I'm not sure why people care about what pros will be at a race. I finally qualified for Boston after 10+ years of trying and just don't care who is up front. I look at marathons as about the people running for fun and getting fit. Frankly I'd rather they stop even paying prize money or appearance fees and make the races about the normal runners.
It took you 10 years to qualify for BOSTON?! LOLOLOL
I'm not sure why people care about what pros will be at a race. I finally qualified for Boston after 10+ years of trying and just don't care who is up front. I look at marathons as about the people running for fun and getting fit. Frankly I'd rather they stop even paying prize money or appearance fees and make the races about the normal runners.
It took you 10 years to qualify for BOSTON?! LOLOLOL
10 years to qualify, and then he proceeds to explain to all of us that what’s REALLY important about the Boston marathon isn’t the elite race, it’s the fact that he’s running it. Thanks for the post. Cool story bro.
The pinnacle of Fauble's career would be making an Olympic team, I expect that's his aim rather than running a time. Saying that, it might be worth his time to go to Chicago this year instead of New York. It's usually a weak field where Americans have a decent shot at placing top 5, which is an auto-qualifier for the Olympics
Don’t forget this is a job for them and these are professional athletes. For someone like Fauble, he makes his living from a base salary from his sponsor, appearance fee, and the bonus for being ‘top American’. If he isn’t fit enough to win, he has the biggest incentive to take top American and the prize purse that comes with that. Wouldn’t make sense to ‘go for it’, and end up fading and losing out on a payday.
Sure, but pro athletes across all sports are usually driven by sporting accomplishment as well as money, it's rare for any to see it as "just a job" but it does happen (see the footballer Stephen Ireland who hates football, he just happened to be good at it).
Someone like Fauble will have sporting goals but given he's a 2:08 guy, that probably doesn't mean winning international races. But qualifying for the Olympics is a big deal professionally and to the wider public. The first thing anyone asks a pro athlete when they meet them is "have you been to the Olympics"
I'm not sure why people care about what pros will be at a race. I finally qualified for Boston after 10+ years of trying and just don't care who is up front. I look at marathons as about the people running for fun and getting fit. Frankly I'd rather they stop even paying prize money or appearance fees and make the races about the normal runners.
Me either dude. I don't even think professional road running should be a thing. If they money they paid these people went into the event for the mass participants, the only participants that matter, it would be better for everyone.
Think 3 might be the better number, but either way Kenya would be the heavy favorite. Missing some of Ethiopia’s best and have Kipchoge, Chebet and Kipchoge who could go 1-2-3 or at least all be top 5.
Sure, but pro athletes across all sports are usually driven by sporting accomplishment as well as money, it's rare for any to see it as "just a job" but it does happen (see the footballer Stephen Ireland who hates football, he just happened to be good at it).
Someone like Fauble will have sporting goals but given he's a 2:08 guy, that probably doesn't mean winning international races. But qualifying for the Olympics is a big deal professionally and to the wider public. The first thing anyone asks a pro athlete when they meet them is "have you been to the Olympics"
True. My guess is Fauble will be doing everything possible to make the 2024 marathon team (maybe even worlds, but I don’t know what his contract with Nike incentivized). If he goes to Paris, that would be the race where it makes the most sense to sell out and go for broke. If he blows up and finishes in 2:20, no harm done.
Sure, but pro athletes across all sports are usually driven by sporting accomplishment as well as money, it's rare for any to see it as "just a job" but it does happen (see the footballer Stephen Ireland who hates football, he just happened to be good at it).
Someone like Fauble will have sporting goals but given he's a 2:08 guy, that probably doesn't mean winning international races. But qualifying for the Olympics is a big deal professionally and to the wider public. The first thing anyone asks a pro athlete when they meet them is "have you been to the Olympics"
True. My guess is Fauble will be doing everything possible to make the 2024 marathon team (maybe even worlds, but I don’t know what his contract with Nike incentivized). If he goes to Paris, that would be the race where it makes the most sense to sell out and go for broke. If he blows up and finishes in 2:20, no harm done.
Pretty sure every pro runner's contract has an incentive to make an Olympic team
True. My guess is Fauble will be doing everything possible to make the 2024 marathon team (maybe even worlds, but I don’t know what his contract with Nike incentivized). If he goes to Paris, that would be the race where it makes the most sense to sell out and go for broke. If he blows up and finishes in 2:20, no harm done.
Pretty sure every pro runner's contract has an incentive to make an Olympic team
Of course. The importance of making an Olympic team is not debatable… I meant incentives for a World championship team.
In other words, for an American marathoner, would it be worth it to run worlds vs Chicago or NY (since a summer marathon makes it harder to peak for a fall major). There’s a pretty good chance Fauble and Mantz would be offered spots for Budapest. I was wondering if they would want those spots or not.
Assuming at least 2-3 of these guys will run Tokyo or another Spring Marathon. If they got 5 of the top 6 and Kamworor/the old guys, you'd probably still favor Boston but it'd be an argument. I don't think Kandie, Rhonex Kipruto or Jacob Kiplimo are on the table because that might change things slightly.
Yes, that about covers it with no Cherono available. Could add Titus Ekiru and Nageeye, but there's not many names to hang the race on. I wonder if London will just go all-in on the women this year - Kosgei, Chepngetich, Jepchirchir, Assefa, Yehualaw, Gidey, Ayana all in one race
Abdi and Nageeye will be running Rotterdam in April
I like the challenge of having to qualify for the race. I want to run at least a half marathon in all 50 states and Massachusetts was always going to be the Boston full only if I qualified.
I have no idea who won any of the half or full marathons 8ve done because I don't care. I'm more impressed with the guy that lost 200 pounds and takes 5 hours but did it than someone running a 2 hours fast marathon. I just don't care.
The amount of passion, dedication and sacrifice that Kipchoge has put for the sport, inspiring millions across the world by his performances in the process - even including many non runners who now know of the marathon - far outstrips whatever you or your fellow marathon waddlers (completionists) will ever accomplish. Don't get ahead of yourself.