'It Is Possible' - Sabastian Sawe on Carrying Forward Kelvin Kiptum's Unfinished Sub-Two Dream in Berlin

Sabastian Sawe has shared his calm response to the possibility of pursuing Kelvin Kiptum’s unfinished sub-two-hour marathon dream in Berlin.

Sabastian Kimaru Sawe has finally answered the question of possibly being the first man to run a marathon in under two hours officially, honouring the late Kelvin Kiptum’s ambition.

Kelvin Kiptum, just 24 before his passing, had already shown that he was the man to beat in the marathon and was looking forward to becoming the first man to run a sub-two-hour marathon officially.

Now, Sabastian Sawe wants to fulfil that dream, noting that anything is possible as he heads to the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, September 21.

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Sabastian Sawe has had quite an interesting journey from his childhood, and thanks to his grandfather, Musa Sitenei who had built the family’s foundation from sweat and toil, clearing scrubland to own 150 acres of maize fields and leaving a legacy of self-reliance.

Unfortunately, he died before Sabastian Sawe was born, but his ethos lived on through Esther, Sabastian’s grandmother (Koko), who became the boy’s anchor.

“It was hard work, but we never went hungry. She raised me as a child. She was always there for me. She always told me, ‘It will be okay,’” Sabastian Sawe admitted in an interview with Runner’s World.

Sabastian Sawe started school in 2004 at Cheukta Primary, a weathered building among maize fields. Now, he has become one of the most successful marathon runners, winning on his debut in Valencia and proceeding to claim the win in the streets of London earlier this year.

Sabastian Sawe and The Pursuit of Sub-Two

Claudio Berardelli’s training philosophy is built on meticulous, gradual progression. He does not work alone; the camp is a team effort, from assistant coaches to the physiotherapist, Shadrack.

“He’s meticulous,” Shadrack says of Sawe. “He books early, tells me exactly what’s happening. He listens to his body.”

At the moment, Sabastian Sawe is training for the Berlin Marathon, and his path echoes the meteoric rise of Kelvin Kiptum. Could his third marathon be the moment history is made?

When asked, Sabastian Sawe offers no bold prediction, only a calm reply: “It’s possible. I run my own race. No pressure.”

The math makes it tangible. To run 1:59:45, he calculates, “A 60:15 first half, then 59:30 second.” Incredibly hard, but not impossible. “Yes. It’s possible,” Sabastian Sawe repeats with confidence.

Claudio Berardelli believes it is Sabastian Sawe’s range that sets him apart. “I haven’t pushed him much yet, but look at his performances. He can do everything. This athlete is on another level.”

On September 21, in Berlin, the world will watch. If he does it, it will not be because of one dazzling run, but because of years of invisible work, and because of the mantra he carries from his Koko: all will be well.