I'm looking at the all time toplist for US marathoners on the World Athletics site. Most Americans have their PR taken from legal courses, but I see Bill Rodgers' best mark listed as 2:09:27 from the 1979 Boston Marathon. Why does his Boston time count, but not others? Salazar and Beardsley ran 2:08 a few years later, but their PRs here are listed as 2:09s from other races. And of course, Hall ran that legendary 2:04 in Boston but it isn't listed here.
I'm looking at the all time toplist for US marathoners on the World Athletics site. Most Americans have their PR taken from legal courses, but I see Bill Rodgers' best mark listed as 2:09:27 from the 1979 Boston Marathon. Why does his Boston time count, but not others? Salazar and Beardsley ran 2:08 a few years later, but their PRs here are listed as 2:09s from other races. And of course, Hall ran that legendary 2:04 in Boston but it isn't listed here.
Anyone know what's up?
The World Athletics site is a stellar source for race information, but data input errors can still happen.
Also noticed further down that Jeff Wells has his PR of 2:10:15 listed from Boston 1978. But recent Americans like Fauble, Kibet, Ward, and Albertson who have run 2:08-2:09 in Boston do not have their times listed. So was the Boston Marathon a legal course in the 70s but then became ineligible for records?
Also noticed further down that Jeff Wells has his PR of 2:10:15 listed from Boston 1978. But recent Americans like Fauble, Kibet, Ward, and Albertson who have run 2:08-2:09 in Boston do not have their times listed. So was the Boston Marathon a legal course in the 70s but then became ineligible for records?
A point to point race is not a legal course and it’s not debatable.
Course measurement standards changed. Ex: the course is longer now
Boston's course is not longer now than it was when Billy was running it. I assume you think it's longer now because the finish line was moved farther down Boylston St. When that was done the starting line was also moved a corresponding distance closer to Boston.
Course measurement standards changed. Ex: the course is longer now
Boston's course is not longer now than it was when Billy was running it. I assume you think it's longer now because the finish line was moved farther down Boylston St. When that was done the starting line was also moved a corresponding distance closer to Boston.
Boston's course is not longer now than it was when Billy was running it. I assume you think it's longer now because the finish line was moved farther down Boylston St. When that was done the starting line was also moved a corresponding distance closer to Boston.
Yes its a longer time ago.
"A longer time ago?" I don't understand. A longer time ago than what?
A point to point race is not a legal course and it’s not debatable.
What year did point-to-point become not legal?
At some point in history of the marathon, it probably would have been legal. Are we going to be back in time and negate times that were perfectly legal at those times in history? Not saying that's what's going on with Bill Rodgers' time because I don't know when the current rule went into effect.
A point to point race is not a legal course and it’s not debatable.
What year did point-to-point become not legal?
At some point in history of the marathon, it probably would have been legal. Are we going to be back in time and negate times that were perfectly legal at those times in history? Not saying that's what's going on with Bill Rodgers' time because I don't know when the current rule went into effect.
Mid 1980's, I believe 1983/84 is when the committee got together to make national standard regarding record-eligible courses. RW and The Runner reported on it at the time, that the Boston race director walked out of the meeting he was muttering, "We lost, I cna't believe we lost." The committee had decided that the course had to have a start and finish in almost the same area, with a small allowance for variation in elevation, or a point to point (such as boston) had to have only that small variation between the start and finish. Dave argued that Boston had a) historical status in the history of American marathoning and that also b) the course difficulty added a toughness that would offset the elevation loss from the start to the finish.
Dave was right about the first, but really he neglected to note that there are certain years when the conditions are right, that set up for outrageously fast times. Hall's 2:04 and Ndeti and Espinoza racing the wire in '94 (I think, not looking it up) point out the fallicy of his second argument.
Course measurement standards changed. Ex: the course is longer now
Boston's course is not longer now than it was when Billy was running it. I assume you think it's longer now because the finish line was moved farther down Boylston St. When that was done the starting line was also moved a corresponding distance closer to Boston.
It was moved a Hop, kin, and ton closer to Bawston.