On Sunday, April 26, TeamGalaxy member and world-class marathoner Jacob Kiplimo once again pushed past his limits, clocking a new personal best of 2 hours, 0 minutes, and 28 seconds at the London Marathon. This monumental achievement follows his world record-breaking performance (57:20) at the Lisbon Half Marathon this past March.
Kiplimo secured a third-place finish in what was the most competitive race in history, where two runners broke the once-elusive two-hour barrier and three athletes finished inside the previous world record.
To celebrate his inspiring journey, Samsung hosted a special event themed "Recommended By the Pros" at Samsung KX in London. The gathering brought together over 30 TeamGalaxy influencers and local running communities for an exclusive opportunity to hear directly from one of the world's top athletes.
Jacob Kiplimo (center) on stage at the Samsung KX event in London, discussing his performance at the 2026 London Marathon.
The Secret to a New Record, Proven by Data
The highlight of the event was a session where Kiplimo himself reviewed his race. As his performance data — recorded on his Galaxy Watch8 and the Samsung Health app — unfolded across a large screen, the audience was captivated. They witnessed firsthand how his heart rate remained stable as he maintained a blistering pace and how his biometrics shifted in real-time according to his race strategy.
Jacob Kiplimo (center) reviewing his 2026 London Marathon performance data from his Galaxy Watch8.
“I’m always focused on how I can improve and how far I can push myself,” Kiplimo shared. “Objectively analyzing my limits through recorded data is a great help in setting my next goal.”
Also taking the stage were singer Sean, currently on a quest to complete 12 international marathons, and Rick Kelsey, host of the popular podcast "The Running Channel," who shared deep insights into the importance of consistency and recovery.
TeamGalaxy influencers and those from local running communities were among the event attendees.
Connecting with a Global Community: Reddit AMA Highlights
Ahead of the event, Kiplimo also connected with runners from around the world in an ‘Ask Me Anything (AMA)’ session on Reddit’s r/Marathon_Training subreddit. Below are some of the key insights into his training philosophy and practical advice.
Q. When you get tired around mile 20, what are you telling yourself in your head that helps you push through to the end?
A. It can get very tough and tiring, I will admit. In those moments, I try to stay calm and not to think too far ahead. My piece of advice that I always try and do is to break the race into smaller parts and focus keeping my rhythm. I remind myself that I’ve prepared for this and to just do the best I can.
Q. What methods/advice do you have for staying injury free?
A. You must listen to your body, always, always, always! Recovery is one of the most important things for me. Good sleep, taking a rest when I need it, and not forcing myself to train when something feels wrong. Core exercises and working on details also help me avoid injury, the more I exercise, the more I can avoid injury during my training or during the race.
Q. How often do you run easy runs, and how important do you think they are for increasing overall pace?
A. Easy runs are a big part of my training. Even if they do not feel important in the moment, they are what allows me to stay consistent over time. If you push too hard every day, it becomes difficult to improve. It depends on the time, but usually three days a week, in the morning and evening to help me recover and build endurance.
Q. Have you noticed a big change in the science and training methodology in your career?
A. I have, of course, seen changes over time. There’s more focus now on understanding the body, which can be helpful when you’re training for a long time. For me, the basics are still the most important. Nothing will beat consistence, discipline, and good training habits, but it’s good to have new tools to balance things out. Of course, marathon training is different than track or short distance, you have to change your body because the reaction will be different depending on your training.
Q. What is your biggest goal for the foreseeable future?
A. I always like to have something to work towards. For me, I’m always focused on how I can continue to improve and see how far I can push myself, there’s always a new level to reach. At the same time, I try not to look too far ahead and just focus on doing the next race as well as I can.
Jacob Kiplimo takes a selfie with his 2026 London Marathon medal.
2 hours, 0 minutes, and 28 seconds. This number, etched onto the Galaxy Watch8 on Jacob Kiplimo's wrist, has become a symbol that proves the power of 'consistency' and 'data,' transcending the athlete's personal glory. On this day, Jacob Kiplimo also held a separate session to provide user feedback and suggest features for the product, based on his own data and user experience. Alongside an athlete who challenges his limits, there is Galaxy technology that proves his efforts with data and presents the path forward — and Samsung will continue to cheer for his next journey.
