London Marathon could be laps around a big park

If spectators are not allowed why they need to host the race in central London on a 2k loop? Why not move just outside the city to have a longer and flatter loop?

henrik wrote:

If spectators are not allowed why they need to host the race in central London on a 2k loop? Why not move just outside the city to have a longer and flatter loop?

smaller loop makes the area easier to control and safer for everyone.

slower course probably means that Moose of Inside Running fame wont go.

runderun wrote:

Hills2paythebills wrote:

20 laps of a St James park means quite hilly for a major marathon. Take the WR off the table for sure, just look forward to some head to head racing.

Not at all. A quick look on Strava and it will end up around 450ft of elevation gain which I think is less than Berlin. It won't be a WR just because of the circumstances but the course itself is good for a time trial

For the avoidance of doubt, the course and race will be WR eligible.

St James's Park is completely flat. It will be a fast race.

I wonder if this ends up favoring Bekele for another reason: Neither can train with a group, which Kipchoge has admitted is massively important for his fitness, whereas Bekele seems more comfortable with it.

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

Amateur Runner wrote:

Bring all the Big guns to London and put on huge prize money. Invite Walmsley and Rupp for the race too

You left out a couple of people so I fixed it for you.

Excellent point. I hear Walmsley is great on hills.

runderun wrote:

runderun wrote:

Not at all. A quick look on Strava and it will end up around 450ft of elevation gain which I think is less than Berlin. It won't be a WR just because of the circumstances but the course itself is good for a time trial

This is assuming that they run the wide roads around the outside of the park. If they run inside the park it would be a bit more up and down. But I can't see that happening as all of the paths inside the park are too narrow unless the race is literally only Kipchoge and Bekele - you can walk only three abreast on the main path that cuts diagonally across the park, but all the others are narrower.

So I guess they'll run outside the park keeping the finish line on The Mall

Remember, at one point, the Ineos sub 2 effort was to be in London. Rest assured that they’ll have the fastest possible course lined out.

From watching events here in Japan, the UK coverage is really bad. In Japan, they cover the elites in the races, whilst in the UK they only show the mens/womens race for less than 30% of the coverage.

Mo could be making a move (unlikely) for the lead, but they'll be showing the guy cruising alone in the wheelchair race. Or be interviewing someone...

I wonder with Covid and the lack of testing they've both wisely prepared for a new WR...

I expect they've chosen St James Park so that they can keep the "iconic" finish on The Mall (you'll hear that a lot on the commentary). The best place to hold a looped course in London is Battersea Park. You can run a perfectly flat 5-6km loop inside the park. That's where Ineos considered holding the sub-2 attempt.

What's your take on how many people will be allowed to run? I am a 2:16 runner and I always failed to get into London elite race, but maybe this year it could be different. I hope it won't be an exhibition-run with only 15 people.

Sounds like you've been watching the wrong feed. They've had dedicated streams for both the men's and women's races for a number of years now.

Brasher has said that the course is potentially faster than London's normal course which I don't buy. The course consists of nearly 20 loops. This is not a big park. I don't see why such a small area needed to be chosen.

To those who are saying it is hilly. It isn't. It is flat. It is fast.

The course is down the Mall, Horse Guards Road and Bird Cage walk. The issue is the cornering. Some of the corner's may be tight (corner of Horse Guard and Bird Cage walk), but may be able to remedy this some how.

SlowFox wrote:

From watching events here in Japan, the UK coverage is really bad. In Japan, they cover the elites in the races, whilst in the UK they only show the mens/womens race for less than 30% of the coverage.

Mo could be making a move (unlikely) for the lead, but they'll be showing the guy cruising alone in the wheelchair race. Or be interviewing someone...

Eight hours of coverage on the BBC suggests that the races will be run consecutively, which would make sense on such a small loop.

They couldn't create a bigger, less repetitive loop?

I realize that a WR is unlikely, but is the course eligible?

Asking for a friend

SlowFox wrote:

From watching events here in Japan, the UK coverage is really bad. In Japan, they cover the elites in the races, whilst in the UK they only show the mens/womens race for less than 30% of the coverage.

Mo could be making a move (unlikely) for the lead, but they'll be showing the guy cruising alone in the wheelchair race. Or be interviewing someone...

BBC usually have a pure elite stream and one to entertain the masses. That's if you're a licensed UK viewer. They've cracked down a bit the last couple of years or so by enforcing iPlayer registration from UK IP addresses.

Any loop would be record eligible. They also have to comply with other rules, but, as Brasher said, it will be 100% record eligible and hinted they may attack the WR if weather allows.

I’d love for them not to use pacers and introduce more strategy into the race. It means no WR but I’d rather see real racing