What exactly is shocking about the article on the front page about the no-name Kenyan dude in Israel going out in 61 and dying his way down to a 2:18? You go out too fast, you blow up. That's why you don't see many guys running 61 for the first half. It's shocking that some fool tried it? Most pros worth their salt could probably do the same thing. I don't get what's supposed to shock us about it.
It's an enormous blowup. Not that the blowup is surprising after a 61 first half, but look at the breakdown:
First half: 61 minutes (sub 4:40 per mile)
Second half: 77 minutes (~ 5:52 per mile)
13 miles at sub-WR pace, then 13 miles at nearly 6 mins/mile?? You don't think that is a little awe-inspiring?
He blew up due to a combination of the 61 first half plus the 80 degree heat. Hard to separate how much each contributed to the slowdown.
I was more shocked that people were within a minute of him at the halfway point. Amazing stupidity by a few up front.
[quote]Jane says wrote:
What exactly is shocking about the article on the front page about the no-name Kenyan dude in Israel going out in 61 and dying his way down to a 2:18?quote]
Perhaps that he's not a no-name? He'd won that race two times before and places second (?) another time. He might not be world famous, but he's a pretty well known quantity for that event.
abacus: It's an enormous blowup. Not that the blowup is surprising after a 61 first half, but look at the breakdown:
First half: 61 minutes (sub 4:40 per mile)
Second half: 77 minutes (~ 5:52 per mile)
13 miles at sub-WR pace, then 13 miles at nearly 6 mins/mile?? You don't think that is a little awe-inspiring?
Why would a guy running a half marathon nearly all-out, then totally melting down in the second half, inspire awe? As you suggest, the 77 is entirely predictable after the 61. Especially in the heat.
Seriously, what strikes you as awe-inspiring? His guts for going out in 61, his utter foolishness for going out in 61, other?