Kipchoge to 2025 London - Can he still compete with the best or is he washed?

Whereas the races in the states recruit also run Americans for their big pay days, it would be nice if the US runners ran in European and the American races put on a show with top talent in the marathon.

i know London and Germany are the a races of the series, but the states have got to do something to compare, even races like Valencia that is not even a major is a bigger race for international runners

I remember when Meb Keflezighi was nearly 40 when he won the Boston Marathon in 2014. Ok, AI just corrected me that Meb was still some 380 days shy of 40 at that point, but magic happened on that day for Meb.

Do I think Kipchoge will win? Absolutely not. But, I think Kipchoge's odds are much better than people seem to believe. Realistically, I would say the odds are probably only about 1 in 100, but because I am not going to put my money where my mouth is, I would wager he has a 5% chance of winning.

Part of the reason I want Kilchoge to win and enjoy reading about him is that even though I have lived in Ethiopia and follow distance running much more closely than most - I am a fan of Tola - but even I barely recognize many of the other top entrants.

Then it's time to learn of new athletes. To continue to hold to the old when they are in their declining years due to nostalgia, while ignoring the new generation doesn't make sense to me. You are ignoring the fact that at one time, the old ones were once the new kids on the block as well.

Fair enough point, but honestly like many on this board, my days of PRs are long behind me. I would rather read about Kipchoge running under 2:10 at age 50 in ten years then some young buck on the new super fuel running their new world record 1:58 or whatever it will be.

I think he could run a decent time if he stops trying to go out at WR pace and then fade by halfway..

I think this underestimates his champion's mentality.

I think he's like Bekele he only knows one way to race - at the front or die trying

Do we actually have any evidence that EK is older than his stated age? I’m amazed that this continues to be a question when he is one of the most celebrated athletes of the century. Did he run 2:01 over the age of 40? I realize this is not the most important question facing humanity today, but I’d really like to know. Why doesn’t Rojo send Jonathan to Kapsisiywa to find out. With JG’s journalistic skills I think he could figure this out in a week or two.

Eliud Kipchoge at 18 in 2003, you decide (can't really tell?)

Open image

He looks young to me, but the photo is not very helpful.

Is his mother alive? Has anybody asked her, or the elders of his village growing up?

I guess his world junior cross title might be stripped from him, but at this point, who cares about that?

Defeating El Guerrouj and Bekele at age 18 vs running 2:01 at age 40, which is more impressive?

He has aged and fell off a lot getting off the sauce. Training partner got popped and others close to his circle and boom he quickly aged and lost his 2:00 ability. Mike told him they can no longer guarantee hiding his glow. My take is 2:07 or he drops

He was prob actually 20 or so, when he went for bore in the thon and had free range to epo to the max and trained red line for what 6 yrs straight or whatever it aged him bad. Had a prof in college who ran too many thons and admitted to doing way to hard of workouts all the time, was early 40s but looked a rough 60

Is anybody talking about going out in 60:30? I don't know, but I'm doubtful that anybody is going out that fast.

His best chance is to aim for 2:04 and a new masters record. I’m glad he’s still motivated to keep training and racing.

It seems like yesterday he was running on top of the world and now he's considered an old man. I'm 38 this year and I ran my best when I Kipchoge was running his best a few years back, damn getting old sucks enjoy it everyone under age 40.

WASHED. old man needs to hang em up and go like after his donkeys

Irrespective of time it will be great to see Eliud in London running the marathon for what could be his last time here. Think we can all agree he's a legend, and it's always great to see the very best of the best up close. I don't think anyone knows how his training has gone since Paris but I would still expect if he has a clean buildup there is a 2:03-2:04 in him.

My bigger question is will he return to the Vaporflys with version 4 come April, or will he continue on with the Alphafly?

GOAT HAS NOTHING ELSE TO PROVE

He has no chance of winning. If he decides to go for it, and runs the race of his life, he MAY have a shot at Bekele's masters record of 2:04:15, but that might even be a stretch. I think he will run a controlled 2:07:00 - 2:07:30 and just get a respectable finish.

This.

He has nothing to prove, and the crowd in London will be happy to see him back racing on their streets.