1:59

What will it take to run a marathon in less than two hours? Who will become marathon running's Roger Bannister and smash this elusive record? How will this runner achieve the historical feat that will make headlines everywhere? Will it be a Kenyan, an Ethiopian, an American, or a marathoner from another country? And how soon will it happen? 1:59 examines what it will take for a runner to go sub--two hours. It will require more than raw talent, optimal body size, and the right kind of athletic genes. The topics include following a specialized diet, avoiding high-mileage training, improving running form, properly resting and recovering, sharpening mental focus, wearing the right kind of shoes (or even going barefoot!), and considering new racing venues such as staging the marathon on a one-mile track. The world's best times for the marathon have been dropping since the distance of 26.2 miles was made official over one hundred years ago. But after a noticeable decline that occurred for a half century, the times have now stalled just north of two hours for several decades. The current record holder, Wilson Kipsang, of Kenya, ran 2:03:23 at the 2013 Berlin Marathon. This book will allow running enthusiasts to have a thorough understanding of the true potential of endurance athletes. And in turn, they can apply the same training and racing principles outlined by Dr. Maffetone to their own running, whether it's a 10K, half marathon, marathon, or ultramarathon.