2011 BOSTON MARATHON: no asterisk and not winded, marks should count

In the Boston Marathon does it have any buildings, homes, vehicles, etc along the course? When I was in school I learned that wind can and WILL be redirected when faced with large enough objects; therefore, one can see why the winner

GEOFFREY MUTAI said, "I knew Moses but I was confident," Mutai said. "I tried to push myself. The wind was blowing on all sides all over the course. We were not facing the wind but it was coming from all around us."

On a point to point course with a small downhill elevation NONE of the men performances totally shocked me and only one of the women caught me by surprised- Yolanda Calballero (Col).

The wind may have helped alittle but it was the magic mixture of the athletes mindset, determination, competition, and crowd emotions that blended into those performances not the swirling wind.

DIDN'T ROBERT CHERUIYOT run 2:05:52 last year but this year ran a minute slower? Hmmmm, guess the wind didn't help as only the top 4 ran large personal bests.

18 April 2011

BOSTON MARATHON

Runners: Men

Place Bib Name Official Time State Country Ctz

1 2 Mutai, Geoffrey 2:03:02 KEN

2 22 Mosop, Moses 2:03:06 KEN

3 17 Gebremariam, Gebregziabher 2:04:53 ETH

4 3 Hall, Ryan 2:04:58 CA USA

5 12 Cherkos, Abreham 2:06:13 ETH

6 1 Cheruiyot, Robert Kiprono 2:06:43 KEN

7 9 Sanga, Philip Kimutai 2:07:10 KEN

8 14 Chimsa, Deressa 2:07:39 ETH

9 8 Daba, Bekana 2:08:03 ETH

10 16 Kipchumba, Robert 2:08:44 KEN

11 20 Kamais, Peter 2:09:50 KEN

12 25 Cardona, Juan Carlos R. Sr. 2:12:17 COL

13 4 Yegon, Gilbert 2:13:00 KEN

14 78 Bourifa, Migidio 2:13:45 ITA

15 26 Abe, Toyoyuki 2:15:48 JPN

Runners: Women

Place Bib Name Official Time State Country Ctz

1 F8 Kilel, Caroline 2:22:36 KEN

2 F15 Davila, Desiree 2:22:38 MI USA

3 F4 Cherop, Sharon 2:22:42 KEN

4 F24 Rotich, Caroline 2:24:26 KEN

5 F12 Goucher, Kara 2:24:52 OR USA

6 F9 Tune, Dire 2:25:08 ETH

7 F18 Kidane, Werknesh 2:26:15 ETH

8 F51 Caballero, Yolanda B. 2:26:17 COL

9 F10 Timbilili, Alice 2:26:34 KEN

10 F20 Ruban, Yuliya 2:27:00 UKR

11 F5 Tsegaye, Tirfi 2:27:29 ETH

12 F21 Girma, Woynishet 2:28:48 ETH

13 F19 Mugo, Hellen 2:29:06 KEN

14 F17 Skvortsova, Silvia 2:29:14 RUS

15 F14 Pushkareva, Tatyana 2:29:20 RUS

Someone should take something like the top 100 times from today and the top 100 avg from 2010 or 2009 and see what the difference is. Pointing out one runner running slower than last year doesn't really say anything. I would but I'm hella busy. Sorry dudes. :\

Under Ultra wrote:

Video proof of no real wind. Mile 8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW8ymc0-dvY

I think this video is a great example of the wind today, and that it may or may not have helped the runners based on where they were on the course.

There are three different flags in this short clip. The first one is an american flag right in the middle of the screen as the clip starts. It's not moving even at all. Then the runners pass what looks like a Japanese flag as they pass in front of the camera. It's moving a little, but not much. The third flag is when the runners are heading away from the camera. It's certainly moving, but sideways, suggesting the wind is coming from the side, not from behind.

Add to all of that, the fact that when there is a microphone and its a windy day, you can hear the wind. Much like when talking to someone on the phone when they are outside on a windy day. There was certainly none of that.

From this clip, and what I watched on the live feed, to say there was a "strong" tailwind the entire way is certainly misleading. Also, to ROJO, who posted in another thread about using sprint conversions to figure out how much it helped, it can't be done. Those wind readings are taken exactly when the race takes place, in the exact direction of the race, and they run in a straight line, with no buildings, trees, people, etc... blocking the wind.

WakeUpDummies wrote:

DIDN'T ROBERT CHERUIYOT run 2:05:52 last year but this year ran a minute slower? Hmmmm, guess the wind didn't help as only the top 4 ran large personal bests.

Is your entire generation a failure at logic?

If Cheruiyot had a 20mph tailwind last year no doubt he have run in the 2:02s.

So if Boston is going to count as the world record for the marathon, I guess we should go back and count Mike Boit's 3:28 mile as the world record?

I'm not convinced there was a consistent 20 mph tail wind. I am convinced that there was no rain, no freezing temperatures, no unseasonable heat and no consistent headwind. How often does that happen at Boston? Maybe the wind helped, it certainly didn't hurt. The rest of the picture needs to be taken into account.

malmo, I am almost certain that those are the weather service figures which are NOT at ground level but 10m up. Further, the records for inland show more like 15mph + gusts of 25+. My guess is that ground-level effects were 13, and not always exactly behind them. However, the cross component and the gusts did help to cool them because running 13mph with a steady 13mph would provide too little cooling for comfort even at those temperatures.

Wow, this might be the dumbest non-troll thread I've ever seen on Letsrun.

Vipam, what part of consistent tailwind do you not understand?

I ran the race today. I did not feel a 20 mph wind, or even a strong wind, at my back constantly. I'd say for most of my race the wind was not a factor. That being said there were definitely some moments, mostly after the hills,in the last 5 miles when I felt a noticeable wind at my back. Certainly couldn't say whether it was 20 mph. I think the weather factor that has been overlooked is that it was rather warm in the sun. It felt like at least 65 degrees on the course.

WakeUpDummies wrote:

The wind may have helped alittle but it was the magic mixture of the athletes mindset, determination, competition, and crowd emotions that blended into those performances not the swirling wind.

I love this line. It really encapsulates so much of what is said or suggested to defend the validity or significance of comparisons between times on record-quality courses and times on short, downhill, or wind-aided courses. According to this kind of thinking, thousands of people who happen to come together from all over the globe simultaneously experience a once-in-a-lifetime moment when their bodies are faster and stronger than ever before, as if magical pixie dust were sprinkled over all of them, like characters in "Peter Pan" who are suddenly able to fly.

Personally, I think it's the wind.

I love how entrants will say "i didn't feel a wind". Yeah, that's because you're moving >10mph in the SAME DIRECTION. how about turning around and running into the wind? your 2:53 will change your mind.

correct, AN. Occum's Razor. The same zeitgesit appeals to St. George apologists. I don't know why it is difficult to admit downhill and/or tailwinds are beneficial.

mr positive wrote:

I ran the race today. I did not feel a 20 mph wind, or even a strong wind, at my back constantly. I'd say for most of my race the wind was not a factor. That being said there were definitely some moments, mostly after the hills,in the last 5 miles when I felt a noticeable wind at my back. Certainly couldn't say whether it was 20 mph. I think the weather factor that has been overlooked is that it was rather warm in the sun. It felt like at least 65 degrees on the course.

ditto. I also ran today and don't think the wind was as large of a factor as many (who I'm guessing probably didn't race there) are making it out to be. there was a slight tailwind. the wind might have been 10-12 mph. some times there was a crosswind or even a headwind. I can only count once or twice where the wind gusted to the point that I felt it push me.

I agree and it just complicates the sport more for the average viewer. To hell with wind, point to point, downhill (Boston has some tough uphills, too). Some guys just ran some fantastic times.

wilfredo wrote:

For world/american record purposes, the start and finish line cannot be more than 10% (or so) of the race distance apart. Not sure whether these guys plan to keep these times as their PRs.

I suggest you get your facts straight before you comment.

CGHomes and Vipam

Don't waste your time talking to those junveniles jack @sses and immature patheic adults who sole purpose is too offend and not discuss any running topic.

Someone should look at the first 1/2 vs. second 1/2 splits of the lead pack over the years. I didn't see the race, only followed the updates online, but it seemed to me that this was a unique Boston. A large pack went out hard and no one sat to wait for the kick. Perhaps they were trying to take advantage of the great weather. Boston is usually slow so it seems to me that elites race for the win, not the time, in most years. This year they finally seemed to race for the time and I think that's what contributed to the fast race.

Exactly 10% or so is wrong wrote:

wilfredo wrote:

For world/american record purposes, the start and finish line cannot be more than 10% (or so) of the race distance apart. Not sure whether these guys plan to keep these times as their PRs.

I suggest you get your facts straight before you comment.

and by 10% i mean 50%

You're not going to notice a tail wind that's going around as fast as you are because the wind is not blowing by you. So you can have a tailwind of like 12 mph and not even notice! The hard winds you feel are 20+ mph.