A point few have picked up on is the benefit of the course layout, which saw the 100 % accuracy between the measured and run lines. This is due to the actual line being consistently in the middle of the track allowing the runner to be directly on top of the line for the whole test. This is normally not available to athletes in a race and the tighter corners and high curbs will often see runners going further around bends. Add in trips to refreshment tables and juggling around the bunch and it is not unreasonable that this alone saves 80 to 150 metres, which is in effect 12 to 23 seconds.

After these two items are taken into account the effect of the products, compression tights, strap blades( like Hermes wings) on legs, and shoes have minimal effect, although their contribution to maintaining the runners’ homeostasis may come out of data. That, in turn, would contribute to the duration of the high intensity effort, and more importantly, the mental control shown by the Olympic Champion.

For me this test of human performance was living proof that it is not the physiology that limits us – it is the mind. If it was physiology, then how could Kipchoge have picked up the pace over the final few hundred metres? What

fueled this sprint? Certainly not the sports drink. If he was physically unable to continue, how was he able to walk for perhaps 20 or 30 metres after finishing, then jog to greet and hug a friend? If the physiological limit had been reached he would have collapsed over the line.

This supports, and to my knowledge is the first monitored endurance demonstration of, the Central Governor Theory evolved by Professor Tim Noakes in 2005. My favourite simile for this relates to engineering: The body has a factor of safety on the effort level that the mind( CPU in computer term) allows the body to do. As the intensity increases, the body sends signals( of fatigue) to the mind to warn that high intensity level has been reached. The mind then tells the body to ease of, as a protection. The limiting intensity level is determined by past experience and also chemical action, such as lactate, which is brought in to protect the muscle but creates a different feeling in the body, which is then recognised as a signal not to sustain this level.

The monitoring of Kipchoge’ s effort before and in recovery will hopefully allow the identification of the changes that prompted the moderation of effort, and if these can be trained then we can learn to physically improve the limiting level.

Physical training can also change our perception of a limiting level. This is a direct benefit of time trials, intervals and hard workouts that convince us we are fitter, and therefore we‘ believe’ we can push harder in the next race. The mind then accepts a greater intensity, and of course physiological signs are less due to better fitness for the task.

But it has been shown in emotionally-driven explosive tasks, where time is too short to think, that the body can override and accomplish phenomenal action. It is desire and selfpreservation that fuels these actions, blocking the mind’ s normal action. These actions can result in soft tissue damage, but the mind‘ allowed’ both because there was insufficient time to rationalise the action, and because it was lifesaving.

The problem with long duration tasks, such as distance running, is that we have too long to debate with the mind as to whether or not there is sufficient need to go beyond the normal limits. Most runners have experienced the doubts that can occur at the start of a race, and how we find potential excuses for holding back when we want to race, such as a bad night’ s sleep, poor training, or a glass of wine the night before.

Images: Courtesy Nike