Will Coolsaet break Drayton's Canadian Marathon Record this weekend?

Right now they're calling for 40km/h winds from the West. Last 10km will be going directly into that wind. That will make for a very tough finish. But I sure hope he can do it!

It might rain as well. Hoping Wykes and Coolsaet both go for it and we end up with two guys under 2:10 at the end of it. I would hope for the others to be there too, but Gillis said he's just going for standard and I don't think Watson or Loiselle are there yet.

I'm betting Kangogo goes for the win and course record and ends up around 2:08-2:10 as well.

Gosh, I hope so, but if the weather is anything like today, I don't think it will be possible.

Agree, I live along the course near lakeshore and it is crazy windy right now - can't imagine it is going to be a fast day.

If I'm trying to get the Olympic standard, would it not make sense to be a late scratch on Sunday siting an injury (but really due to the tough weather conditions forecasted)and reorganize for another event, where the conditions may be better than 40KM headwinds?

I obviously say this because the standard is pretty tough to get even in ideal conditions...

NOT A CHANCE AND I HAVE SAID THAT SINCE ALAN CHANGED THE RACE DATE! I CANT FIGUE OUT WHY ALAN WOULD CHOOSE A DATE THAT HAS HAD NOTHING BUT SHIT WEATHER THE PAST 10 YEARS! AS WELL 63:13 AND 29:35 ARENT GOOD INDICTATIONS OF ANYTHING BETTER THAN 2:12...BEST OF LUCK,REID...YOU WILL GET IT, BUT NOT 2 DAYS FROM NOW!

No, but Reid Coolsaet is one of the better names on the running circuit.

29:35? He's run 27:56.

I have to agree, September is way more predictable weather wise, the race date should never have been changed... Why was it? Any speculation what the back up plan for these runners is if they don't make it this weekend?

If the wind is a factor and it starts to look like they won't make standard it would not surprise any of us to see them DNF fairly early on in the race to save themselves for a better opportunity...

When Simon pulled out he said he was going to do Fukuoka instead. I could see the others doing that too. How cool would it be if Reid broke Drayton's record there?

Br wrote:

If the wind is a factor and it starts to look like they won't make standard it would not surprise any of us to see them DNF fairly early on in the race to save themselves for a better opportunity...

I hope so - a marathon is too much effort to do without purpose.

Just back from a run along The Beach. 10km/hr wind West-> East. Its supposed to die down by tomorrow, but we'll see...

BT wrote:

NOT A CHANCE AND I HAVE SAID THAT SINCE ALAN CHANGED THE RACE DATE! I CANT FIGUE OUT WHY ALAN WOULD CHOOSE A DATE THAT HAS HAD NOTHING BUT SHIT WEATHER THE PAST 10 YEARS! AS WELL 63:13 AND 29:35 ARENT GOOD INDICTATIONS OF ANYTHING BETTER THAN 2:12...BEST OF LUCK,REID...YOU WILL GET IT, BUT NOT 2 DAYS FROM NOW!

Didn't he finish right behind Ryan Hall in that 63:13?

yes he did but he also beat ryan by 90 seconds in the nyc half in march...do you think he could run 2:04:55/2:08:05 as hall has done since??? and he hasnt broke 28:45 in 3 years.i really hope he does it,but the weather will have to be perfect as will the pacemakers.

I hope he has a great run but I think the weather will stifle any record attempt. I'm in south-central Michigan and our weather is usually a day or two ahead of what my family in Toronto sees. Past couple of days here have been cool with blustery strong winds--headed your way, hosers.

Good luck, Reid. Is Gillis still running? He's a dark horse for the record, too.

I'll throw my vote in for Kangogo; I live in Alberta and have done a few races with him; he can kick serious a$$.

Of the 15 marathons I've run, Waterfront is the worst. The only nice part of the course was The Beaches, and the people of Toronto were so pissed that there was a race interrupting their traffic, instead of coming out to support the race like many of the US races I've done. Maybe with the new Vancouver course, the fast guys will try to break the Canadian record there instead. WAY better city in general.

Re: the date change, mid-October is a far better choice, on average, than late Sept. I ran seriously on the roads in Toronto from the late 80s to the early 00s, and mid-October typically produces the best weather for the longer races. It used be to the date for the old Toronto HM--- which, in spite of being a loop course with a big hill in the middle, produce quite a few times in the 1:02-04 range. Late September, particularly these days, is more likely to deliver heat and humidity. Alan made the correct call with the date change, and time will bear him out.

Hope for the best with the winds, boys, and be smart!

oner wrote:

If the wind is a factor and it starts to look like they won't make standard it would not surprise any of us to see them DNF fairly early on in the race to save themselves for a better opportunity...

Obviously not everyone is aware of the amount of promotion both the race organizers and the top participants have put into this particular event. Both sides have too much invested for the fast Canadians to make a token appearance and bail at the first opportunity.