How many degrees of separation are you from Kipchoge?

I've been in the same room as wejo.

Has wejo been around Kipchoge?

Many people have very likely been in a race with somebody who has raced against Kipchoge. Go to a road race with any of your national team members competing. Not hard to do.

I feel like this would be more interesting to see how many steps you are away from beating Kipchoge.

I’ve raced tons of people who raced Kipchoge at London, Berlin and especially Chicago, so it would be two... trying to find how to get to someone I beat who beat someone who beat him would be more of a challenge. (Assuming you don’t count all 2018 Tokyo finishers as having ‘beaten’ Kipsang because then it would only be like 3 steps.

I raced against Kipchoge at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. I was tied with him right up until they fired the starter pistol.

Ran HS CC in Minnesota against Garrett Heath. He has defeated Kiprop, Farah, and Bekele. 2 of the 3 in the same race. I assume that one of those guys has defeated Kipchoge.

Yeah, the people I've raced in hs are still in hs for the most part so they haven't had the chance to race any big names

Ahead of the Curve wrote:

I feel like this would be more interesting to see how many steps you are away from beating Kipchoge.

I’ve raced tons of people who raced Kipchoge at London, Berlin and especially Chicago, so it would be two... trying to find how to get to someone I beat who beat someone who beat him would be more of a challenge. (Assuming you don’t count all 2018 Tokyo finishers as having ‘beaten’ Kipsang because then it would only be like 3 steps.

This. It needs to be people you’ve beaten. Otherwise some rando HJs who ran in Berlin, London, or Chicago when Kipchoge was there would have a lower degree of separation than even the top NCAA runners. Unless you just count people who raced in the elite field at the WMMs, then just the simple “I raced someone who raced someone, etc” could make sense. Women could look for their “Brigid Kosgei number”. I don’t even know what mine would be. I would have to spend way too much time on TFRRS, lol.

One degree. I raced him at rock n roll san Diego half in 2013. I'd have to look at times but I believe I was within five minutes of him which isn't too bad in my book. He got second that day when a guy ran 59 low. Craziest race experience I've had in the first mile. I ran a 4:48 first mile and the top guys were gone from the start. They came off the line like a cannon. I ran faster than I should have and was still 20 seconds behind a mile in.

Had to get a little creative. Went with a runner I beat and kept that trend going.

I beat Finn Gessner in a race (hs)

Finn beat Luis Grijalva (hs)

Luis Grijalva beat Geordie Beamish (college)

Geordie Beamish beat Morgan McDonald (college)

Morgan McDonald beat Jacob Kiplimo (Worlds)

Jacob Kiplimo beat Barega (pro race)

Barega beat Muktar (12:43 race)

Muktar beat Mo (Worlds)

Mo beat Kipchoge (2011 Worlds)

Might’ve been able to do better but here it is.

Define "raced."

If you just mean "participated in the same race as him", well, that's tons of people.

Raced against:

I was in Berlin 2017 with Eliud Kipchoge.

Beat:

I beat Alan Webb at a local XC race a few years ago.*

Alan Webb beat Bernard Lagat in the 1500 at the 2007 USATF champs.

Bernard Lagat beat Eliud Kipchoge in the 5000 at the 2007 WCs.

*Obviously he was not taking it seriously; I think he ran ~17:30 and I ran ~17:15.

Two degrees. I have children adopted from Ethiopia. Until recently, I could beat them in a 5K. Kipchoge has lost to a few Ethiopians.

One. We’ve both eaten ugali.

Two. My ex-girlfriend trains with his camp.

I know a guy who met alberto salazar.

Alberto coached Mo Farah

Mo Farah raced eliud kipchoge

3 degrees.

Degrees of separation in our sport has always meant the pathway by wins.

1. I raced Galen Rupp at an indoor meet a few years ago (only got lapped once!)

2. Galen raced Kipchoge in Rio

Way better than I should do for someone of my speed

This is 2020. I identify as Kipchoge. Degrees of separation = zero. I win.

I’m friends with the coach of an Olympic marathoner ... so like 2 steps

Coach has interacted with Robby Andrews who’s interacted with Solinsky who beat kipchoge