Eliud Kipchoge: Discipline will set you free.
Only the disciplines are free in life.
This is the story about the best marathon runner of all time trying to break a barrier that was considered impossible by many: running a marathon in less than 2 hours.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at the main principles that guide him— the importance of discipline, of believing in yourself, and also the mental toughness required to face “impossible challenges”.
Nike's Breaking2: The Monza Attempt
On a cool, rainy morning in May 2017, Nike's Breaking2 project brought three elite runners to a Formula One track in Monza, Italy, to attempt the impossible – running a marathon in under two hours.
To make this easier to understand for people who don't know about running:
That pace is equivalent to run the length of four football fields in about 68-70 seconds - and then repeating this over 100 times without stopping.
Elite marathon runners have chipped away at the record for decades, yet nobody came even close.
It is considered one of the most difficult feats in athletics by far.
Until Eliud Kipchoge.
Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya led the charge, along with many pacers running in triangle formations and a car projecting green lasers to mark the ideal pace. The track was chosen for perfect conditions: flat surface, controlled environment, and optimal weather.
Back then, Kipchoge was already one of the best marathon runners of all time. He had won olympic gold medal in Rio, and had won several world major marathons at Chicago, Berlin, and London.
If someone could do it, it was him.
Kipchoge started the race strong, hitting the halfway point in 59:57, right on target to break the barrier. His teammates had already fallen behind, but Kipchoge maintained his rhythm with remarkable consistency.
Everything seemed as if in that day history was going to be made.
However, in the final third of the race, fatigue began to show. With each kilometer, he slipped further behind the required pace – one second, then six, then more. Despite giving everything, Kipchoge crossed the finish line in 2:00:25, just 25 seconds short of the goal that many considered beyond human capability.
Breaking the two-hour barrier would take more time.
But rather than showing disappointment, Kipchoge smiled after finishing. "I'm happy to have done it. I'm a happy man to run a marathon in two hours. Now it is just 25 seconds I need to lose," he told reporters.
Where others might have seen failure, he saw only a gap to be closed—a measurable distance between what was and what could be: 25 seconds distributed across 26.2 miles. Just one second per mile.
Unbeknownst to him, there would be another attempt to break the two-hour marathon. But before that, we need to understand how Kipchoge thinks.
Kipchoge’s speech at Oxford
A couple of months later, in December 2017, Kipchoge delivered a powerful and insightful speech at the Oxford Union Society that revealed his philosophy — his profound wisdom on discipline, preparation, and mental fortitude that extends far beyond running.
Self-Discipline as the Foundation
“Self-discipline starts with you. It's no other person," defining it as "doing what's right instead of doing what you feel like doing".
For Kipchoge, discipline isn't a temporary state but a lifestyle that must be cultivated consistently:
"Make discipline your lifestyle. Discipline is not a one-time event. Self-discipline is like building your muscle. It's like going to the gym. You cannot go to the gym today and build your muscle. You should get a program and go slowly by slowly. That's the way to build your muscle and that's the way you can have discipline".
Perhaps his most quoted insight on discipline came when he stated:
"Only the disciplined ones are free in life. If you aren't disciplined, you are a slave to your moods. You are a slave to your passions. That's a fact"
Consistency as the Key to Growth
Kipchoge highlighted consistency as essential for development in any field:
"I'm confident to say that if you want to grow in a profession, consistency is the key... When I miss one [workout session], it's like missing a discussion with your classmates, where six people are discussing a subject. If I miss one training, then I will not sleep well".
He explained that consistency emerges from the combination of motivation and discipline, stating: "When you bring motivation and discipline (together), then you can be consistent".
Embracing Change and Discomfort
Another key lesson from Kipchoge's speech was the importance of adaptability:
"Accept change... I know it is not really comfortable to adopt change but change in life of a human being or life of any profession is really important".
He encouraged people to "become comfortable with being uncomfortable", a principle that has served him well in pushing the boundaries of human endurance.
Believing in Yourself
Self-belief forms another pillar of Kipchoge's philosophy. He explained how he approaches the starting line of major marathons:
"I believe in what I am doing. To run a big marathon and win takes five months. When I'm on the starting line, my mind starts reviewing what I have been doing the last five months. I believe in my training, and I treat myself as the best one standing on that line".
History was made on Vienna
It’s October 12, 2019. Vienna's Prater park.
With near-perfect weather conditions and the race course carefully selected to ensure minimal energy, Kipchoge was supported by forty-one elite pacemakers who rotated throughout the race, running in a V-formation to shield him from wind resistance.
As Kipchoge approached the final 500-meter straight, his pacemakers stepped aside to allow him to complete the historic moment alone.
Pounding his chest and pointing to the crowd, the 34-year-old Kenyan crossed the finish line in 1:59:40.2, becoming the first person to break the two-hour barrier for the marathon distance.
But for Kipchoge, this wasn't just about his personal glory. As he said:
"The reason for running 1:59 is not the performance. It's to tell that farmer that he is not limited, that teacher that she can produce good results in school..."
His message is simple but powerful: "No human is limited."
What got him there? Not just talent, but:
Hard work every single day.
Deep focus on his goal.
Strong self-belief.
Iron discipline.
Self-discipline is like building muscle. You can't go to the gym once and build muscle. You need a plan and must follow it step by step, day after day.
Only disciplined people are truly free. Without discipline, you become a slave to your moods and feelings.
Eliud Kipchoge
I LOVE Eliud Kipchoge and this piece! I watched Breaking 2 twice and it made me cry because there is no one I would have wanted more to win that title. He's so wise and so humble and so kind. You've done a great job here Andres!
Beautiful. Another one of my favorites of yours to date