2009 Berlin Marathon elite fields announced

Hmmn, women's field looks a little weak.

How much money is left after signing Haile and Duncan? Not much.

My first impression is that is a weak field. Top Tier Athletes (Haile & Kibet, NOT a single Second Tier Kenya runner (i.e. 2:05 & 2:06 Kenyans), then just a single Third Tier Kenyan (2:07), then a bunch of 4 Tier Kenyans (2:08+)Real Berlin Marathon organizers either did not do their job or they are intentionally setting this race up for Haile & Kibet. (Sammy Korir is now too old. He is now 40+)

Only on letsrun can a field with three guys sub 2:05 be called weak. Do you think Berlin has magic money trees and they can go out and spend as much as they want? Usually it is just Geb, I'm pumped to hopefully see Geb in a real race with another supremely talented athlete. Not a weak field in the least.

Kipkemboy wrote:

My first impression is that is a weak field. Top Tier Athletes (Haile & Kibet, NOT a single Second Tier Kenya runner (i.e. 2:05 & 2:06 Kenyans), then just a single Third Tier Kenyan (2:07), then a bunch of 4 Tier Kenyans (2:08+)

I didn't realize the strength of a field was determined by the number of Kenyans alone.

The Berlin course is great, but they don't have the money of London, Chicago or NYC.

It's a great event and you should try it sometime.

[quote]Kipkemboy wrote:

My first impression is that is a weak field. Top Tier Athletes (Haile & Kibet, NOT a single Second Tier Kenya runner (i.e. 2:05 & 2:06 Kenyans), then just a single Third Tier Kenyan (2:07), then a bunch of 4 Tier Kenyans (2:08+)

Real Berlin Marathon organizers either did not do their job or they are intentionally setting this race up for Haile & Kibet. (Sammy Korir is now too old. He is now 40+)

[quote]Brett in Tokyo wrote:

Prior to Rotterdam, Kibet was a third tier Kenyan with a pb of 2:07.53. Don't be surprised if there are more than two runners fighting for the finish.

MAYEROFF wrote:

The Berlin course is great, but they don't have the money of London, Chicago or NYC.

It's a great event and you should try it sometime.

100% ack. Having run Boston and Berlin I have to say support by spectators is much better in Berlin.

Even tho Wellsley beats the Wilder Eber with its Brazilian Samba.

Precious Roy wrote:

[quote]Brett in Tokyo wrote:

Prior to Rotterdam, Kibet was a third tier Kenyan with a pb of 2:07.53. Don't be surprised if there are more than two runners fighting for the finish.

I didn't write that, although I agree with it.

Kudos to the Mexican who ran his PB in Monterey. Big Sur Marathon is a tough one. About time then that he runs a fast one.

wondimu has a best track 10k of 27:11 and a 60:01 for the half marathon.

francis kiprop has run a 13:05 for 5k and 60:17 for half marathon.

so they could be 2 to watch.

Here is my evidence as to why I consider Real Berlin Marathon as being weak. Out of a possible 136 sub 2:08s marathon runners, Real Berlin Marathon was only able to secure 5 sub 2:08s to run in the Real Berlin marathon.Sadly they were only able to sign only 3 runners that have run between 2:08-2:09. Real Berlin has always been a joke. Elite Marathon runners always find it difficult to get to run in the Real Berlin Marathon. It is always a Choreography for Haile rather than a race.Here is the breakdown and you will see as to why it is a week field.Berlin 2009 /Available Marathon RunnersOne Sub 2:04 1/2 (Haile)Two sub 2:05 2/4 (Note Korir run his sub 2:05 in 2003) Zero Sub 2:06 0/6One Sub 2:07 1/44One sub 2:08 1/77Three sub 2:09 3/??? (100+)

haha, YO wrote:

Only on letsrun can a field with three guys sub 2:05 be called weak. Do you think Berlin has magic money trees and they can go out and spend as much as they want? Usually it is just Geb, I'm pumped to hopefully see Geb in a real race with another supremely talented athlete. Not a weak field in the least.

So if they got all of the 77 guys who have run between 2:07 and 2:08 you would call it a strong field? Sure that's deep but I don't know about strong. I would agree this isn't a DEEP field, it is by no means WEAK. Maybe that is where we are having our disconnect.

Kipkemboy wrote:

Here is my evidence as to why I consider Real Berlin Marathon as being weak. Out of a possible 136 sub 2:08s marathon runners, Real Berlin Marathon was only able to secure 5 sub 2:08s to run in the Real Berlin marathon.

So if there is a 100m dash with 8 runners under 10 sec you call it strong, even if it lacks Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay. But if you have a field of 6 10+ sprinters + Bolt and Gay, you'd call it weak.

Sorry, I'd rather see the two best runners of all times in the Marathon against each other than the best of the rest. The me-toos.

You are missing the point. Real Berlin has always and intentionally conspired to bar 2nd-Tier (2:06s) and 3rd-Tier (2:07s) athletes from running in the Real Berlin Marathon. Real Berlin Marathon has always been a set-up. Why dont you talk to some agents and be informed?

Nutella wrote:

Kipkemboy wrote:

Here is my evidence as to why I consider Real Berlin Marathon as being weak. Out of a possible 136 sub 2:08s marathon runners, Real Berlin Marathon was only able to secure 5 sub 2:08s to run in the Real Berlin marathon.

So if there is a 100m dash with 8 runners under 10 sec you call it strong, even if it lacks Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay. But if you have a field of 6 10+ sprinters + Bolt and Gay, you'd call it weak.

Sorry, I'd rather see the two best runners of all times in the Marathon against each other than the best of the rest. The me-toos.

Kipkemboy wrote:

You are missing the point. Real Berlin has always and intentionally conspired to bar 2nd-Tier (2:06s) and 3rd-Tier (2:07s) athletes from running in the Real Berlin Marathon. Real Berlin Marathon has always been a set-up. Why dont you talk to some agents and be informed?

Care to elaborate on this? I don't have access to agents and am curious to hear how they conspire against the 2:06 and 2:07 guys.

Guys, its a free world we're living in.

Berlin payed a lot of money for no1 and no2 and didnt give a shit about the rest.

NYC payed a shitload of money for ryan hall and makes sure no other good runners get in. so what?

Kipkemboy also failed to mention that of the 'possible 136 sub 2:08s marathon runners' - over 50 of those 136 set their PRs at least 7 years ago (2002 or earlier). IE - there are about 80 guys who have run at the 2:08 level since 2003. And there are about 50 guys that have run sub-2:08 in the last 4 years, a much more relevant timeframe. Not even close to 136.

Steve-o,It is for that reason I am discounting an Sammy Korir (2:04.56 PB 2003).Even if we take into consideration the last 24-36 months, Real Berlin were able to SECURE ONLY 5 of 78 sub 2:08 athletes.There is something very fishy with how Real Berlin Marathon operates. Their winner is almost always predictable, unlike LONDON, Chicago or New York Marathons.

Steve-o wrote:

Kipkemboy also failed to mention that of the 'possible 136 sub 2:08s marathon runners' - over 50 of those 136 set their PRs at least 7 years ago (2002 or earlier). IE - there are about 80 guys who have run at the 2:08 level since 2003. And there are about 50 guys that have run sub-2:08 in the last 4 years, a much more relevant timeframe. Not even close to 136.