I would go for Tim C first lap, McSeweyn 2nd lap, Wightman 3rd lap.
Doubt if El G could run a 54 second 400m today even with full throttle EPO, but if he could it would be fun and symbolic if he could lead the first lap out.
The sub2 showcase helped sell Vaporfly/Alphafly to every hobby jogger with cash to spare. Anyone who would buy Nike mid distance spikes already has them.
But he needs a target to chase. What would be the human equivalent of a dog chasing a human with a steak embroidered on the back of their shirt?
+1
The pacers would all wear the same shirts, with El Guerrouj's face embroidered on the back. The underground track would be 4 lanes with seating for 100,000 screaming fans.
as you all know, nike spent BILLIONS (almost trillions) setting up a structured attempt at helping eliud kipchoge accomlish his sub-2 hour marathon time. Jakob Ingebritson needs to be given the same type of set-up for a world record in the mile. here is what i am proposing.
1. the race will be held in death valley california in january or february when its not too hot. it will be held here because of its low altitude makes it the PERFECT place to set a world record on the track.
2. there will be billboards put up all over las vegas and los angelos advertising the attempt and getting plenty of people to come up. advertising will also be all over the radio stations in las vegas and LA and phoenix.
3. there will be lots of bleachers/seating built around the death valley track, and a large sound system with encouraging rock music will be playing over the speakers.
4. if jakob is going to break the wr in the mile, he will have to lose a few ounces and pounds. the best way for him to do this is by shaving his head, waxing his legs and armpits, and most importantly........getting his tattoos removed as ink is adding weight to his overall body mass.
there is really NO reason at all why Nike shouldnt set Jakob up with this attempt in death valley CA. he deserves it and is capable of doing it under the right conditions. he just needs a lil help from the crowd and a good low altitude environment to do it in. to further encourage him, Nike needs to offer him his own signature shoe that we can all buy if he breaks the WR.
So what do you want? If it's an official WR then why does Nike need to do anything? Jakob just needs a good pacer for that to take him as far as possible. If he has any good friends on the circuit, he could potentially ask them to help out, but let's say he needs someone to take him to 1200m on WR pace, you're looking at a limited number of people, all of whom are world class, sub-3:31 guys in their own right. There's literally nothing else Nike could provide that he can't get himself - pacing lights, fast track, right conditions.
Beyond that, a mile or 1500 WR just isn't that in captivating. Let's say he runs 3:42/3:25, how many normies do you think will care about that? They wouldn't even click to read the story. It's not a barrier. The sub-2 marathon was almost mythic, just like the sub-4 mile at the time. Those round numbers make good headlines
BILLIONS (almost trillions)???? I think your way off here. I heard it was HUNDREDS OF TRILLIONS!! I heard it put our national debt to shame. Oh well, they'll just make it back in third world countries paying their child labor force $.08/day and no bathroom breaks.
Also Death Valley is a national park and the lowest point at Badwater is a salt flat / marsh. Thankfully there is absolutely no chance anyone could build a track there, even a temporary one.
The sub2 showcase helped sell Vaporfly/Alphafly to every hobby jogger with cash to spare. Anyone who would buy Nike mid distance spikes already has them.
Exactly. It was a 2 hour ad for a new shoe. There’s a very small market for spikes. I doubt they’re interested in investing in a big event to sell spikes. But if we’re looking for a ‘watershed’ time, I would like to see someone try to run 800 meters in 1:39.
The sub2 showcase helped sell Vaporfly/Alphafly to every hobby jogger with cash to spare. Anyone who would buy Nike mid distance spikes already has them.
Exactly. It was a 2 hour ad for a new shoe. There’s a very small market for spikes. I doubt they’re interested in investing in a big event to sell spikes. But if we’re looking for a ‘watershed’ time, I would like to see someone try to run 800 meters in 1:39.
Yes and get Wayne Gretzky in on the commentary. He's 99 after all.
Nike would never risk a trillion or even a billion on a European who only cares about racing championships.
What was it, 2 years ago already that Jakob first ran 3:28? You don't get that many 3:28 seasons, so if records were on his agenda he already have taken several shots, rather than zero.
I bet if Nike offered him a billion dollar prize, he wouldn't even try. Doesn't care. Current PR's are good enough for him, he'll just run them over and over.
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