borofergie wrote:
Nervousrunner wrote:I think people need to realize he can run 2:03 at a normal race in normal shoes...with normal pacers.
So his 2:00:26 would have been a 2:03-2:06 no way! He could have run that race with normal pacers and no car.
That's not what we are saying. We are saying that the pacing and cars combination is up to 4.5 minutes faster than an undrafted solo runner (which is 2:05).
Do you think that Kipchoge could run 2:03 on his own, without any pacers to take the wind for him in the first three quarters of the marathon? I don't.
Radcliffe was nearly 2 minutes quicker when she ran with men than when she ran alone in a female only race.
First of all I love this study and it is work like this that cuts through the BS. However I still have a few QUESTIONS to borofergie as I still suspect the influence of the car and scoreboard is more significant.
1. DISTANCE TO THE CAR: Case 2 - Car + Solo runner has a saving of only 1:48 compared with 4:35 for Case 4. This is based on the assumption that the distance between car and kipchoge remains constant. In reality Kipchoge would run in the same position as the lead runner. However can you please share what is the saving for the lead pacemaker in Case 4 who is closer to the car than Kipchoge?
2. IMPERFECT PACING GROUP - In a real marathon the pace group never run in the perfect diamond and in the case of the current WR Kimetto often ran at the edge of the group with clean air in front of him. If the Diamond is imperfect and unsymmetrical is still as effective as I suspect there is a much smaller sweet spot of human pacers vs the Tesla + scoreboard.
Irrespective of my questions the fact remains, in order of importance Ross Tucker was on point.
1. Drafting - car and pacers
2. Course - flat and no bends
3. No water stations
4. Temperature
5. Shoes? - I still think that the added weight of the springs will offset any perceived benefit.
Can't wait to Berlin...!