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Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

nytimes.com

241–250 of 281 posts

Re: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

#242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"At that point he'll be 35..." A well-known secret in running circles - many Ethiopian and Kenyan runners have dubious official birth years including Eliud Kipchoge. from https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/zane-robertson-swears-k... (Zane Robertson, one of two identical twin brothers from NZ who live & train in Kenya and ran 2:08:19 for the marathon): "That’s when Robertson got involved, commenting that Kipchoge is…

If he is really 40, which I don't believe, that would make this record even more remarkable.

That was my initial reaction, too. Or is long distance running much less of a "young person sport" than others?

Re: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

#243
post #2

Given that "[i]t will not be recognised as the official marathon world record because it was not in open competition and he used a team of rotating pacemakers," Mr. Kipchoge's attitude represents the best of sport: "Now I've done it, I am expecting more people to do it after me... This shows the positivity of sport. I want to make it a clean and interesting sport. Together when we run, we can make it a beautiful worl…

Besides, he already has the official world record anyway. This was an experiment to see if it was possible to shave a couple dozen seconds off the marathon time of the greatest marathon runner of all time. Doing it again in race conditions—whether it’s by Kipchoge or another runner—will be a historic milestone but there is greater confidence that it will happen now. Besides, I know you can’t control for adrenaline an…

I think the team did not fully grasp how huge of a difference laser guided pacemaker and fully covered wind guard makes. The difference could have been greater -- maybe we're even going to see a peloton effect in future marathons utilized to the fullest.

Re: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

#244

That's running 42km at 21km/h… Anybody who already tried to run a sub20 5km (5km at 15km/h) knows how crazy this is.

a normal recreational runner could keep up for between 400 and 800 meters. not even one mile!

And that's a normal "good" recreational runner. I suspect few could even manage 400m (that's a 68 second lap...).

Re: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

#245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, that was not heated but toxic. I had to nope out of that after reading the first 2 pages.

Not toxic, just informed. When people follow a sport closely ("passionately") they're more likely to be offended by and call out bullshit. The shoes provide a significant mechanical advantage that most consider unfair. Others claim they're just shoes, but then you might as well claim that rollerblades are shoes. This comes on the heels of US anti doping handing a 4 year ban to the coach of Nike's elite running team.…

Informed? Did you see the guy with a full on explanation on how basic physics work got shat on by people who claim the shoe 'rebound 2 or 3 times higher than other shoes'. You literally can't communicate with toxic people like that.

Re: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

#246
post #2

Given that "[i]t will not be recognised as the official marathon world record because it was not in open competition and he used a team of rotating pacemakers," Mr. Kipchoge's attitude represents the best of sport: "Now I've done it, I am expecting more people to do it after me... This shows the positivity of sport. I want to make it a clean and interesting sport. Together when we run, we can make it a beautiful worl…

Back then people didn’t believe a four minute mile is possible, but after the barrier has been broken, dozens followed suit. In his eyes, his achievement is not the run, but breaking the barrier, and I appreciate him for that.

For an interesting read + obit of Roger Bannister, who first broke the 4-minute barrier:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/obituaries/roger-banniste...

Re: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

#247
post #2

Given that "[i]t will not be recognised as the official marathon world record because it was not in open competition and he used a team of rotating pacemakers," Mr. Kipchoge's attitude represents the best of sport: "Now I've done it, I am expecting more people to do it after me... This shows the positivity of sport. I want to make it a clean and interesting sport. Together when we run, we can make it a beautiful worl…

Back then people didn’t believe a four minute mile is possible, but after the barrier has been broken, dozens followed suit. In his eyes, his achievement is not the run, but breaking the barrier, and I appreciate him for that.

I often wonder in cases like that if those who followed suit were not so much emboldened as already nipping at the heels of the one who did it first.

To mix metaphor with reality, there was perhaps a pack speeding toward the finish line, and one crossed it first.

Re: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

#249
post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that longer runs are better predictors than 5k's. I was limited to about 45 miles over 4 days per week to avoid injury, so you may be in a better position. The marathon is a multidimensional challenge, so there are lots of levers to play with. Good luck.

I’m not sure if you tried it, but I credit mostly strengthening my hips and core with squats and deadlifts to allow me to increase my mileage. I used to injure my Achilles over 45 mpw before strength training. After strength training I was able to average over 60 mpw with peak weeks in the 90s without trouble. In 2016 I managed 16 marathons including two PRS, a few ultras, and 3300 miles for the year. I was running d…

I was fortunate to be able to spend about 7 hours a week on physical exercise when I was racing. My family was very accommodating for this, but my modest physical talents did not justify any more investment. I never felt the pull for Ultras or other endurance events. At 62, I think I still maintain the benefits of fitness with moderate varied exercise, with no training or racing calendar ruling my life. I've been able to scratch several other deep long term itches after I stopped racing.

Re: Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier

#250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If he is really 40, which I don't believe, that would make this record even more remarkable.

That was my initial reaction, too. Or is long distance running much less of a "young person sport" than others?

Ultra-marathons and ultra-endurance events are very much less of a young person sport, and we are still trying to figure out exactly why performance can keep increasing into the 40s and even early 50s. Marathoning is a considerably younger peak though, usually thought to be 20-35, so depends on whether you think that is "young" or not :)
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