Are we witnessing the death of the marathon?

We just had a world record and now a race which was one of the fastest ever, and this one was in the States.

Boston a couple of years ago had the fastest marathon in any condition.

The top American marathoners are generally improved over the past.

Participation is high.

Yesterday's winner got $175,000.

Death?

In the days of Tergat, Khannouchi and Lel, no one was complaining about the sport dying. The E. Africans made the sport seem like a truly international sport and brought a lot of energy to the sport by breaking records.

I think for US runners, it has been all psychological. Ryan Hall ran right with the best E. Africans in the world in London and just fell of the pace late in the race to finish in 2:06. After that race, everyone thought that a US runner would finally bridge the gap. But, Ryan hall has struggled mightily since then. Had Hall been able to break 2:06 and win a major marathon, US runners would be able to say "hey, if he can do it. . . " Instead, everyone looks at Hall and thinks "that was the best we had, and he crashed and burned."

Maybe Rupp will make the transition and win a major marathon. Until someone can bridge the gap, US runners will just be targeting US trials qualifying times and Olympic A standards.

Kemboi is the only Kenyan with an identity due the fact that he actually has a hairstyle.

We need to permanently assign one specific accessory to each Kenyan.

Kenyan #1 - Big red mustache

Kenyan #2 - Afro

Kenyan #3 - Over-sized sunglasses

Kenyan #4 - Spock ears

Kenyan #5 - Hairy chest

Kenyan #6 - Always runs naked

Kenyan #7 - Dreadlocks

Kenyan #8 - Cowboy hat

When a Kenyan retires, their accessory will be assigned to a new Kenyan, and that new Kenyan will be required to take the name of the previous owner of said accessory.

it does seem like every Kenyan has the same shaved, bald head with no style.

The Kenyans actually do have names and are individuals, rather than clones or cookie-cutter products. For some reason...gee, what could it be?...they don't interest you enough for you to determine these facts.Xenophobic at best and most likely racist. People might lose interest in the marathon in the US and if enough races go to American-only prize money or something similar, then there will be a ton of formerly top-flight races won in 2:11ish while European races feature the best talent in the planet.America...where we want to see the BEST compete (as long as they're American).

yawn...here come the clones wrote:

Countless no-name cookie-cutter africans running sub-2:05. At every marathon a new nameless clone comes out of the woodwork and wins it. At some point nobody will give a shit anymore about the marathon at the elite level.

No, Michael Phelps and Lance were famous because they were white Americans that won and broke records. Nobody in America remembers the Chinese swimmers that won or the European cyclists that won. If a native-born white American dominated the track repeatedly, like a Phelps or Armstrong, he would become famous.

Cracker jacker wrote:

Michael Phelps and Lance were famous because they won, not cause they're white. No one would know who Phelps is if he didn't have that amazing Olympics in 2008. I don't think anyone knew him before all his gold medals.

Raysism wrote:

Ryan Hall, god love him, has no personality and no charisma. But he is white. If you're suggesting that more people would be interested in the big marathons if they were won by white people, I can't disagree. Look at how popular Michael Phelps, Lance Armstrong, et. al. are.

I'm not gonna claim that racism does not exist but for how popular Phelps or Armstrong are/were Tiger and Mike are/were ten times more popular.

Jerry Seinfeld, when asked if he's going to watch the marathon:

"What's to see? A woman from Norway, a guy from Kenya and 20,000 losers."

Um.... wrote:

The Kenyans actually do have names and are individuals, rather than clones or cookie-cutter products. For some reason...gee, what could it be?...they don't interest you enough for you to determine these facts.

Xenophobic at best and most likely racist.

People might lose interest in the marathon in the US and if enough races go to American-only prize money or something similar, then there will be a ton of formerly top-flight races won in 2:11ish while European races feature the best talent in the planet.

America...where we want to see the BEST compete (as long as they're American).

The problem with this is "the best" are not brought out, certainly not the American best. There's an economic disparity created by prize money. More talent is drawn out of Africa and other poor countries because of it. Change how money is distributed and you might actually get 10-20 guys who are better than Ritz and on par with the current top Africans.

Most people I know have favorable opinions of east africans but hate african americans. I don't think being east african hurts at all.

Tommy2Nuttz wrote:

Being white didn't hurt them. Being a black African does. And thats the realities of life.

Very, very few people in middle class America has any understanding or appreciation of where the Africans come from and how hard they work to make it to the levels they do.

Do you really think Kimmeto walked off his farm and jogged a few miles and won Chicago? You think he didn't train as hard as Mosop or Kitwara or Hall or Ritz? Then whats the problem?

I'm thrilled he won, because hes a fantastic runner. Period.

I think it is totally misguided for anyone to blame the Kenyans for making the marathon boring. On the one hand, I agree that to me it is boring to have marathon after marathon that is run the same way, with a bunch of amazingly fit guys hanging on to WR pace as long as they can, and the last guy to drop is the winner. And yes, it is true that to the likes of me, all the Kipchoges and Cheruiyots and Kembois and Kiplagats and Kipkembois all kind of run together after a while.

But that's not their fault! I'm sure we are just as "boring" and "clonish" to them. And just because they don't come across like pro wrestlers when they are interviewed by TV reporters doesn't really mean they are boring. I think it's just cultural differences. Think about it: if some farmboy from the US Midwest left the ranch at age 25 and went off and became a 2:03 marathoner and won 2 majors a couple of years later, the LetsRun message boards would never shut up about him. It would be like Jordan Hasay squared. Cubed even. It wouldn't really matter if they were a "boring" interview, because we would have enough in common with them to understand them better and make them more interesting in our minds.

So my feeling is, basically, yeah, watching time trial marathons is not the greatest spectacle in the world (although I do like it somewhat, being a hardcore running junkie). But I have nothing but admiration for the guys doing it. These fellows are studs! And I at least like the idea of desperate, dirt poor people training themselves silly so they can win a small fortune with their talent. After all, what is not to admire about that?

Many people including me and my friends have already stopped watching these races. It just adds nothing to excitement. These "clones" don't come with hot girlfriends that are going to be on US Weekly or something.

Have a look here at Rich Fronings lady. Ever seen a runner carry a lady around like that? No? Because they can't.

http://www.playerwives.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/rich-fronings-wife-hillary-froning-twitter.jpeg

yawn...here come the clones wrote:

Countless no-name cookie-cutter africans running sub-2:05. At every marathon a new nameless clone comes out of the woodwork and wins it. At some point nobody will give a shit anymore about the marathon at the elite level.

I agree- I remember back in the 80's when Rotterdam and Boston and NY and Chicago and even LA were on live TV.

The lead pack was diverse from the USA, Kenya, Tanzania, etc and some European nations- Brit, France, Poland, Belgium, Portugal, Italy and on and on.

Now, it's a group of Kenyans with an American or two just off the back of the pack.

YAWN.

well... I guess she's attractive, but the five o'clock shadow and the tongue thing is a bit of a turn off. Not really sure how this supports your argument. Now the other two ladies she is with, one of them I could handle.

runn wrote:

Now, it's a group of Kenyans with an American or two just off the back of the pack.

YAWN.

And the American who is running it (Ritzen Heim) doesn't really look American either. Americans are tough and muscular. Since 1776.

Would you take the one with or without the weird tooth/gum imbalance?

5ive O'Clock Shadoe wrote:

well... I guess she's attractive, but the five o'clock shadow and the tongue thing is a bit of a turn off. Not really sure how this supports your argument. Now the other two ladies she is with, one of them I could handle.

People are actually posting that black people all look the same and have no identity. I recon that is about as ridiculous as saying all white people look the same.

lets run news gives great race prieviews and they know who all the athletes are. I think the racists on here do not know much about running in the modern world.

you wacth Kiopsang in the Berlin Marathon running the last 10km its an amazing running motion to view perfect rythm and fitness.

How is he just another clone? just part of a very talented group of athletes from 1 country.

Hold on cowboys! There is one thing that you guys don't seem to get! It's a cultural thing.

When you are talking to somebody, in western you have to keep an engaged eye contact. Back in Africa, you don't keep a conversation staring at someone'eyes unless you are in power position over that person.

Have you noticed what kimetto did when the guy shook hands with him after the interview? Nope because you don't get the culture!

Kimetto joined his both hands accepting the congratulations, meaning he owed the upmost respect to those talking to him.

Short answers: this is sign of respect. If I invite you over my house, i am in position of power. I will (karibisha) receive you, give you some food, something to drink, take time to ask if you are ok...after a while, i will let you know that you can talk freely because now i don't consider you a stranger anymore. You're part of family. Now you can say whatever you want but before that, if you speak too much, i will see as arrogant and badly brought up, i might not invite you next time. One of the popular proverbs say ''Mwenye kelele hana neno'' meaning A noisy person is harmless or talking too much is like saying nothing.

We say that Kimya kingi kina mshindo mkubwa, meaning great silence has a great power!

Soft spoken: again respect. Unless you are in position of power, if you soft speak people will listen to you but if you are too loud, then people will perceive you as arrogant.

In contrast,a journalist ask kimetto if it's okay if somebody goes on to visit him back in Kenya that's different. He will be the one receiving. He will come to pick you up at airport, he will show where he lives, where he runs, his family, he will show his farm, training partners, all his story, you won't even have to ask for anything, he will tell you before you ask. The family will prepare the best food for you. They will let stay in their home. He will give you details about his races!! But right after a race, he is the guest, it's not time to talk.

Ever wandered why Geb let flotrack guys into his mansion, or kipsang in his hotel, lornah in her camp??

Guess what I would find it weird if the africans behave differently! That's just how they were brought up! Never wandered the eye contact thing too? Try to stare a lion in their eyes you will soon find out who is the king! And this has been going for centuries!

Some other things that most of you seem to forget, 80% of the athletes in long distance are either in the police, or the army. It's a very strict environment. How was the weather today? The weather was good sir!

For very few, it's a language barrier, most of them speak 3-4languages. They speak English only with mzungus or meetings at work (if they are in power). If I ask questions in spanish since spanish is the second language in states, most of you will keep it short too! You think Kimetto speak English with his teammates or neighbours? He is no poet, he is a runner for christ'sake. He is a doer not a talker If not he would be at Churchill show! If you to know him, act like it then! He just told you he was sick back in July, go visit him and get to know him! That's just real life man! You seem to live a virtual one!

For instance a virtual media work is not his, so there is some lazy journalism here!

That was interesting. Much more interesting than the libturds who label everyone a racist.