Official Tokyo Marathon Thread + Live Watch Party at 8 PM ET

Just me or has it been a quiet build-up? I'm not expecting much, 2:04:20, maybe doesn't win.

I don’t think it’s meaningful that we haven’t heard about his build-up and it says more about the media and fans than it does Kipchoge’s training.

I think he’ll run faster than 2:04:20 but won’t be surprised if he runs 2:03 or 2:02-high and gets beaten into 2nd. 25 year old Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich ran 2:03:13 in his debut in Berlin last year; former Boston and Chicago champ Benson Kipruto ran 2:04:02 in Chicago in October and is looking to PR; maybe the Budapest world champ from Uganda, 24 year old Victor Kiplangat, is ready to take a big bite out of his 2:05:09 PB. It should be a big test for the 39 year old Kipchoge.

https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/media/press-release/pdf/297d7d8815c88b65af796e3a92bc60b9.pdf

running the tokyo marathon yet again. how exciting. way to challenge yourself in new ways.

2:00:50 . Kipchoge is looking freaking jacked in the recent NN pics. I think it's likely he's in great shape. Keep in mind he hasn't raced since Kiptum's performance in Chicago. (RIP). That's been a chip on his shoulder since October. Timing is perfect to give an all-out effort and still recover for Paris.

Interesting statistics:

Benson Kipruto and Eluid Kipchoge has run twice a marathon together, and both times Kipchoge had a bad day.

P.S. Don't say that he will have again a bad day, just statistics.

I think this is absolutely right. Tokyo is just a bridge to Paris, which is the real focus of this stage of Eliud's career. It's not surprising we haven't heard much about his build-up, especially coming off a solid but seemingly decline-revealing 2:02:42 in Berlin. I think he could progress back to another remarkable sub 2:02. He ran 2:02:40 last time in Tokyo with a wrong turn at 10k and seemingly not too much attention on the clock.

I think a 2:04+ would be a major warning sign. Any thing under 2:04 signifies he's still a major threat in Tokyo, and anything under 2:03 would make him far and away the presumptive favorite.

Pretty sure it's on a Sunday morning.

in tokyo! sat night here

It has been quiet. Unfortunately it's been overshadowed by Kiptum's passing, at least in part.

Weather looks ideal. Do we know the pacer situation? I did a little looking and couldn't find any info.

2:06:32

You mean the "39" year old Kipchoge ;)

It's being paced for 2:00.58 to 2:02.22. it's either going to be fast, or a spectacular blow-up from Kipchoge.

Women's race is being paced for 2:14

High hopes, thanks for the pacing info. I'd have to disagree though, he's far too experienced to take on a pace that would result an a true blowup. That's being said, even with great conditions sub 2:01 is too fast for him at this point. So my official prediction is 2:02:45.

Although I agree with you him looking jacked, I don't think sub 2:01. I say 2:02 mid. He's def put on some added muscle. Looking like his younger self.

2:00:23

Kipchoge will start taking all the credit now as the "best runner ever" even though Kiptum pulled his pants down x3.

The irony is both are doped out of their minds, but they are household names and too big to bring down. Katir was low hanging fruit.

Also, Kipchoge is not a nice person.

Hey, s*** is supposed to come out your a** not your mouth. You got it the other way around.

3th in 2:05. You heard it here first.