Willie Mtolo is the example you are going to use to refute why someone like Kipchoge could not successfully transition to the trails in 2025/2026 if he wanted to?
Willie Mtolo who won NYC in 1992? Only won 1 major marathon in his career? He ran NYC again in 1994 over 20 minutes slower. Feels like a steep drop off in 2 years. And then ran Comrades in 2000 and still finished second? That's your evidence? What kind of advancements in nutrition, recovery, and training do you think he had access to in 1992?
Sibusiso Kubheka just became the first person to run 100km under 6 hours. Prior to this, the furthest race he had ever done was a half marathon in 2021 and he ran it in 1:01:36. Kipchoge's half marathon split at this years 2025 London Marathon was 1:01:21.
Stop pretending like Kipchoge would have no business dusting trail runners that were at best sub-elites on the roads, if he were to ever transition to the trails. The guys who dominate the roads at the elite level have transferable skills to be successful on the trails. Elite road runners eat, sleep, and breathe all aspects of training specific to the roads.
Maybe if trail running starts bringing in more money, you’ll start seeing some real changes in the athletic landscape. Stop acting like trail runners are these mythical creatures that were born with magical powers - they started as regular runners on tracks, roads, and did some cross country. Eventually they made a switch because they accepted couldn’t win in other venues and found some enjoyment by running trails. Just eat your trailmix in silence and admit that you are a fan of the WNBA of running