Yes, a lot of top runners (including from the U.S.) pass up the World Championships to run a better-paid commercial marathon. That’s always been the case. But all the Kenyans and Ethiopians had great PBs and were fully capable of winning. But a championship is different from a commercial marathon. And in Tokyo, of course, the high heat and humidity also take their toll. And no doubt some of them decided, once they were out of medal contention, to drop out and save themselves for a fall marathon.
I can’t blame anyone who takes the money over a 15th place at Worlds, or who doesn’t run at all. The appearance fees and prize money of a major marathon are money they may live on for life.
Props to Clayton Young for running. Unless he’s planning to, say, run New York on six weeks rest, he probably passed up a good bit of money to run yesterday (and a very respectable 9th).
Yes, a lot of top runners (including from the U.S.) pass up the World Championships to run a better-paid commercial marathon. That’s always been the case. But all the Kenyans and Ethiopians had great PBs and were fully capable of winning. But a championship is different from a commercial marathon. And in Tokyo, of course, the high heat and humidity also take their toll. And no doubt some of them decided, once they were out of medal contention, to drop out and save themselves for a fall marathon.
I can’t blame anyone who takes the money over a 15th place at Worlds, or who doesn’t run at all. The appearance fees and prize money of a major marathon are money they may live on for life.
Props to Clayton Young for running. Unless he’s planning to, say, run New York on six weeks rest, he probably passed up a good bit of money to run yesterday (and a very respectable 9th).
In any case, it was a fantastic race.
I don't know what's the more recent update on it but he was talking about running Valencia. The race organizers approached him after Boston, I'm guessing they'd give him some appearance fee but obviously nothing comparable to New York. The main goal would really be to chase a fast time so that he could use that to spring bigger appearance fees in future marathons.
I don't know what's the more recent update on it but he was talking about running Valencia. The race organizers approached him after Boston, I'm guessing they'd give him some appearance fee but obviously nothing comparable to New York. The main goal would really be to chase a fast time so that he could use that to spring bigger appearance fees in future marathons.
Yeah, that is exactly what I said to him on youtube. I really thought that he was best suited for Valencia and, taking the long road, that running 2:06 or 2:05 at very best, with minimal appearance fee there, would set him up longer term for some bigger paydays from the American races later on. He doesn't have a ton of years left at this fitness, he's a likeable guy, and I'd love to see him continue to put up really great marks in his career.
With temperatures of about 30C accompanied by intense humidity continuing to pose a challenge to the athletes in the Japanese capital, Cairess was unable to complete the men's marathon. The 27-year-old Briton, a medal contender after placing fourth at the Paris 2024 Olympics, stopped by the roadside with less than three of the 26.2 miles remaining and the lead group beginning to move out of reach. "I tried my best. I just got too hot, simple as that really. The conditions were so tough," said Cairess, who finished third in last year's London Marathon. "When I stopped, I just took ages to just feel all right again. I used all the stations to be diligent with the ice and the sponges. While it helped, it just still got too hot. "I did a decent amount of preparation for the conditions, as much as I could balancing it with training. I've not known conditions like it, but this is only my fourth marathon. I did the best I could."