Speaking as a 50+ male runner, I seem to recall that LR generally loves to make fun the age grade calculators. So I’ll provide the fodder: Bekele ran about 99% age graded time (since Kipchoge lowered the WR), equivalent to a 2:02.02 open marathon time.
I guess we're all spoiled by the 2:01,2:02 performances in recent years, but in reality, 2:04-2:05 is still pretty darn good.
I think most American men marathoners would be happy with a 2:04 or 2:05.
No need to only rag on the Americans. There's only Kenya and Ethiopia that are consistently producing runners in the 2:04-2:05 range. Uganda is getting there, and Japan has two guys but the rest of the world is lucky if they have one person all-time in that range. I was getting excited that two Brits could have made the OQT, that's how slim the pickings are here right now
I think most American men marathoners would be happy with a 2:04 or 2:05.
No need to only rag on the Americans. There's only Kenya and Ethiopia that are consistently producing runners in the 2:04-2:05 range. Uganda is getting there, and Japan has two guys but the rest of the world is lucky if they have one person all-time in that range. I was getting excited that two Brits could have made the OQT, that's how slim the pickings are here right now
France now has a (non ex-East African) 2:05 runner.
Good question. Why? Why? Why is it only Kenyan athletes being banned & not Ethiopia? There's something fishy going on. Unless they want to diminish athletics in Kenya. No matter how many they ban, Kenya will still keep winning!!
