"As Kelvin Kiptum rises, Kipchoge said he is confident in his legacy After running 2:01:53 to win Valencia and 2:01:25 to break Kipchoge’s course record in London in his first two marathons, both with massive negative splits, many have wondered whether 23-year-old Kelvin Kiptum will take a run at Kipchoge’s 2:01:09 world record this fall. I asked Kipchoge whether his decision to run Berlin had anything to do with wanting to lower the world record and put it out of Kiptum’s reach, but Kipchoge said he believes his legacy is already secure. “Kelvin Kiptum has all power to do what he wants,” Kipchoge said. “I have done enough. I trust that what I have done in the world will be respected. In any case, I wish him well. But I aim to make Berlin a good and beautiful race. I want to enjoy it for the sixth time. I want to run a good race and cross the finishing line by celebrating. I’m not in a rush for anything. Because I am the person to run under 2:00. If Kiptum runs under 2:00, he’s always (be) the second. I’ll be the first one. So I have no worries at all.”"
I guess nobody asked him if he would like to chase sub-2 in a race. And if Kiptum does it, he will be first sub-2...
I was just about to mention this. I was shocked to hear Kipchoge make this claim. I had assumed that he participated in those two "sub-two" exhibitions for more money and more fame, knowing full well that these were merely clown shows to capture public attention and sell products. I was sad about that, because in both years, he ended up running only one marathon instead of his usual two, and I would have liked to see him take full advantage of his abilities during his peak years. But now I'm starting to wonder if he's become delusional, or perhaps fearful of losing his place in history. Or perhaps he's really believed this all along, which would be weird.
I would be very surprised if Kipchoge didn't simply cut Kiptum out of Berlin as a condition of his participation. Kipchoge's failure in Boston and his failure to take on NYC this year are entirely consistent with his apparent unwillingness these days to take on the best competition in fair races, without personal pacers and handlers.
The scenario you described is not an impossibility, as other top runners have reportedly insisted on similar "stipulations." In the Coffee Club podcast, Ollie Hoare mentioned that Jakob insisted that Tim not be included in the 2022 Bislett Games Dream Mile entries.
I can think of a number of times it's been done. Seb Coe seemed to do it a lot of avoid Ovett and later Said Aouita (and perhaps Steve Cram). Somewhat similarly, the great Tanzanian Filbert Bayi, in the course of criticizing paced and effectively "fixed" races, has spoken of a race with Seb in which all of the other runners (including Bayi) were told, right before the start of the race, not to do anything to get in the way of Seb and his pacer.
Do you guys think Kipchoge is returning to Berlin just for an easy win that will give him a spot for Paris 2024 or do you think he will also try to run sub 2h01'09" improving his WR?
I'm f*****g scared that Kiptum will choose to go to Chicago and therefore besides not seeing the Kipchoge vs Kiptum duel we won't even see the Kiptum vs Cheptegei duel.
I remember Coe avoiding Ovett. We had to wait until the boycotted 1980 Olympics in Moscow to see them tactically compete. Granted they were both in their prime. It'd really be great if EK & KK were dueling at the end of a marathon on a fast course. Imagine if EK had competitors at the end of his WR In Berlin or KK had the same at London or Valencia. That's where the WR would drop. maybe sub-2? Could be dreaming. I truly understand that it is a business and these guys need to maximize their earning potential while the window is open. Just tough for us fans.
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