Moses Mosop viewed the Rotterdam course and claimed it was the fastest course he's ever seen. I can understand him saying that over Boston since Boston is not record-eligible.
But what makes Rotterdam faster than Chicago, which Mosop has run. Aren't they both pancake flat. Are there fewer turns at Rotterdam?
What about Dubai or London or Berlin? Granted, Mosop hasn't run those.
Or is this just one person's claim since he sounds like he's in peak form?
Rotterdam is below sea level
TSA wrote:
Rotterdam is below sea level
Why would that make a difference? London is under 100ft above sea level, Berlin is a bit over 100ft, and Chicago is only at 5 or 600 feet.
It has to be the number and sharpness of turns and/or minor elevation changes.
It has to do with the responsiveness of the running surface divided by the hardness factor of the surface.
Think of the difference between running on a really nice Mondo track and an average rubber track or an asphault track.
Course sharpness and profile also make a difference.
You guys are missing one real obious factor. The weather. Check the records. Rotterdam is almost always cloudy, light rain, and between 40 and 50 degrees during the time of year of their marathon. No need to go into chicago's weather fiascos.
1. Surface of the roads - in US cities, this is often concrete, in Europe this is asphalt
2. less windy in Rotterdam than in Chicago
3. African based athletes have an easier travel to Rotterdam than to Chicago, also no jetlag
Nutella1 wrote:
1. Surface of the roads - in US cities, this is often concrete, in Europe this is asphalt
2. less windy in Rotterdam than in Chicago
3. African based athletes have an easier travel to Rotterdam than to Chicago, also no jetlag
1 and 2 yes. 3 NO. Jetlag isn't a factor going East to West.
Nutella1 wrote:
1. Surface of the roads - in US cities, this is often concrete, in Europe this is asphalt
2. less windy in Rotterdam than in Chicago
3. African based athletes have an easier travel to Rotterdam than to Chicago, also no jetlag
But what about Rotterdam vs. London or Berlin?
malmo wrote:
1 and 2 yes. 3 NO. Jetlag isn't a factor going East to West.
Just for the fun of it I just googled flights from Nairobi to Chicago. They're all around 20 hours and over night. That's a different kinda beast than if you fly London to Chicago - there I agree with you: short flight, during the day --> jetlag is not an issue.
What does that have to do with jetlag? Nairobi is still East of Chicago isn't it?
Yes but in order to get there you need to spend a night in a plane, compared to flying from Europe when you don't. Even in BIZ you never get a real good sleep. Add commute to and from airport, check-ins, immigration etc and you easily have a 30h journey...
In Rotterdam race officials ride motorbikes alongside the athletes, not in front but very close to them to one side, and exhort them to keep on pace. I think this has to be a factor.
Don't forget the treatment at US immigration chicagonery!
I don't think you know what jetlag is.
Cpc 1/2 marathon has the same features.
1. Holland has high quality asphalt roads
2. The courses are designed with the best corners and the best wind shade and aid where possible
3. The low but not to low temperature
4. There are no hills in Rotterdam
For example in Leiden or Amsterdam marathon most features are the same except for the HQ asphalt. These courses have a lot of brick roads which are slower.
I'm ashamed of the screaming race leader on his motorbike. he better backs the fock off.
This thread got me confused, holland has HQ asphalt over the US and that's why they are faster?? And whether you fly east or westward over the ocean long enough for big day differences you still have get your circadian rhythm to fight sleeping during the day on what is night for you to get on track with the new night/day eventually. If that is not called jetlag, then what's the term for that instead of jetlag?
no,
It's the combination of factors.
The biggest factor is the athlete.
Rotterdam is the "fastest" because he is doing promotional work for Rotterdam. If he was doing promo for Chicago he would be saying that is the fastest. Why anybody believes anything told to a reporter anymore is beyond me.
Regarding course records, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Dubai are faster than Rotterdam.
Maybe it is because he is getting big bucks in appearance fees and is going to make bank when he sets the world record so he has to hype up how fast he is going to run and how fast the course is in order for him and the race to get more attention. This being said I would not be surprised if he thinks it is faster than Chicago considering it will be cooler, better pacers, less wind, and the surface may be better.