Pop star attracts huge amount of publicity for his sub-three-hour marathon but isn't it all a bit over-the-top? The media obsession with celebrity stories reached new heights this week when multiple newspapers, magazines and broadcasters such as the BBC excitedly reported on Harry Styles’ 2:59:13 in the Berlin Marathon. Now, don’t get me wrong, breaking three hours for a marathon is a fine achievement for a recreational runner. I might have struggled to break three hours, but quite a few of my colleagues have managed it with ease. I blame Eliud Kipchoge, as I think the trend started, or at least began to snowball, after he ran the 2015 Berlin Marathon.

Source: The Times September 24, 2025 14:24 UTC