Scientists eye the 2-hour marathon barrier

The cautious have likened it to an attempt to send a manned mission to Mars. However, Yannis Pitsiladis, professor of sport and exercise science at the University of Brighton in the UK, is aiming to achieve it by 2019.

He hopes that with the appropriate mix of science, technology and training techniques - and of course without the use of banned substances - he will help athletes break the two-hour barrier for the marathon. He has a team of international experts, including some from Greece, working on the analysis of satellite data.

The project is called Sub2 and cooperating institutions include the National Observatory of Athens, the University of Athens and the universities of Cape Town and Vienna.

As part of his research, Pitsiladis is carrying out ergonomic tests on young people and top runners from Ethiopia. He is also conducting tests below sea level...