This is why dominating the marathon has never been as impressive to me as the track. How often do the top runners ever compete against each other in the Marathon? At least on the track we know the top guys are all gonna be in the same race at Worlds/Olympics, you don't even get that in the Marathon with people chasing times/paydays instead of championships.
I understand why Kiptum and Kipchoge would skip NY this year and assume Chebet will be back there (though you’d think he might want to see if he can run faster than 2:03 now given his recent accomplishments), but if it is true that EK and KK are not squaring off in the same race this fall is inexcusable. It’s really lame, though I’m not sure who is to blame!
I think the issue is the structure of these Marathon races. The appearance fees get sucked up by one big athlete and there isn't enough to get all the top guys in one race. Berlin breaks the bank for Kipchoge every year. Last year the field outside of him was not that strong, 2nd place was 2:05:58 and Ive barely heard of most of the guys in the top 10.
London usually has the deepest pockets to get quality fields and Valencia has stepped up in recent years with some big names too. But not sure there is enough $ to go around to get all these guys in the same field, which is a bummer for fans.
Unfortunately I'm really doubtful Kiptum will race Kipchoge in Berlin this year. Amos Kipruto is being billed as Kipchoge's biggest challenger so if Kiptum was racing there Berlin would surely highlight him now you'd think
I think the issue is the structure of these Marathon races. The appearance fees get sucked up by one big athlete and there isn't enough to get all the top guys in one race. Berlin breaks the bank for Kipchoge every year. Last year the field outside of him was not that strong, 2nd place was 2:05:58 and Ive barely heard of most of the guys in the top 10.
London usually has the deepest pockets to get quality fields and Valencia has stepped up in recent years with some big names too. But not sure there is enough $ to go around to get all these guys in the same field, which is a bummer for fans.
Yeah, I get it. Having a deeper field in a race like Berlin probably doesn’t generate more money for the organizers, it just costs them money. They land one megastar like Kipchoge and that’s all they need, if that. I mean the many thousands signed up to run the race don’t care who is up front and I doubt there’s any difference in broadcast rights or however they make money. If you get Kipchoge and he says he’s going for the wr, adding any other athletes is probably of a rapidly diminishing ROI.
Unfortunately I'm really doubtful Kiptum will race Kipchoge in Berlin this year. Amos Kipruto is being billed as Kipchoge's biggest challenger so if Kiptum was racing there Berlin would surely highlight him now you'd think
Yeah, that’s it. Well, let’s hope Kiptum goes to Valencia and runs for a while with Cheptegei before blowing off his doors. There will at least be a fantasy that Cheptegei might shock the world. What elite men are announced for Chicago so far. We know they spent $ on the women.
is Kipchoge a coward for chickening out of racing New York? After what happened in Boston his decision to run Berlin for the umpteenth time makes it seem he's very afraid to lose again and thus is dodging NY.
If Kipchoge is in Berlin, Kiptum in Valencia and Chebet in NY it’s truly a lost opportunity for the sport. At least Kiptum and Kipchoge should square off on the same course at the same time. Running dueling and separate time trials is depressing to me.
Cheptegei is going to Valencia. I assume Kiptum will now come to Chicago.
this discussion 3 weeks ago after top 2 men and women were announced by berlin was ALL about the men. Tigist Assefa and Sheila Chepkirui running drew zero comments. Both are around the fringe of the top ten women in my current rankings
Cheptegei is going to Valencia. I assume Kiptum will now come to Chicago.
this discussion 3 weeks ago after top 2 men and women were announced by berlin was ALL about the men. Tigist Assefa and Sheila Chepkirui running drew zero comments. Both are around the fringe of the top ten women in my current rankings