Bernard Lagat Making His Half Marathon Debut at NYC Half

11 time All-American in XC?

I really didn't expect him to jump up to the half mary but I can't say I'm not exited. If the half goes well then maybe he would try to do the 10000 this year or next.

wejo wrote:

Surprised no one has chimed in on this as the press release went out over an hour ago.

This is amazing. Rupp has ZERO chance against Lagat in the 5000 in Moscow this summer. And at WCs he won't be able to DUCK him.

By Rio 2016, Lagat will be beating Rupp at both 5 and 10.

NYC isn't that fast of a course, right? Lagat always looks so smooth when he runs - it will be interesting to see if he can hold on to the big names brought in. I know who I'd bet on to win the last .1m.

Wow. I always thought Lagat would retire without ever moving up to the longer stuff. Very exciting though.

Whoa I think I just jizzed in my pants on this news.

Yes he is a low-mileage guy and the shift from 1500 to 5000 seems totally plausible after so many years of 1500 work, but I'm not sure it will translate to 10,000+ but then again he's Lagat. Maybe this is an over-distance race so he can be ready for the 10,000?

About Rupp, I don't see him as 'ducking' at all. For one, he only ran the race last time because that 10,000 in New Zealand got cancelled. For another, maybe he will run it, but I have no expectation of him to.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

This is amazing. Rupp has ZERO chance against Lagat in the 5000 in Moscow this summer. And at WCs he won't be able to DUCK him.

By Rio 2016, Lagat will be beating Rupp at both 5 and 10.

0/10

1:03 at the very best, likely DNF.

Whoa I think I just jizzed in my pants on this news.

Yes he is a low-mileage guy and the shift from 1500 to 5000 seems totally plausible after so many years of 1500 work, but I'm not sure it will translate to 10,000+ but then again he's Lagat. Maybe this is an over-distance race so he can be ready for the 10,000?

About Rupp, I don't see him as 'ducking' at all. For one, he only ran the race last time because that 10,000 in New Zealand got cancelled. For another, we don't know, maybe he will run it, but I have no expectation of him to.

A couple of things to keep in mind here:

(1) Lagat DOES run that far. He just doesn't do it often. I recall him doing 14 miles in 75 minutes after his fall break in 2011. And that's about as "slow" as he ever goes.

(2) Lagat does two annual 10-week cycles, each of which start with longer stuff and end with shorter stuff, and then comp for a while. Many of his longer intervals are NOT done on a track. So it actually wouldn't be that on usual for him to do a long, hard run on the roads sometime in March.

Lagat takes a short break after the indoor comp phase, but given that there's no indoors this year, the half actually might fit into his training style.

No doubt he'll get a pile of money to run.

probably. due his loss of leg velocity speed over extended distances, I fear he cannot match his track results.

I hear he is only going to run the first half. Scouting the course to be ready for the full distance NEXT YEAR!

Lagat FTW 59:20 with a 4:05 last mile.

How did Lagat manage to be an 11 time All-American in XC? Was he in college for 11 years?

tom waits wrote:

11 time All-American in XC?

Maybe that should have been II

He was a 2 time all-american in XC. 11 times in track and XC.

statingtheo wrote:

I hear he is only going to run the first half. Scouting the course to be ready for the full distance NEXT YEAR!

So he'll do a half half marathon this year and a full half marathon next year?

So the full half is 13.1 mi

The full mile is 1609 m

The full half mile is 880 y

coach d wrote:

Lagat takes a short break after the indoor comp phase, but given that there's no indoors this year, the half actually might fit into his training style.

Huh? Lagat just ran an AR at two miles.

The course does a big loop of the park and then goes along the Hudson all the way to the finish pretty much. The first half is rolling and the second half is pancake flat/slightly downhill. The net is downhill (~70 ft). I believe the year Rupp ran it there was a nice tailwind, although that might not hold true for other years. In general the course is on the easier side of things.

How much is he getting paid? That is all that matters.