Throw German Fernandez in the marathon. Thats a guaranteed W.R. Marathong. Beat that KENYANS!!! WAHHHH
Throw German Fernandez in the marathon. Thats a guaranteed W.R. Marathong. Beat that KENYANS!!! WAHHHH
I have to admit, all we were hearing coming into this year's Boston, was how well-prepared Goucher and especially Hall were. These are 2 of America's best marathoners (THE best?), who are basically in their prime, and neither came away with a victory. If it didn't happen this year, then when would it happen? There is such an endless supply of Ethiopians and Kenyans to compete at Boston every year, that I'm inclined to say "never".
The most painful part of this year's outcome was the fact Goucher was so close and probably should have won had she not decided she didn't need to draft off anyone for the last 10 miles.
Well, by your own logic, then, if Kara drafts next time, she'll win, won't she?
By my own logic, even when an American should win, they don't.
jonesy. wrote:
in Ethiopia and Kenya, there is tremendous depth in running, hence many elites. The source of the depth is a large number of people running from an earlier age, often t/f school, and training intensely from an early age in groups at altitude on soft surfaces. Until we have comparable depth, we're going to struggle at these levels, particularly at the marathon, where it is easy for any given runner to have an off day (but not all of the 10 Kenyans and Ethiopians in the top 11). But there has been a lot of progress in middle and long distance running in this country relative to Europe and our own lot in the 1990s. The number of sub-9, sub-4:10 hs'ers has been in the double figures frequently, the collegiate times have improved, and pro A qualifiers have increased dramatically. That is why we are already seeing many more Americans competing in big races, and occasionally medaling (naturally, Lagat at World's, but also Flanagan in the Olympics and Goucher at World's) or coming close (Teg at World's).
I think you've hit it on the head. It's really a matter of time and statistics. If the US had 10 runners near or at Kara or Ryan's caliber, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Goucher brought Tune to a collapse and Hall looked plenty fit at the end. No one can say that the US can't compete in the marathon. You get the right people on the right day and they all go out their believing they can win and racing to win - nine of them bust and maybe one breaks through and has the perfect race and wins. This is what the Ethiopians and Kenyans bank on - their runners run their balls off and one or two is able to hang on for the duration. They simply have more depth. Lets hope time can change that.
Maybe Flanagan will break thru at the distance.
And if Jordan H. would start focusing on the marathon NOW, instead of waiting 8-10 years, she could possibly exceed Wanjiru's exploits at the distance. Think about it.
Hall made a big mistake, he didn't listen to anybody,
he went too fast in the downhills and paid later, he could it won it easy if he listen. I am sure he learned more from this mistake that his last months of training.
Kara Goucher is new to marathon racing, but he will win in the future I am sure of it, she placed 3rd NYC and in Boston on her first two marathons, that it remarkable and let me remind you that she has won in the UK a race with Paula Radcliffe on it.
They are both the best we have in years and they are just started.
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