OMG did Mary Keitany just run sub 1:06 half marathon WR?

What time is Mary looking to run? Is she going to attempt to break Liliya Shobukhova 2:20:25 record? That would put her close to 2:20:00 and become 2nd fastest to Catherine Ndereba.

Will Mary compete in the world champs marathon or 10000 meters.

26mi235 wrote:It seems to me that some runners have a 'wide, flatter, range while others have a more narrow optimal distance. For the latter group, having a 3:56-4:00 level means not being top-level at 10,000. Looking at the men, how many top-level 10,000 guys are within a couple of seconds of the 1500 WR? Why are women so different than the men.

to run significantly sub-30'00, you need do need superb speed

i woud expect a 26'30 guy to have ~ 3'33 speed if he spent the season running 1500s just off his 10k training ( all the endurance in the world won't get you 26'30 - it needs superb speed as well )

as for "Looking at the men, how many top-level 10,000 guys are within a couple of seconds of the 1500 WR? Why are women so different than the men",

the actual wr is 3'50 & it's more than a "coupla" secs from 3'56

the other factor is that 3'50 is a weak wr compared to men's 3'26 ( as are all of them with possible exception of 3k - even paula's 2"15 i think is probably no better than a 2"05 ) - to be comparable, i'd reckon it woud have to be 3'46/3'47 ( i reckon 3'50 is nothing better than about a ~ 3'29 = )

if you look at %age difference between men/women, at the sprints it is about 10% & with longer distances it shoud/is nearer 8 - 9% :

the reason being sprints are testo dominated & depend primarily on muscle mass, which men will have huge advantage because of naturally higher testo production -> higher relative muscle

for distance races, the effect of testo/muscle mass lessens as endurance aspects start to dominate & physiologically, it's well known that women are much closer to men in terms of "endurance", so the ~ 10% difference at sprint level will reduce with increasing distance races & the gap at 1500m shoud be less than ~ 10%

Attention now falls on what time Keitany might be capable of in London.

She will be expected to easily beat the 2:29:01 she disappointingly clocked on her debut when finishing third in New York last autumn.

Paula Radcliffe’s incredible world record of 2:15:25 may not be the target, but she appears well capable of passing Catherine Ndereba’s 2:18:47 to become the second quickest in history.

London marathon's performance is usually mostly influenced by the unstable british weather.You cant predict until the very day's morning

Can't they add more kenyans and ethiopians to challenge Mary Keitany to a time under 2:20:00? The field is rather weak.

We have 1 more month until london. I just hope she runs the time Irina Mikitenko runs.

Is she running the world champs marathon? It's better to have her chase a fast time in Berlin a race she should've ran last year.

Mary Keitany isn't in the race but she should consider racing against Salina Kosgei and Rita Jeptoo.

Kosgei and Jeptoo in the front line – women’s race

In the women’s field, organisers have attracted two past winners. Kenyan Salina Kosgei (1:07:52) has won here twice, in 2006 and 2008, while her countrywoman Rita Jeptoo (1:07:05), took the title in 2007.

Facing them is a formidable Ethiopian squad led by Marathon ace Aberu Kebede (1:07:39), winner of the 2010 Berlin and Rotterdam Marathons. Joining the 21-year-old is veteran Berhane Adere (1:07:52), who has raced here several times but has yet to win; and Askale Tafa (1:09:46), winner of 2010 Paris and Milano Marathons.

Other Kenyans looking for a breakout include Helena Kirop (1:09:37), the 2010 Nairobi Marathon winner; Pauline Ndjeri (1:10:23); Ines Chenonge; Alice Timbilili (1:08:56); Grace Momanyi (1:10:19), and Diana Chepkemoi (1:10:36).

Ranato any updates on Mary Keitany? Can she run Paderborn 10k?

But if she runs London, why do you think is it correct to run some other competition short time before ? We are speaking about top runners in the world, with a clear project. Too many people make confusion between an amateur and a professional approach.

For example, a world record holder of 20 km, HM and 25 km, goes in a Major Marathon after a negotiation about appearance fee. Once the contract is signed, there are points (for example, the athlete is not allowed to compete in another marathon in the period 2 months before - 2 months after, and in any other competition during the last 4 months) that every athlete must respect.

To look for building the possibility of a medal in Olympic, has nothing to do with the "amatorial" approach that many in Letsrun have. There is the same difference between building a hut and a skyscraper 300m high.

Last year at the Big 25 Berlin she also ran a 25K world record with 1:19:53 in what was then the longest race of her career, lowering the previous best by an astounding 2 minutes and 20 seconds. She became the first woman ever to go under 1:20.

I hope she goes to Berlin Marathon.

Isn't her next marathon to be Berlin and Nyc double.

ventolin^3 wrote:

Free at last wrote:Paula ran 65.40 at the 2003 Great North Run and whilst this is not an official record course because of a marginal overall drop

there is nothing "minor" about it

it has an overall drop of 30.5m :

http://www.arrs.net/HP_GNhHM.htm

a rough estimate for that 65'40 on a flat course is

~ 66'01

All in one go- the course rises for a few miles and that slows the time more than that gained in the quick drop. Of course you will argue that point because you have never run the course or any other

Did you just bump a 2011 thread to mock ventolin?

ukathleticscoach wrote:All in one go- the course rises for a few miles and that slows the time more than that gained in the quick drop. Of course you will argue that point because you have never run the course or any other

utter nonsense

it's is not a flat-course thruout

i will offer some estimates later

as for "not running courses", what on earth does your neurone think having run it with your nonsense ability prove ???

even if you have run it ?

i'm sure sammy was quaking in his boots when you lined up next to him !!!

Amazing Stuff wrote:

Renato,

Thanks for the amazing insight. A very informative and thorough post. Very good read. Thanks

Haha, this guy.