UK Athletics / Professional Running Scene Thread

2 weekends of big marathons coming up.

Not seen any elite fields for Manchester yet - anyone have any insider info on who's going there?

Presuming it's a weakened field with London being absolutely stacked for Brits this year. Do we think that'll be as good as it looks on paper? Or will we not see any of it because the coverage will be entirely focussed on the front end?

Does Manchester ever have a strong elite field?

Indeed.

Maybe if they moved it to Autumn it would attract better fields!

Marc Scott and Jake B out of London so far - anyone else?

just spent a fruitless half an hour looking for the 12 stage results. made me feel like a ninety year old trying to torrent obscure half remembered electronics.

please help friends

https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=20223&RId=275&EId=2

wonder whats scotts next few year look like after a couple years of mediocracy? feels like since leaving BTC and moving to the roads has been his fall

Anyone want to predict who will have a blinder at London next weekend and who will be disappointed?

Always keen to see what Phil S can do, and would be great to see Jake Smith continuing to return to his potential!

Dan Nash said on IRP he is in ~PB shape

I feel Dever will not be far of Emile possibly 2:05-6 range. I think Rowe will do well and finish near Phil, both possibly top 10. I think Manthorpe will struggle on debut though

Doping is so rampant esp in UK.

Tell us more, babe

Cairess now out of London

I feel like he was kind of lost for a few years after leaving BTC. I'm not sure being self coached or being coached by Andrew Davies (i think that's who it was) really worked well for him. I think I remember him saying somewhere (maybe strava) that he was finding it hard being away from his kid on training camps etc especially when he wasn't running well.

I do have hope he can bounce back now he's in Sesemann's set up. I think that training group will be good for him. Henderson has proven he knows how to coach marathon runners.

I couldn't cairless.

I’m pretty gutted about this. He’s turning out to be injury prone and not really getting a good crack at any decent races since his fantastic performance in Paris.

I feel like he is our best male marathoner - but not if he can’t stay injury free.

Alex Yee was also meant to be pacing him which could have been good to see.

Also wondering if Alex Yee will now run London as he won’t be pacing? Now that would be interesting to watch

Sadly it is the curse of Canova and his training programme. Runners flourish for a few months then eventually breakdown and can't come back from it

Predicting 2.07 again for Phil S, seems to be a pretty consistent guy and is able to avoid injury fairly well. Pity that London is a touch slower and might not have perfect conditions, so he may not go faster than the 2.07 low in Valencia (but I hope he proves me wrong).

Any prediction for Alfie Manthorpe's marathon debut? Said he's going with the 2.08 group even though the plan was initially 2.09:30 or something. I definitely think he's capable of going at least 2.07 at some point in his career, could definitely be a pretty good marathoner.

It baffles me that they don't move to Autumn. There are only two quick marathons in this country - other big ones like Leeds (hilly), Brighton (windy) don't count - and so you'd surely think splitting them would make sense. I know they have Manchester half in Autumn so maybe they want to keep the two events separate (and make more cash in the process), and they don't struggle to sell out even with it clashing with London, but man, would be cool for a proper elite field to run Manchester as well. It's not the quickest course but it gets great support.