Radcliffe's marathon world record invalidated

RIDICULOUS. What a load of crap. That's maybe the most impressive distance world record ever set. She didn't have female pacemakers because there are about 3 women who could have run those half SPLITS, and they were probably behind her in the race.

this is retarded

how does the gender of the rabbit affect the racer's performance? it's not even 100% certain that rabbit's affect the racer's performance.

I think this is fair.

No one can take that incredible performance away from Paula, but unless you are going to allow all women to do that, you have to put an asterist next to that performance.

Over the last 5 years, women have run incredible times in the 5k;, 10k...half marathon, but yet they rarely run under 2:20 for a marathon. 2:17 is an incredible performance, 2:15 is almost unattainable, no one is even going to attempt it. Unless you think Paula is from another planet, you have to conclude her 2:15 performance was enchanced.

TrackCoach wrote:

I think this is fair.

No one can take that incredible performance away from Paula, but unless you are going to allow all women to do that, you have to put an asterist next to that performance.

Over the last 5 years, women have run incredible times in the 5k;, 10k...half marathon, but yet they rarely run under 2:20 for a marathon. 2:17 is an incredible performance, 2:15 is almost unattainable, no one is even going to attempt it. Unless you think Paula is from another planet, you have to conclude her 2:15 performance was enchanced.

Total BS. The astrix should go next to the Girls-only best time. Paula's time should stand. Why should men be allowed to use rabits, but woman not?

Seriously? How does an organization change the rules for records after the fact? With all of the new tackling rules in football, will they no longer count the old records?

If a guy ran a 2:02 running in the slipstream of a car the whole time, would you count it as a world record?

She RAN the god damn thing. So what? Haile had 6 pacesetters around him blocking wind when he set the records and thats fine...but Paula cant run with some guys? She wasnt even drafting like Haile, but if she was so what...Now if they can prove she did drugs thats different. This might be the greatest distance record ever set. Period.

little mac wrote:

If a guy ran a 2:02 running in the slipstream of a car the whole time, would you count it as a world record?

No. If a man running in the slipstream of a man the whole time, would you count it as a world record? Why yes, that's how it's done.

any record run with a pacer should be discredited then.

the faster you are going, the more effect a pacer has on you.

this is complete BS.

I think this is poetic justice since Paula spent her career accusing other athletes of performance enhancement without evidence and made a big scene of it. Now Paula's performance enhanced record will be removed from the books. If she had any integrity she would endorse this decision since she is still the world record holder. Let me predict that she will be howling about the unfairness of it...

bangalangadanga wrote:

any record run with a pacer should be discredited then.

the faster you are going, the more effect a pacer has on you.

this is complete BS.

I agree. But how do you distinguish between a pacer and a racer?

little mac wrote:

If a guy ran a 2:02 running in the slipstream of a car the whole time, would you count it as a world record?

Did Geb not have male pacemakers for the majority of his WR?

Robbie87 wrote:

She RAN the god damn thing. So what? Haile had 6 pacesetters around him blocking wind when he set the records and thats fine...but Paula cant run with some guys? She wasnt even drafting like Haile, but if she was so what...Now if they can prove she did drugs thats different. This might be the greatest distance record ever set. Period.

I’ve said this before.

The organisers did Paula no favours that day, she herself was dubious about the arrangement.

In the race itself, the pacemakers were naturally not too clear as to the actual time they should be running and how fast a female could run the marathon course - so they appeared to often slow down, then speed up.

And at times, they actually seemed to be getting in her way.

Paula is at her best out front running on her own - and on that day, her form was such - on her own, she might have run even faster.

RuPaul wrote:

bangalangadanga wrote:

any record run with a pacer should be discredited then.

the faster you are going, the more effect a pacer has on you.

this is complete BS.

I agree. But how do you distinguish between a pacer and a racer?

That is a good point. For one thing, RDs would not be allowed to hire pacers. I guess it would be easy enough to get around that rule but isn't there already a 'fair competition' rule (or something to the effect)?

In my opinion the biggest travesty is the back dating of the rule and invalidating WRs that were set following the rules in place at the time. I'm not against having rules and requirements for setting a WR but that is BS.

Who cares about Paula wrote:

Is that you, Alanis?

Yeah, retroactively removed the record of one of running's best, most honorable athletes is criminal. If you're gonna retroactively change results, how about stripping a few medals from the East German cheats, like Cierpinski, and giving them to their RIGHTFUL recipients.

In track, no female can have a male pacer...

It's the same exact thing. Aren't many girls who can run 14:20 5k's, let alone split that...plenty of college boys who can. Why not let those boys pace track races?

I don't think Paula's time should count because I don't think it was a "clean" performance if you know what I mean. I don't really think the gender of pacers should matter.

Now remove all Chinese mid-distance records. Or East Germany records, or Iron Curtain records, or American recorders like Flo-jo, Kevin Young, Randy Barnes...)

Oh, wait!