathon on Sunday, April 26, 2026, clocking a historic time of 1:59:30 to set a new world record.
His achievement, witnessed by an estimated 800,000 spectators lining the streets, was attributed to an intense training routine of up to 150 miles per week, cutting-edge lightweight racing shoes, and a simple pre-race meal of bread and honey.
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The 31-year-old surged strongly in the latter stages of the race, becoming the first athlete to officially complete a marathon in under two hours. Reflecting on the feat, Sawe expressed his pride and sense of accomplishment.
“For me, I have shown that nothing is possible. It’s something that will remain in my mind forever. I had the courage to push even when the pace was so fast,” he told The Guardian.
“I was not bothered because I was ready for it. The crowd helped me a lot because they were cheering and calling my name and feeling strong. The world record today is also because of them.”
His coach, Claudio Berardelli, praised him as a rare talent and highlighted the preparation behind the success. According to the coach, Sawe had been logging over 200km weekly in the final weeks leading up to the race, peaking at 241km. He also noted that the athlete was in even better shape than during his previous attempt in Berlin, which had been affected by extreme weather.
Berardelli further pointed to advancements in equipment and nutrition, including the use of ultra-light Adidas Pro Evo 3 shoes and carbohydrate gels, as contributing factors. He emphasised that marathon running is entering a new phase due to such innovations, combined with elite-level conditioning.
Beyond physical ability, the coach credited Sawe’s mindset and personality, describing him as humble, positive, and exceptional. He admitted that despite over two decades of coaching experience in Kenya, Sawe continues to surprise him with performances that once seemed out of reach.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, Berardelli believes Sawe still has room to improve and could go even faster on quicker courses like Berlin or Chicago, noting that the runner has not yet reached his full potential.
Meanwhile, Kenya is set to give a hero’s welcome to marathon sensation Sabastian Sawe following his historic world-record performance. According to a statement from Athletics Kenya dated Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Sawe is expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday night, April 29, 2026.
