Live Now: Official Marathon Grand Championships Live Discussion Thread

The US could have many more sub 2:08's. It just has to be financially possible. Yes, most of the top runners have scholarships but few are full rides and they still have debt coming out of college.

If we had a program that could give them a basic income (40K?) with the chance to make more racing with bonuses from their club and then focus on fast marathon courses- like Chicago. NOT like NYC or even Boston (that isn't record eligible) .

You just need too much money to live in most parts of the country.

Have 30 of our best racing together with pacers and we'll have more, faster marathoners who will then be invited to the bigger marathons and make even more money.

Loo at the fall season- Berlin, Chicago, Amsterdam, Valencia and I'm leaving some out.

Our marathoners tend to be relative unknowns in college. We're not getting most of the top collegians to do serious marathon training. Make the marathon and half marathon NCAA championship events at the D1 level.

Yup. If only that HALF BILLION dollar deal Nike bought USATF for the next 23 years channeled some of that money to the athletes instead of a CEO's fake businesses.

That's not even an exaggeration. They should have taken a million per year off the top just for scholarships but nope nope. That's twenty people per year, ten men, ten women. Or take $10 million of that for two hundred people.

Anyway I think I read somewhere that $1 of every shoe sale by Nike goes to pros. But of course that means you have to sign with Nike which is basically a deal with the devil.

Then there are companies like Hoka that have incredible teams but horrible shoes.

By the way, check out this rule, I don't think the committee thought out the possibility of the newest super-shoes being even faster

Are they racing it in the afternoon somewhere with a lot of heat and humidity and direct overhead sunshine?

It’s October. Usually great weather in Japan this time of year.

I can't imagine much NIL money if any going to male college distance runners to bridge the scholarship-tuition gap. NIL is primarily for football, hoops and hot chicks only.

I wonder if Kenya has 40 2:08 or betters atm.

Japan should be slightly embarrassed to have that many sub 2:09s but no 2:03s. They have depth but are on a solid plateau.

Kenya has 100+ since 2020 but that's covid years too, Japan 50

I know not everyone agrees with this but I really believe it comes down to the further away you are from any Neanderthal DNA the faster the times

worldathletics.org

Marathon - men - senior - outdoor

Link:worldathletics.org/records/all-time-to...

Kenya has 72 sub 2:08 guys since January 2022. And 15 of them are sub 2:05 guys.

Not hot because it'll be rainy in Tokyo, men start at 8am local time

Yuki Kawauchi taking the men out under 15mins at 5k with a gap on the field

Expecting an epic race.

Yep, first big surprise is Kengo Suzuki, NR holder, is off the back. Intentionally? Wouldn't necessarily think so

I'm amazed by the depth of the field. Really impressive.

Suzuki already struggling.

Definitely doesn't look great either, that's a shame

Kawauchi, living up to his legend.

Osako 3rd