chicago marathon elite field

Must be a second marathon for Fukushi after hitting the wall in Osaka a couple of years back. Perhaps we might see a more conservative approach this time.

I thought that we would see Deena Kastor here. Maybe New York?

Great way to support the home team Chicago...NOT!!!!

Only one American in the elite field and a convicted Chinese drug cheat (Wei Yanan).

The Japanese have a program to send a group of 2nd-tier guys who have run well domestically in the winter/spring to an overseas marathon together in the fall to get some experience. Used to be Beijing, then Amsterdam for a year or two, now looks like Chicago. I would guess Sato and Fukushi, maybe Matsumiya, are in a separate class, doing it 'for real.'

That plus Japanese television carries a lot of weight (and cash).

Looks like Fukushi wants to go for sub-2:20:

http://www.chicagomarathon.com/CMS400Min/uploadedFiles/Chicago_Marathon/Press_Center/Elite%20Field_International_Press%20Release_9-8-11.pdf

Should be interesting.

Mary Keitany isn't running Berlin or Chicago. She really plans to run New York.

Why did Mary say she's looking for a flat marathon course to break the world record when's she's running new york?

Gee Kevin, maybe the NYRR made her an offer she couldn't refuse.

Brett in Tokyo wrote:

The Japanese have a program to send a group of 2nd-tier guys who have run well domestically in the winter/spring to an overseas marathon together in the fall to get some experience. Used to be Beijing, then Amsterdam for a year or two, now looks like Chicago. I would guess Sato and Fukushi, maybe Matsumiya, are in a separate class, doing it 'for real.'

Ah, the usual insightful commentary that one can expect from Larner. Sato, Matsumiya and Fukushi are going to RUN FOR REAL and the rest of them are just going to jog the course and stop off for deep dish pizza and beer along the way. YEAH...RIGHT!!!!

Have you been paying attention for the last 10 years? There are always a few good Japanese runners in the Chicago Marathon.

Yes, that's correct, Jason. The five 2:12 guys are part of the developmental program, the others are likely there as usual for a fast effort. With your extensive knowledge of the Japanese industry I'm sure you can tell everyone about the developmental athlete program better than I could. Nice to see you use your real name in addressing me for once, by the way.

Will there be blood and urine samples taken to test of HGH, PEDs, and Steroids ?

no Tsegaye Kebede? Is he injured or something? I thought the reason he didnt join the WC was because he was saving himself for Chicago!

So the "developmental" guys aren't running for "REAL"? Is that what you are saying?

We are all in a "developmental" program. 2:04 guys are trying to go 2:03, 2:11 guys are trying to go 2:09, and some of us are just trying to re-develop.

We are all on the starting line together, just trying to do our best. For REAL.

Poor Brett Larner...he's got his panties all in a knot because that darn ol' Tenmaya team is winning races again.

Come on, Jason, don't dodge the question and start hiding behind pseudonyms again. Please use your extensive knowledge of the Japanese distance running industry and Japanese psychology to explain their developmental program to send second-tier runners to overseas marathons and the nuanced distinctions they make between racing domestically, racing overseas to gain experience and racing overseas to set a fast time. I am always looking to learn more.

666EnergyDrink wrote:

Poor Brett Larner...he's got his panties all in a knot because that darn ol' Tenmaya team is winning races again.

How about that, we posted simultaneously. Really, though, Jason, I'd like to think you are a mature adult but you don't make it very easy. I can understand why you would, but it really isn't necessary to feel inadequate and resort to these sorts of meaningless, childish personal attacks. I'm just writing about what I have learned through my 2 1/2 year business relationship with the coach of one of the men who will be running Chicago as a developmental athlete. I'm fully aware that as a non-Japanese-speaking resident of Thailand you are in a position to know more about this than I do. As I have asked twice, please share your expertise on the breakdown of the larger-than-usual Japanese men's contingent at Chicago this year so that we can all learn.

I bet Chicago puts out a bunch of money for some high profile rabbits to try to help Mosop to a WR and hope that Hall will hang with him long enough to get the AR. That is probably why the field lacks the number of 2:05-7 E. Africans that it usually has.

And did any of the Japanese men miss marathons because of the earthquake? I thought there were going to be more Japanese running in the US and Europe this fall because they missed spring races.

there are still quite a few fast guys who haven't publicly committed to fall marathons yet:

Geoffrey Mutai

Emmanuel Mutai

Martin Lel

Patrick Makau

Kebede

Wilson Chebet

Wilson Kiprop

Have to expect some of the above to turn up in Chicago.