Kim Smith: can she get the women's marathon world record?

Well, listening to Kim's post-NYC interview where she basically admitted the marathon is very hard for her to master, she trained superbly well and still ran 2:25. I don't think she can approach it. She has great speed, but it's not about speed, it's about rhythm and she is so poor, biomechanically, in her efficiencies that I don't see her doing better than what she has done. She is one of the hardest workers, but the marathon itself is too hard for her. It needs to come easier (look at the greats)... effortless even. Kim works and works and works, mile after mile.

Why would she? She has run 3 marathons and needs about 10 minutes. Everyone claims that she is a good half marathoner, but she is still almost 2 minutes behind the WR.

No. The answer is no. This one is easy.

She is one of the most ungainly looking runners I've seen at the elite level. Maybe it's just because she's so thin that her movements look exaggerated. At anyrate, my point is she *looks* like she is running at her limit. I do not see sub 2:20 in her future.

Only if she releases her microfissures, + improves her hip flexor flexibility and Q-angle

Not at this point because (1) she's not fast enough (for 10k), and (2) she doesn't hold her speed that well over the marathon distance.

Yes. by 2013, she will have the World Record in the women's marathon!!

I don know if she will ever get the WR. That would be an incredibly tough feat to pull off. But, since Paula Radcliffe has the current WR you can't dismiss Kim's chances simply because she looks inefficient. Paula has a very bad looking running form but she managed to run some incredible times despite it.

The women's marathon WR is gonna be tough for ANYONE to break.

I just looked over the all time list and wonder why you would think Kim Smith would ever hold this record?

There are over 330 women who are ahead of her on the list. Granted, many of them are no longer competing, but the point is, she's not even close.

when she breaks 2h20 this can become a discussion. Until then it is just silly. Flanagan will break the WR before Kim Smith, and I don't believe that she is capable of that either.

If I was betting money on the outcome, I'd say that even Liliya Shobukhova isn't going to get the world record.

The real question here is why does the OP even start this thread?

Yes, she can. Of course it is hard to do. Becoming the best there every was is hard to do. It is even possible that no one will ever break the women's world record for the marathon, however, someone will win the next available Olympic Marathon. Kim Smith would be a better bet for that. Even better for a medal, and better yet to eventually break 2:20.

Tom

Inhave not looked up the all time list but there is no way that 300 women are ahead of her on the all time list.

Yes...yes she is. I'll admit it I've totally got speed goggles on for her.

no way! She is a great runner and all..However, she has too many mechanical flaws... The distance will constantly beat her up....not her fault just a genectic thing...

she is 143rd on the performer list.

she is 353 on the performance list.

meaning there are 142 women who have a better personal best than her.

of the 142 woman that have run faster than her some have run faster than her personal best multiple times, so she has the 353rd fastest performance.

kist a sidenote kim smith is the 4th fastest marathoner in new zealand, behind 3 men, the top guy runs 2:16, the 2nd guy runs 2:23 and the 3rd guy runs 2:24.53.

how the mighty have fallen new zealand national record for over 40 is 2:11 and for over 50 is 2:20, a country that once produced rod dixon, dick quax, kenin ryan, peter snell etc.

now only has kim smith and nick willis as elite runners, very sad, blincoe was decent, but is washed up, props to the youngsters jake and zane robertson for making the extra effort to give new zealand running fans some hope

should have worded it better, blincoe is not washed up , but he has not gotten within 3 seconds of his 1500 time in 7-8 years or 8 seconds of his 5000 best in 2-3 years.

Paula record is fake. 2:23:46 is not 2:15:25.