Sabastian Sawe Reveals Simple Meal that Propelled Him to Earth-Shaking Sub-Two-Hour Marathon

Kenyan marathoner Sabastian Sawe became the first man in history to run a sub-two-hour marathon in an official race when he clocked 1:59:30 in London on Sunday and he was driven by a simple meal.

Sawe has revealed that he kept his pre-race meal light and focused on carbohydrates before his historic performance in the English capital.

What does it take to fuel a record-breaking marathon? For Sawe,the answer was surprisingly simple.

During a post-race press conference, the 31-year-old was asked what he took for breakfast before his earth-shutting performance in London.

“Today I take two slices of bread, honey and tea,” the Berlin Marathon champion revealed.

While this may seem modest for an elite athlete preparing for a 42km race, the meal is a textbook example of effective running fuel. Elite nutritionist and physiologist Paul Booth analysed the choice on Instagram, highlighting its key components as per Runner’s World: "Honey: great source of fructose. White toast: low-residue carbohydrate. Tea: caffeine/hydration."

Each element plays a crucial role. Honey is a popular and natural source of pre-race energy, so much so that some brands have developed honey-based products for mid-race fueling. White bread, a low-residue carbohydrate, is easily digested and quickly converted into glucose, providing readily available energy.

Tea, a common beverage among Kenyan distance runners, offers both hydration and a performance-enhancing boost from its caffeine content. This simple combination provided Sawe with the essential fuel needed for his monumental achievement without weighing him down.