May 10, 2025
Behind Breaking2: Dr. Brad Wilkins PhD on Human Limits, Eliud Kipchoge’s Mindset, and the Science of the Impossible + What YOU Can Learn From It All
THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCASTAbout this episode
What does it take to break one of the most iconic barriers in sports history? Brad Wilkins, lead scientist on Nike’s Breaking2 project, joins the show to pull back the curtain on the science, strategy, and soul behind chasing the sub-two-hour marathon. Dr. Wilkins currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Physiology at the University of Oregon. He is the Director of the Oregon Performance Research Laboratory (OPRL); his research focuses on the physiological limits of human performance. Here is a link to his work. Check it out and work with them if it's of interest: https://oprl.uoregon.edu Dr. Wilkins explores thermoregulation, neural control of the cardiovascular system, the impact of product interventions on performance outcomes–just to name a few. The work he has done in this field has led to over 40 published manuscripts and patents. Dr. Wilkins received his Ph.D. from the University of Oregon and has also worked at the Mayo Clinic. He has been an accomplished scientist at Nike for 10 years now, and led the scientific team for the Breaking2 project, where he was instrumental in coordinating the various scientific disciplines involved in the project. (Eliud Kipchoge, Lelisa Desisa, and Zersenay Tadese attempted to break two hours in the marathon and narrowly missed the mark, with Kipchoge running a 2:00:25.) Tap into the Brad Wilkins Special. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W N O T E S https://oprl.uoregon.edu -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz