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Even for Eliud Kipchoge, arguably the greatest marathoner of all time, 2020 has been a strange year.

In October, the world record holder lost for the first time in seven years during a re-arranged London Marathon, ending a streak of 10 straight wins over 42km.

Kipchoge went to London with 11 wins in 12 marathons. The reigning World record holder cited a blockage in his right ear over the last 10 miles and leg and hip cramping.

The London Marathon was postponed from its usual April date due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The course itself was different this year. Traditionally, runners wind around the River Thames and produce some of the faster times of the six World Marathon Majors.

This year, they were in a secure biosphere and completed 19 loops of St James’s Park without the usual spectator crowds before finishing at the usual line at The Mall.

The race was won by Ethiopian Shura Kitata in 2:05:42, one second ahead of runner-up Vincent Kipchumba.

Kipchoge’s only other marathon defeat was to Wilson Kipsang when he finished second at the Berlin Marathon in 2013.