World record watch for sure after Kiplimo and Aregawi's stunning runs earlier this season... does anyone have any idea what pace has been asked for?
Two pacers are listed on the website right now: Mounir Akbache and Justin Kipkoech. If they get to 2k under 5:05, the world record is toast. I hope they open in 5:00-5:02 so that nothing is left on the table.
I hope I’m wrong but I’m not that optimistic. It’s a tough record and might be a challenge these guys would rather focus on without such tough competition to worry about, sadly. 5:05 for 2k is fast but that still means running the next 3k in 7:30 or less, no easy task. And with Winnie Nanyondo enlisted to pace the women’s mile WR, I would think they’d hire someone stronger than Justin Kipkoech to pace a 5k record attempt.
That said, I see Kiplimo and Aregawi both as athletes more likely to chase a record competition be damned than most guys.
Whatever the time, an authoritative win by Kiplimo in similar fashion to Bathurst--bossing the business end of the race and fending off the field in the final 600--would be, for me, just as impressive as a WR.
12:45 pace for 2k then 3rd 1000 is 12:40 pace. That's a good set up for sub 12:40.
Pacers won't reach 3k though.
Third 1000 is 12:36 pace, bringing them to 3k on 12:42 average pace. Looks like the pacing you’d ask for to give yourself a shot at the WR on an amazing day, while not risking crumbling mid-race, and leaving yourself the option of refocusing solely on the W. If hypothetically they could close in the same 2k splits they ran at Oslo and Lausanne, they would hit 12:31.4 and 12:36.2 respectively.
Agree that the pacer (Kipkoech) will struggle to make 3k. His 2-mile is equivalent to ~7:37.2, but it’s tougher to run that from the front, on demand. Frankly Akbache seems kind of useless at this distance: how much help is pacing the first K-1200 in the era of wavelight?
Still, this is way more exciting than if the pacing was set for an even 7:42 or 7:45.
The pacing being a bit off world record tempo shouldnt prove to be that detrimental if they really want to attack that record.. if they go out in 5:00 7:30 they risk blowing up and getting nothing. Going out at a more conservative 5:05 7:35 type pace gives Kiplimo and aregawi a chance to feel out the pace and drop the hammer in that last 3k-2k if they are feeling strong. The low 12:40s this year have all come from slower early paces and insane final 3ks, no reason to think the world record couldn’t be attacked in the same way.
Each of Bekele's 12:37 kilo splits were faster than the previous. 2:33, 5:05, 7:37, 10:07, 12:37 (11:39 bell). Slowly ratcheting down is definitely the way to go.
He ran the most perfect 5000 in history, it was beautiful like a glimpse through the clouds to something beyond. It has not yet been topped.
12:45 pace for 2k then 3rd 1000 is 12:40 pace. That's a good set up for sub 12:40.
Pacers won't reach 3k though.
Third 1000 is 12:36 pace, bringing them to 3k on 12:42 average pace. Looks like the pacing you’d ask for to give yourself a shot at the WR on an amazing day, while not risking crumbling mid-race, and leaving yourself the option of refocusing solely on the W. If hypothetically they could close in the same 2k splits they ran at Oslo and Lausanne, they would hit 12:31.4 and 12:36.2 respectively.
Agree that the pacer (Kipkoech) will struggle to make 3k. His 2-mile is equivalent to ~7:37.2, but it’s tougher to run that from the front, on demand. Frankly Akbache seems kind of useless at this distance: how much help is pacing the first K-1200 in the era of wavelight?
Still, this is way more exciting than if the pacing was set for an even 7:42 or 7:45.
Akbache is there to make the work easier for Kipkoech. But I agree that both pacers level is under what is expected for a true WR attempt. This seems like you say at an attempt to get new PBs without too much risk, and why not WR on a miracle day.
Weather will be on the hotter side though. It's expected to be 29°C (84°F) at 9pm in Monaco.
Each of Bekele's 12:37 kilo splits were faster than the previous. 2:33, 5:05, 7:37, 10:07, 12:37 (11:39 bell). Slowly ratcheting down is definitely the way to go.
He ran the most perfect 5000 in history, it was beautiful like a glimpse through the clouds to something beyond. It has not yet been topped.
You do understand that Cheotegei broke that record, right?
Third 1000 is 12:36 pace, bringing them to 3k on 12:42 average pace. Looks like the pacing you’d ask for to give yourself a shot at the WR on an amazing day, while not risking crumbling mid-race, and leaving yourself the option of refocusing solely on the W. If hypothetically they could close in the same 2k splits they ran at Oslo and Lausanne, they would hit 12:31.4 and 12:36.2 respectively.
Agree that the pacer (Kipkoech) will struggle to make 3k. His 2-mile is equivalent to ~7:37.2, but it’s tougher to run that from the front, on demand. Frankly Akbache seems kind of useless at this distance: how much help is pacing the first K-1200 in the era of wavelight?
Still, this is way more exciting than if the pacing was set for an even 7:42 or 7:45.
Akbache is there to make the work easier for Kipkoech. But I agree that both pacers level is under what is expected for a true WR attempt. This seems like you say at an attempt to get new PBs without too much risk, and why not WR on a miracle day.
Weather will be on the hotter side though. It's expected to be 29°C (84°F) at 9pm in Monaco.
I get that the first pacer is sort of the pacer’s pacer, but it seems like a reliable 5:06.0 2k guy wouldn’t be that hard to find. Like maybe Laros or Girma could use some pocket money coming back 90 minutes after their ‘B’ section 800s.
I get the sense that Akbache is well-liked and kinda a favorite of both pacers/racers. He’s worked with Kipkoech before and they might just kinda be a team at this point. He does a good job of playing escort to everyone and then calmly slowing it down.
Each of Bekele's 12:37 kilo splits were faster than the previous. 2:33, 5:05, 7:37, 10:07, 12:37 (11:39 bell). Slowly ratcheting down is definitely the way to go.
He ran the most perfect 5000 in history, it was beautiful like a glimpse through the clouds to something beyond. It has not yet been topped.
You do understand that Cheotegei broke that record, right?
Kipkoech will make 2800-3000m. In his 2 mile PR, he was 5 flat at 2k and 6:03 for 6 laps with no drafting as Jakob was well ahead and he was leading out the rest of the pack. He still split 7:38 fading from the hot start with 218m more to run. Slower start and he makes it 2800 atleast even with the last two laps/1k cutting down to 60.7. It's a lot tighter than you would hope but I think it's in his wheelhouse to get close. I also don't think pacing distance is as big an issue once he's in the ballpark of 2800-3000 when you are launching 2 guys and most probably Aregawi off the front. Kiplimo may have 4900m of pacing.
Yes, it definitely would help the farther he can go but this is a very rare set of circumstances. The temps are a lot more worrying
