Official 2017 Dubai Marathon Live Discussion Thread

No chance fro course record

Tola by 1 minute over Washihun!

Tamirat Tola is looking good. He's slowing a little, but still well under CR pace. Came through 35K in 1:42:34 (2:03:39 pace), CR is 2:04:23. He's 58 seconds up on Mule Wasihun in second. He should win this barring a major blowup.

SO at 32k (1:33:36) Tola was on 2:03:25 pace . Buti hes' been running 3 minutes per km for the last 3-4km basically.

If he runs 3 km all the way home from 32k he'd run 2:04:01 as it would take him 30:35 to run the final 10.195 km. THat would be TOTALLY amazing to get the CR in these conditions.

Fun Runner or Hobby Jogger wrote:

I am not sure what is worse, being called a hobby jogger here in the forums or being called a fun runner by the announcers. You're either a pro of you're a fun runner. I am not sure I would call any of my races fun. I enjoyed the accomplishment and success but fun is not something I would call it. I guess being called a hobby jogger here is not so bad.

Fun runner is objectively worse. I actually took offense and got triggered

No chance for CR

Wasihun 58 seconds back from Tola.

Tola looking tired but strong if that makes sense.

Commentator just described 10k as a "middle distance event". I don't even.

A 10k?

What's that? About 6 miles? Only fun runners run that

Going to sleep now, only stayed up for bekele and now this other guy is off wr pace it's just another boring African marathon

rojo wrote:

SO at 32k (1:33:36) Tola was on 2:03:25 pace . Buti hes' been running 3 minutes per km for the last 3-4km basically.

If he runs 3 km all the way home from 32k he'd run 2:04:01 as it would take him 30:35 to run the final 10.195 km. THat would be TOTALLY amazing to get the CR in these conditions.

Given the conditions, is Tola the new Biwott or better?

Drops the F bomb yet again & just said Elvis is still alive. Flytrap announcers could take announcing lessons from this guy!

rojo wrote:

SO at 32k (1:33:36) Tola was on 2:03:25 pace . Buti hes' been running 3 minutes per km for the last 3-4km basically.

If he runs 3 km all the way home from 32k he'd run 2:04:01 as it would take him 30:35 to run the final 10.195 km. THat would be TOTALLY amazing to get the CR in these conditions.

FYI, when Ayele Abshero set the CR in 2012, the temperature was in the 50s for the entire race.

Tola looks good should hold on. Bronze medalist at Rio in 10k, 26:57 at Pre.

25 yrs old. Some very good running ahead for him.

he actually might make the CR. will be tight.

he passed 37km just around 1:48:34

he is now steady on 2:57 per km pace

olyrun wrote:

Tola looks good should hold on. Bronze medalist at Rio in 10k, 26:57 at Pre.

25 yrs old. Some very good running ahead for him.

given how terrible his stride is, you think he succeeds purely based on what looks to be a pretty good surface area/mass ratio? if built like kenny, more like a 2:15 guy?

Jonathan Gault wrote:

God, the second half of the Dubai Marathon is brutal. They always go out so hard. And it's only getting warmer...

Not true. It's still 69.

Tola only beat Rupp by 2 seconds in Rio.

ANy chance Tola comes back for London or Boston this year?

He ran 2:06 at age 22 in 2014. THen ran 2:12 at 23 in the 2nd half of 2014.

Then seemingly gave up the marathon until now ( any DNFs??).