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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 1 / A1
Published
Title
A Marathon Under Two Hours
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-04-29-a-marathon-under-two-hours/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think is in the story?

a) A runner stops and goes home.

b) Runners wear a new shoe.

c) The race is on Monday.

A marathon runner in a coral top and black shorts crosses a London finish line with arms outstretched, with Union Jack flags, spectators, and Buckingham Palace in the background.
Winning a marathon.

Ask: (1) What sports are popular in your country? (2) Do you like running? Why or why not?

VOCAB LIST

marathon (n.) ā€” A very long race for runners.
world record (n. phrase) ā€” The best result in the world.
runner (n.) ā€” A person who runs, especially in a race.
race (n.) ā€” A competition to see who is the fastest.
finish (v.) ā€” To get to the end of something.
come out (v. phrase) ā€” To become available or to appear.
second (adj.) ā€” In number two place.

Reading

Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday. He finished in 1:59:30, under two hours. Sawe became the first runner to do that in a race.

For many years, runners wanted to go under two hours. Sawe said he was very happy after the race. He felt strong near the end.

Another runner also went under two hours. Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia finished second in 1:59:41. He was only 11 seconds behind Sawe. Two runners went under two hours in the same race.

There was big news in the women's race too. Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia broke her own world record. She finished in 2:15:41. Sawe, Kejelcha, and Assefa all wore a new Adidas shoe. The shoe came out two days before the race. Adidas worked with the runners on it for three years. All three runners used it in London on Sunday. Sawe said the shoe felt light.

A Marathon Under Two Hours

Level 1 Source: edition.cnn.com

Warm-up ā†’ Read & Listen ā†’ Check Understanding ā†’ Language ā†’ Use It

A marathon runner in a coral top and black shorts crosses a London finish line with arms outstretched, with Union Jack flags, spectators, and Buckingham Palace in the background.
Winning a marathon.

Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday. He finished in 1:59:30, under two hours. Sawe became the first runner to do that in a race.

For many years, runners wanted to go under two hours. Sawe said he was very happy after the race. He felt strong near the end.

Another runner also went under two hours. Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia finished second in 1:59:41. He was only 11 seconds behind Sawe. Two runners went under two hours in the same race.

There was big news in the women's race too. Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia broke her own world record. She finished in 2:15:41. Sawe, Kejelcha, and Assefa all wore a new Adidas shoe. The shoe came out two days before the race. Adidas worked with the runners on it for three years. All three runners used it in London on Sunday. Sawe said the shoe felt light.

Speaker: British Male  Duration: 1:28  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon on (1) . He finished in 1:59:30, under two hours. Sawe became the first runner to do that in a race.

For many years, runners wanted to go under two hours. Sawe said he was very happy after the race. He felt (2) near the end.

Another runner also went under two hours. Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia finished (3) in 1:59:41. He was only 11 seconds behind Sawe. Two runners went under two hours in the same race.

There was big news in the women's race too. Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia broke her own world record. She finished in 2:15:41. Sawe, Kejelcha, and Assefa all wore a new Adidas shoe. The shoe came out two days before the race. Adidas worked with the runners on it for three years. All three runners used it in London on Sunday. Sawe said the shoe felt (4) .

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • Sawe won the marathon in London.
  • Two men ran very fast, and a woman set a world record. Correct answer
  • A new shoe came out before the race.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday.
    The story says Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday.
  • Sawe finished in 1:59:30.
    The story says he finished in 1:59:30.
  • Yomif Kejelcha was from Kenya.
    The story says Kejelcha was from Ethiopia.
  • Assefa broke Sawe's world record.
    The story says Assefa broke her own world record in the women's race.
  • The new Adidas shoe came out two days before the race.
    The story says the shoe came out two days before the race.

True or False

1. Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday. TRUEFALSE True

2. Sawe finished in 1:59:30. TRUEFALSE True

3. Yomif Kejelcha was from Kenya. TRUEFALSE False

4. Assefa broke Sawe's world record. TRUEFALSE False

5. The new Adidas shoe came out two days before the race. TRUEFALSE True

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (3):

  • In London on Sunday, Sawe won and Assefa broke her world record while wearing the new shoe.
  • Adidas worked with runners on a new shoe for three years.
  • The new Adidas shoe came out two days before the race.
  1. Adidas worked with runners on a new shoe for three years.
  2. The new Adidas shoe came out two days before the race.
  3. In London on Sunday, Sawe won and Assefa broke her world record while wearing the new shoe.
Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. Marathon (n)d) A very long race for runners.

2. Runner (n)c) A person who runs in a race.

3. Finish (v)b) To get to the end of something.

4. Second (adj)a) In number two place.

a) In number two place.

b) To get to the end of something.

c) A person who runs in a race.

d) A very long race for runners.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. A marathon is hard it is very long.

    so / because / but

    A marathon is hard because it is very long.

  2. Good shoes can help they feel light.

    but / because / so

    Good shoes can help because they feel light.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. to watch B. because I can C. everything. D. big races online E. see F. I like

    I like to watch big races online because I can see everything.

  2. A. still very good B. I think C. second place is D. race. E. in a big

    I think second place is still very good in a big race.

Discussion Questions

  1. Is a marathon easy or hard? Why?
  2. Two runners went under two hours. Is that surprising to you?
  3. What's your favorite sports brand? Adidas, Nike, or another brand?
  4. Do good shoes help in sports? Why or why not?
  5. Do you like to watch big races on TV or online?
  6. How do you feel when you win something?
  7. Is second place still very good? Why?
  8. Would you like to run in a big race one day? Why or why not?

Answers A Marathon Under Two Hours / Level 1

Think Ahead: b

Listening: (1) Sunday, (2) strong, (3) second, (4) light

Main Idea: Two men ran very fast, and a woman set a world record.

True or False:

  1. True. The story says Sawe won the London Marathon on Sunday.
  2. True. The story says he finished in 1:59:30.
  3. False. The story says Kejelcha was from Ethiopia.
  4. False. The story says Assefa broke her own world record in the women's race.
  5. True. The story says the shoe came out two days before the race.

Put Events in Order:

  1. Adidas worked with runners on a new shoe for three years.
  2. The new Adidas shoe came out two days before the race.
  3. In London on Sunday, Sawe won and Assefa broke her world record while wearing the new shoe.

Vocabulary:

  1. Marathon (n): A very long race for runners.
  2. Runner (n): A person who runs in a race.
  1. Finish (v): To get to the end of something.
  2. Second (adj): In number two place.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Reason.

  1. because
  2. because

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. I like to watch big races online because I can see everything.
  2. I think second place is still very good in a big race.

eslnewsstories.com