Inclusive Leadership; When Great Leaders Expand What People Believe Is Possible

When belief changes what is possible

On 12 October 2019, in Vienna, Austria, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, one of the greatest marathon runners of all time, ran a marathon in sub-two-hours; 1:59:40 to be precise.  I was fortunate to be present at the finish line to witness this extraordinary feat. The crowd in Vienna was electric.

Now it’s true that Kipchoge’s time was not recognised as a world record, and he knew this before the race however, the point of this whole exercise/challenge, was to prove that humankind was capable of running a marathon in under two hours, and that even in the absence of controlled conditions, it was only a matter of time.

Basically, Kipchoge laid the groundwork for himself and others to replicate and improve upon. Like a good leader, he planted the seeds, showed what was possible and inspired others to follow. I wrote about Kipchoge’s Vienna sub-two-hour challenge ‘What business leaders can learn from Eliud Kipchoge’.  

Team Success often Boils down to Collective effort, not individual ego

Kipchoge’s 2019 INEOS 1:59 Challenge relied on rotating pacemakers, who swapped every 5k, and this rotation kept Kipchoge on exact pace. Notably, these pacemakers were fellow competitors, some even Olympians, who’d put rivalry, selfishness and ego aside to support Kipchoge in achieving this feat.

This race showed humans and technology working together to enhance natural skill and ability. In front of Kipchoge throughout the race, was a pace car projecting a green laser line onto the road to guide him.  World Athletics rules for official marathon records, ban such external mechanical aids and require a standard race format with no special pacing setups. This is why, the race didn’t count as an official world record, despite the remarkable time.

Nevertheless, Eliud Kipchoge proved that a sub-two-hour marathon was possible - controlled conditions or not. He later put his money where his mouth was when, on 25 September 2022, he won the Berlin marathon in a world-record time of 2:01:09, beating his own previous world record. Kipchoge had laid the groundwork, and others followed, edging ever closer to the two-hour barrier.

Those who follow stand on the shoulders of those who lead

On 8 October 2023, the late Kelvin Kiptum ran the Chicago Marathon in a world-record time of 2:00:35. Tragically, he died in a car crash on 11 February 2024, aged just 24, one week after the record was ratified by the International Track Federation.

In tribute, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, himself once an incredibly successful middle-distance runner, described Kelvin Kiptum as, "An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly."

Since Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour challenge and Kelvin Kiptum’s world record time of 2:00:35, there had been an overwhelming sense of inevitability that the sub-two-hour barrier would soon fall. And so it came to pass, in London on Sunday 26 April 2026, when Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe, running only his fourth official marathon, broke the world record with a time of 1:59:30 at the London Marathon.

Sawe himself later said that the late Kelvin Kiptum’s world record had inspired him and shown him what was possible. He also paid tribute to the London crowd for spurring him on. His coach has described Sawe as an exceptional human being, with ‘positive energy and humble at the same time’. 

The power of shared momentum

What made this year’s London Marathon one of the greatest ever, was the fact that Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, on his marathon debut no less, finished second, also managing a sub two-hour time of 1:59:41. This, despite ‘hitting the wall’ at 41k, when he said his legs simply stopped working.

Was Sawe the perfect best pacemaker for Kejelcha? Perhaps the motivation was more symbiotic than initially thought, given Sawe later said, “I think if Kejelcha was not there I would not have got the world record.”

What leadership really looks like

A marathon is an extraordinary accomplishment both physically and mentally. According to Marathon Handbook (24 April 2026), only around 1.3 million people complete a marathon each year, roughly 0.17% of the global population. In reality, the number is likely even lower, as some runners may complete more than one marathon annually.

True leadership is not about job title or rank. It's about inspiring people to believe that the impossible is possible. It’s about sharing skill, knowledge and experience, showing others how it can be done. It’s about having the courage to challenge the status quo, even when others insist it cannot be done or that venturing out, is simply too risky. 

Good leadership requires an open mindset; an openness to all possibilities

Sometimes the best people don’t all come from the same places, schools or backgrounds, nor do they always take the same path. Many great marathon runners were never training for this distance, but for one reason or another, were given, or took, the opportunity to change distance and found their natural home. Kipchoge was a first class 5k runner before he even raced the marathon, and Sawe only debuted in the marathon in 2024. Moving from track i.e. 10k/6.2m to marathon (42.2k/26.2m) requires a total shift in training, physiology, and lifestyle.

The ability to be open to and, give people new challenges and/or opportunities is a trait that good and inclusive leaders possess. 

They don’t always rely on stereotypes or solely on what’s worked before. Being open to new possibilities, including giving someone from a different background or area of expertise the opportunity to try something new, or taking the time to build their confidence and show them all possibilities can unlock exactly the capability an organisation needs at crucial moments. 

Talent, technology and belief

I’ve no doubt that my German friends will want it noted that the first two men to run a marathon in under two hours both did so wearing Adidas; namely the newly released, super-lightweight (under 100g) Adizero Adios Pro 3.

And to those who argue that it was mostly down to “the shoes”, I would gently challenge them to put on the same trainers and attempt a sub 3:30 marathon, let alone in under two hours.

No human is limited

Let us finish with the words of the great Eliud Kipchoge himself. In paying tribute to Sebastian Sawe on 26 April 2026, he wrote on Instagram,

“Today is a historical day for marathon running! Seeing two athletes break the magical 2-hour barrier at London Marathon is the proof that we are just at the beginning of what is possible when talent, progress and an unwavering belief in the human potential come together.

My deepest congratulations to both Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha. Breaking the sub-two-hour barrier in the marathon has long been a dream for runners everywhere, and today, you’ve made that dream come true. 

During the INEOS 1:59 Challenge we showed the world that it was possible and it has always been my hope to see another athlete continue with this belief and break this magical barrier in a city marathon. Let this achievement inspire the next generation and remind everyone in the world that No Human Is Limited.”

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1. Inclusive Leadership in the era of AI - (this one) Creating a culture in which everyone thrives

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