Distance runner Sabastian Sawe attempted the world record at the 2025 Berlin Marathon in his second race over the distance, but fell short, running two hours, 02 minutes and 16 seconds.
Yet he had already tasted victory elsewhere.
The reigning world half marathon champion had won the 2024 Valencia Marathon in 2:02:05 on December 1, 2024 for his maiden victory over the distance. He had also won the 2025 London Marathon in 2:02:27.
But fast times eluded the athlete In Berlin due to unusually warm and humid conditions which also made other athletes run slow times, particularly in the second half of the race.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe celebrates with a shoe after winning the men's elite race at the London Marathon in a new world record time of 01:59:30 on April 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Reuters
For the first time, Sawe’s coach, Italian Italian Claudio Berardelli, has revealed behind-the-scenes strategies that yielded the world record for the 31-year-old runner at the 2026 London Marathon.
Angry and disappointed with his performance at the 2025 Berlin Marathon, Sawe went back to the drawing board and trained long and hard.
His coach, Italian Claudio Berardelli, has said intense physical training coupled with focus on running at high speeds for long spells over long distances, and proper strength and conditioning, yielded the world record on April 26 in London Marathon.
In training, the athlete would cover more than 200 kilometres in a week.
“In terms of training, we went a step higher from the previous season. We took into consideration crucial lessons from Berlin Marathon, and made adjustments to his training programme,” said Berardelli.
The aim was to improve Sawe’s durability, especially the second half of the marathon.
President William Ruto looks on as World marathon record holder Sebastian Sawe signs off his framed picture following his record-setting victory in London Marathon on April 26, 2026.
Photo credit: PCS
“Good strength and conditioning programme is responsible for his improved durability and ability to sustain a high pace for long,” Berardelli explained. “It’s important for his body to be stronger and supple.”
Berardelli said Sawe went through intense strength and conditioning, as well as physiotherapy sessions for up to four times a week. The physiotherapy sessions became less intense with time, and were reduced to between three and two sessions a week in January and February.
“We reduced the intensity of the sessions because his back and calf had been giving him problems,” said Berardelli, adding that Sawe’s physiotherapist, Shadrack Kochong put in many hours to bring the athlete’s body to good shape with the help of Vincenzo Lancini from Italy.
In the final six weeks leading to London Marathon, Sawe’s macrocycle - a trainee’s long-term training approach to achieving bigger goals - became intense.
He embarked on intense running sessions, and covered between 200km and 241km every week in training. However, his training programme was not cast on stone.
“Sawe has been training for between nine to 10 days consecutively, then taking a break but that depended on how the workouts went. We would tweak his programme and give him an extra day of easy run. We combine workouts with recovery, depending how his body responds,” Berardelli said on Wednesday night when Sawe arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from London.
Berardelli noted that results of Sawe’s good preparations manifested in London where he covered the first half of the race in 60 minutes and 30 seconds, a perfect execution of their game plan.
“Sabastian was amazing in the second half of the race, in which he ran 59:01. Nothing can really describe this…it is simply unbelievable,” said Berardelli.
Although Berardelli expected a world record, he was shocked by Sawe’s sub-two-hour time. He says that will take time to sink in.
President William Ruto hands over a customized motor vehicle number plate to world marathon record holder Sebastian Sawe at State House, Nairobi. Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday, with a new world marathon record of 1 hour 59.30 seconds.
Photo credit: PCS
“He was in good shape, better than when he ran the Berlin Marathon last year. I knew he was going to push and run fast, which was the strategy with Andrea Kiptoo, one of the pacemakers from our camp,” said Berardelli.
Although Sawe made history in London Marathon with a jaw-dropping world record, Berardelli believes the world is yet to fully discover who Sawe is.
“Sabastian is like the lava still rumbling inside the mountain. What the world saw in London was just a spit of smoke. Sabastian is also discovering himself and slowly knowing what he is capable of doing in training. We are also learning,” said Berardelli.
Asked how soon Sawe could further lower the world record, Berardelli said: “We shall see very interesting things from him quite soon. He will do that again but there is no hurry or pressure. A sub -1:59 is possible but not lower than that anytime soon.”
Apart from liquid carbohydrates from his sponsor which he takes during races, Berardelli says Sawe’s usual diet remains local.
“He loves Ugali and managu (local vegetable), local chicken and rice. His breakfast has sweet potatoes,” Berardelli said.
