British Runners in the London Marathon

Pete Riley has the potential to run a bloody decent marathon and I wouldnt be surprised if he runs at least 2.13. I know it was only 10 miles but 47.30 suggests the boy could do some half decent! Also the Norman brothers are running well and should definitely run at least 2.17 if not close to 2.15. We're just have to wait and see. And what about Lobb? 2.14 last year??? And Tadesse??

Talking of 10 mile times who saw Phil Wicks' 48:34 at Maidenhead on Friday, well clear of the field. When he starts running marathons again I think he could be something special.

Does Tadesse count considering he is not competing for Belgrave any longer (only an Italian club)?

what is the standars for the olympic marathon and is pete riley the red head guy who ran for iona?

what is the standars for the olympic marathon and is pete riley the red head guy who ran for iona?[/quote]

Yes riley is the red hair chap who use to run for iona - 2.12 this year at London. Not sure about standards for olympics but European Champs/Cup is 2.16.30 for Mens - they can take a team of 6, with the first three to score. Doubt they will a take a team of six though, would be shocked if they do, even though they should. It sounds like a lot of guys are in shape to achieve this.

Does anyone know who is starting out of the Brits. A list would be good.

Anyone help.

I think its the Brit elite runners you're on about?

Andi Jones, Andy and Dave Norman, Huw Lobb, Mike Coleman, Pete Riley, Jon Macfarlane, Chris Birchall. Think there's a few more.Anyone else know of anyone else.

Should be a good race.

How far is Jas Ward going to do the pacing. 69 pace for half way should be quite easy for him so getting to 17/18miles wouldn't be hard at all.

Simon Jones?

Tadesse. Spoke to someone who knows him and he supposedly is in good shape? We're see huh....

Kojo Kyereme sub 2:20?

There are already 6 GB guys with Gothenberg QTs within the qualifying period from 1/1/ 2005 so let's not be pessimistic about a GB no-show in August. It'll be another 4 years before there's a Championship marathon QT of this order. Plus UKA have made clear their enthusiasm to take full squads. Probably worth people being aware, in the context of CG 2006 selection which turned out not to be the most athlete-centred process the sport has ever seen , that the UKA selectors are a different set of people from the AAAs selectors. UKA policy states that marathon teams will be named on Mon 24/4.

Karma, if you were in a race, and someone was going at the pace you wanted to, would you tuck in behind him run shoulder to shoulder?

You would tuck in, so why don't you shut up about suggesting that these lads aren't skilled runners because they're having a pacemaker?

FLM wrote:

Kojo Kyereme sub 2:20?

Is this Kojo's first marathon? Don't know much about the guy but he is ALWAYS racing, over a good range of distances. He has some shockers, but has turned in some pretty decent runs over the years. Seems to have been around for ages too. Good luck in London.

Hi Matt,

Gosh that's some training you have done there. My idea about pacing in the London Marathon is that we should consciously back off in the first 4-5 miles. Everyone is so hyped up at the start, they can't help showing off in front of the TV cameras. They actually think that they are running easy, but they are mostly going too fast.

I think it's wise to run a few seconds per mile slower than target race pace for the first few miles, and use the downhill from 2 - 3 1/2, to gradually lengthen the stride rather than just charging downhill, which is bound to tire the legs slightly.

As for my training, it has gone very well, but I have a knot in my hamstring which needs a bit of work, so I'm starting to get a bit worried. It should be ok by Thursday.

London is such an awesome race that I don't really care too much about my time, as long as I get round without any problems. If I can give a reasonable account of myself, I will be extremely happy.

Have a good run, Matt.

some wise words there for the 67.30 brits who always seem to put in a 31.xx first 10k and pay later

Thanks. When I wrote on this thread that 99% of the Elite and AAA Championship field go off at a stupid pace, it was only a very slight exaggeration.

In 2004 I ran the first mile in 5.42, but at the start, three hundred runners came charging past me in the first 300m. It's the same at the Greenwich Park start too. I started there in 2003, same thing on a slightly smaller scale.

Over 2000 runners will be ahead of me at the meeting on the Woolwich road. If I run well, less than 100 will be in front of me at the finish.

I don't start slowly, I try to start sensibly.

If people don't learn from our mistakes the first time, then they have some kind of mental block and there is no point trying to tell them, just let them do it.

Never understand those people who think they can run 2.15 yet have barely broken 67 for a half, it is the same every year. Surely a large number of these guys would be better off running in the pace group Matt mentioned earlier at 69. Are the pace makers going to be up to running comfortably on the front of a group in 67? A few years ago before Athens the pacers were getting dropped by the group before half way. I'm all for going for it but sometimes it just seems the pace people run to 17/18 is beyond them.

Who have owls got running then and any shouts for the team title?

Jason Ward should be able to jog home in 2:2X to give Altrincham a good chance in the 3 to score.