Chicago Marathon Elite Field

For example, people always bring up that Chris Froome was born and raised in Kenya.

Just say “white”, because that’s what you mean. At least it would feel more honest.

Everybody look what happened here: Chicago brought back pacers, and suddenly they have a very solid men’s field for the first time in forever. It’s a legitimate major again. Let this be a lesson to all the people who think that no pacers is the way to go. No pacers=no good runners.

I feel Tirunesh has a good chance of breaking the women's WR at Berlin. Fast course with a solid women's field and not "watered" down like Chicago. Pacers or no pacers; I don't know that is such a big deal. Your the one that is pushing yourself through 42.2km.

Feels like Bedan Karoki is being overlooked here. His 2:08 fifth place finish at London was really impressive given the suicidal early pace. I will say:

1. Farah

2. Karoki

3. Rupp

Ehso wrote:

Everybody look what happened here: Chicago brought back pacers, and suddenly they have a very solid men’s field for the first time in forever. It’s a legitimate major again. Let this be a lesson to all the people who think that no pacers is the way to go. No pacers=no good runners.

True. Also, runners are starting to jockey for Olympic spots and what to get a podium with a solid time. Berlin will be run at ridiculous speed with Kipchoge looking for the WR. NY is a slow course. So, your choices are run Chicago with a chance to win with a 2:05, run Berlin and hope you can finish after going out in 61 or run NY in 2:10 and hope the selection committee isn't biased on time.

Galen has an edge over Mo. Salazar knows Mo. he knows all his weaknesses. He and Galen will be playing to Galen strengths. Mo might have been king at the track but Galen is a bit younger and is suited to the marathon.

Ehso wrote:

rojo wrote:

So when Khannouchi won in 1999 for Morocco and 2000 for the USA, you think where he was born isn't significant?

The fact of the matter is - where he is born is significant. You just don't want to admit it.

You think it's just a random coincidence that prior to Rupp the last 2 Americans to win a major (Khannouchi and Meb) were born in Africa? I do not.

Would you prefer that I focus on their genetics? I mean people talked up Mugsy Bogues for being so small in the NBA. We could that instead. Rupp, the first runner of Non-East African descent to win a major since **, ...That seems even more convuluted.

Just say “white”, because that’s what you mean. At least it would feel more honest.

+1

Look, I'm excited for this race. Ya'll just have a thing for white runners. Meb has so much American pride I don't see why it matters so much for you to harp on where he was born. Lest we forget ya'll made a huge error last spring and forgot an American runner won Boston in 2014...that's the point. The way you write about the sport is ridiculous. It's superfluous to bring up 'American born' and Rupp. You don't do it for other countries. When the UK 10k is on the track you don't say the UK-born Vernon. You have a much stronger reaction to what you think being a true American should look like. Can't we just cheer for people who don the red, white and blue. Any runner who immigrated here and got their citizenship had to pass a test that most Americans would fail. Come off of it.

This is a another example of LRC showing zero desire to check itself. You are a website run by and controlled by older white dudes. You'll eventually find that you're going to drive younger folks away who have different ideas about race and gender. You show no effort to hear the other side and always react emotionally and defensively. You concede nothing and maintain that you are always right. Get some training on race and gender and see if you still feel the same way.

rojo wrote:

Would you prefer that I focus on their genetics? I mean people talked up Mugsy Bogues for being so small in the NBA. We could that instead. Rupp, the first runner of Non-East African descent to win a major since **, ...That seems even more convuluted.

No.

That would be like all of you discussing the height of runners. Does height have an impact of stride length.

What you're doing is something more like if you were a Knicks fan saying Porzingis will never be a true Knick because he wasn't born in the US.

What's wrong with being excited about a white runner winning a major marathon? This is a sport dominated by East Africans. When up and coming white high school and college guys see guys like Ritz, Hall, Solinsky, Teg, Rupp, etc. mixing it up with the Africans it gives them hope that maybe they can get to that level as well. I'm a big fan of Meb, Lagat, Chelimo, etc. but if you're going to pretend that is was simply good old American training that helped them win medals and that their East African genetics had nothing to do with it, then you're not living in reality.

Runnergrl wrote:

Galen has an edge over Mo. Salazar knows Mo. he knows all his weaknesses. He and Galen will be playing to Galen strengths. Mo might have been king at the track but Galen is a bit younger and is suited to the marathon.

And what, exactly, are Mo's "weaknesses"?

We obviously know his strengths. Couple that with the fact that the ran 2:06:21 for third place in London -- on a really hot day in which the first mile was 4:22, the first 5-K was 13:48 and the first half was 1:01:03. Also, he had issues his drinks and spent some time yelling at a camera man, if I'm not mistaken.

Anyway, I'm not saying Galen can't beat Mo (or anyone else) on any given day in Chicago. But to suggest so emphatically that Galen's "strength" will make him triumphant over Mo (and others) is just plain silly at this point. If it should be so, then Galen will have to show a "strength" that involves being able to tick off successive 4:44 miles (about 26.2 of them, I reckon) that's beyond anything he's heretofore accomplished.

Horror of horrors ... the ole "Old White Guys" accusation.

All I’m saying is that Alberto trained Mo and knows pretty much everything about the guy. That will give Galen an edge. Alberto knows what can break Mo.

Mo is awesome but I think Galen will be a better marathoner.

Have you seen his twitter picture. Or should I say NOP s Twitter picture ? Galen looks ripped. The guy is very thin.

Did I miss it? Did they release the American field?

That was the international field. Not sure if they have formally introduced the American field.

I twitter picture of Galen training. He looks fit and healthy.

It’s been extremely hot summer in Portland. I’m sure his heat training is going well.

But yes back to the point I’m wondering who else is running Chicago on the American side.

Runnergrl wrote:

All I’m saying is that Alberto trained Mo and knows pretty much everything about the guy. That will give Galen an edge. Alberto knows what can break Mo.

Mo is awesome but I think Galen will be a better marathoner.

Have you seen his twitter picture. Or should I say NOP s Twitter picture ? Galen looks ripped. The guy is very thin.

Would this be true for Mo on Galen too?

#dobetternewtothesouthside.

Rojo is stating facts. He has created a website where you can get up to date and in depth news on distance running. He has even given you a platform to voice your opinion. How bout you? What have you done for the running community?

What other news organization can you engage in a conversation with the owner and or lead editor?

The point about place of origin is weird. Why do you care so much? In the abstract that you quoted, no where do the words american born appear. And, why wouldnt you get excited about hasay and cragg? They may have a shot to win or be in the top 5. Is it wrong to root for someone from your home country? What about at the olympics? Can we get permission from you to root for americans?

Serious question: who do you root for and why?

So I'm clear, if you believe it's significant when a non-African born runner wins a long distance race, because you believe that African born runners are genetically superior at running long distances (a fact that couldn't be more obvious), then you are being racist against African born runners. Is that what you guys are saying?

Why didn’t Alberto’s knowledge of “Mo’s weaknesses” allow Galen to beat Mo in any of their previous major head to head matchups?