Meb vs.Carroll vs. Schiebler at NYC

Schiebler's gone under 1:02 for the half-marathon three times and I haven't heard of his running many bad races. So I'm picking Schiebler over Meb and Carroll in something faster than Jerome Drayton's 27-year-old Canadian record.

Wow!, you are running well now. Your fitness level appears to be very high.

You're right , Brown has run 27:18 for 10k - the UK record. However, I don't think he has quite transfered that form to the marathon. Of course, I would love to have PBs like that. However, I stand by my assertion that he will not (cannot) win the NY marathon, and I'll be very surprised if he runs under 2:09. I shall humbly apologise if he proves me wrong.

Also, whenever I have seen Jon Brown interviewed on telly or read about him he has always come across as a 'moaning, grumpy old git'. And I maintain that he is not as good as thinks he is and he should race more often.

Athletics undersells itself, and so do most athletes. When Brown was 4th in the Olympics no one cared, but when Paula was 4th in the Olympics everyone cared. I know this sounds a bit harsh - and I'm sure that in real life he trains very hard, is a nice bloke who loves his wife and kids, does lots of work charity etc. But he ain't gonna win on Sunday and he will never go down as a British distance running great because no one knows who he is. Even in athletics, with its obvious statistics, posting fast times is no guarantee of greatness.

I like the fact he keeps himself to himself and comes out and ALWAYS runs very very well. I think he's the ultimate professional. At least he doesn't shout his mouth off about what he is going to do and then runs like a bum. So he isn't a media darling, so what, he has the respect of the real runners. As for him thinking he is better than he is, 27.18!!!! he can't actually get a whole lot better than that!!! His time must be in the top 10 ever by athletes of non african descent, the only people I can think of who have run quicker in recent years and are not from Africa are Pinto and maybe a couple of Spaniards. He is top class, I find him very inspiring. The fact that he can be a quiet, genuine kind of guy and get on with his job and be one of the best in the world is great. Look how many chumps we have in the UK who underachieve, for gods sake Glynn Troemans tells us every year how he is going to run 2.10-2.12 in London, he never does, he is a typical example of the British runners who think they are better than they are, Brown doesn't fall into this category. I wish we had another 20 like him.

I guess we'll agree to disagree about Jon Brown then. (You're right about Glynn Tromans though- even I nearly beat him once!)

Brown ran 2:11 in NY last year and came in 6th. He ran with the leaders until he faded in the last 10K. Give the guy respect for running up front. I don't think sub-2:10 is out of the question this year. Why does he live and train in Canada? Don't really care. Just wandering.

He says its because its the ideal training enviroment, and becasue he thinks its a great place to bring up his kids. He has said in the past though that he has to train a lot on his own and because of the lack of medical back up there he might consider moving back yo the UK, but I can't see him doing that, he has 4 maybe 5 years left at the top. When he comes back to the Uk he bases himself in Sussex and does his training on the downs.

Okay, here's my prediction. Brown will run low 2:09 to finish 4th (just behind Mark Carroll who will outkick him in the last mile). Not sure about the other guys.

I don't think Carroll will run a good marathon, he never runs relaxed and he has quite an uneconomical action. I don't know why he doesn't try and get his 10k time down, I'm sure he must be able to run close to 27. I think he will run 2.11

jon brown won't win. anyone with that little charisma doesn't deserve to win. it take sall sorts in life but f*** me jon, liven up a little.

and f*** knows why nike sponsor him. i really can't see him shifting that many shoes fro them through inspiring people!