2008 Flora London Marathon Coverage April 2008 - By LetsRun.com
The world's greatest marathon took place on Sunday, April 13th and we were in London to cover it for you as only LetsRun.com can. See our special coverage below. More coverage will be put up this week after the race.
Saturday April 12 LetsRun.com London Women: Mikitenko Wins Crazy Women's RaceThe women's race went totally not according to form. German Irina Mikitenko was the surprise winner. The race went out slow, then picked up, then slowed back again. Then Gete Wami wiped
out at a water stop, nearly knocking her own teeth out, fell back off
the back, then battled back only to get dropped again as Mikitenko
threw it down the final 5k. And a perfectly sunny day turned into a
cold rainstorm at times. Text, Photos, and Video *Women's Post Race Interviews LetsRun.com London Men: Lel Leads 3 Under 2:05:30!!!, Ryan Hall 2:06:17 Ryan Hall Goes Through Halfway on World Record Pace The
2008 Flora London Marathon will be remembered for a long time. The lead
pack of 9 went through 5k at 14:21 (2:01 pace). They continued together
(yes, all 9) through halfway on world record pace (1:02:13). Ryan Hall then went to the front soon after and asked the pacemakers to go FASTER.
Soon Hall was off the back, but he would catch the leaders briefly
again and go on to run 2:06:17. (Until Sunday, only 7 guys had ever run
under 2:06:15, now 11 have.). Up front, it came down to a 3-man battle
over the final mile before Martin Lel got his 3rd straight
World Marathon Major win over the final quarter mile as he led 6 guys
under 2:07 and to $50,000 bonuses each. Recap, photos, video above *Men's Post Race Videos/Interviews Lel, Ryan Hall, Ryan Hall's dad and granddad, More. LetsRun.comRyan Hall Refelcts On his Incredible Run We tell you (and let you watch) what Ryan, his dad, his grandad, his coach and even Martin Lel had to say about Ryan. Lel was full of praise for the American and shocked by Ryan's attempt to get the pacemakers to go even faster. If Hall didn't already have your respect, he does after reading this article as he pays homage to a throwback type of guy Steve Jones. Text and Video. LetsRun.com Video: Ryan Hall Talks About His 2:06:17 at the 2008 Flora London Marathon *More LRC London Videos Here *Photo Gallery
Saturday April 12 LetsRun.com 2008 Predictions We do the impossible and try to predict a marathon.
Friday - April 11, 2008 LetsRun.comRyan Hall's Coach Terrence Mahon Assesses Ryan's Chances "I would not be surprised if he won the race on Sunday"We sat down and talked to Mahon about Ryan Hall's meteroic rise in the marathon, expectations for Sunday, the pressure Mahon feels in coaching Ryan and Deena, the mental side of coaching, the 1:02:30 half way pace, and much more.Text and video. LetsRun.com! Wejo Speaks: Friday in London (With Ryan Hall) Wejo goes behind the scenes and tries to give you a little glimpse what's it's like marathon week in London. Ryan tried to keep himself entertained by watching a math race over 800m bewtween his wife Sara and his coach, Terrence Mahon. LetsRun.com! London Tibbits Bank fo America Chicago Marathon inks with Nike, Paul Tergat's military comitment, Kenyan athletics taxes, Kenny B and of course Alan Webb. *Ryan Hall Update: 34:25 Video Interview. We'll have more on Ryan, and our 2008 Flora London Marathon Predictions by Saturday but wanted to get this up.
LetsRun.com Ryan Hall:"The Future"(And Present?)Western Civilization's great hope received the compliment of a lifetime at Wednesday's press conference when reigning Olympic champ Stefano Baldini called him "the future" and said he could win "a lot of medals." Hall himself seemed full of optimism and certainly didn't try to downplay expectations for Sunday. "Last year I proved I can do it through 23 miles (37 kilometers). This year, my expectations have grown from that." *Video Highlight of Press Conference at link above."
LetsRun.com Flora London Marathon Men's Press ConferenceThe greatest marathon of the year is Sunday and we're there to bring you the action. Only in London is the field so loaded that the 2nd fastest marathoner from the year before (Emmanual Mutai) is not invited to the press conference. How can that be? Because London has Ryan Hall, Martin Lel, Luke Kibet, Stefano Baldini, Sammy Wanjiru, Abderrahim Goumri, Felix Limo, Hendrick Ramaala and others. The piece includes video from Lel and Wanjiru.
LetsRun.com London Women: 
LetsRun.com London Men: 
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