2015 London Marathon men's elite field is amazing - greatest ever?

London easily the Wimbledon or Tour de France of marathons. I'd rank Berlin a distant second with Boston, New York and Chicago fighting it out for third.

Lets hope everyone doesn't focus too much on it being a World record attempt. I'd much prefer to see a decent race between all the top runners.

sub02:30:00orbust wrote:

Lets hope everyone doesn't focus too much on it being a World record attempt. I'd much prefer to see a decent race between all the top runners.

You guys are a trip:D. Everyone complains about all the slow tactical races on the track but they also complain about these guys taking a shot at the world record in the marathon.

I think Kipsang would have broke the previous WR in London last year if he tried and Geb didn't roll out the first 5k at a ridiculous pace. On the right day, London is a WR course in my opinion. If you want to see a group race, watch Boston.

GOAT!

"Kipsang vs Kimetto vs Bekele vs Kipchoge"

I think you should add Mutai there. Second fastest ever and one of only three men to have run twice under 2:04.

Great field, I was just thinking about who else you could add?

Firstly, where is Tsegaye Kebede? He has been awesome in London, twice champion and numerous other podiums.

Geoffrey Mutai - heading back to Boston?

Feyisa Lilesa - Boston?

Also I would've liked to see Geoffrey Kamrowor run in London. I still think he can run a fantastic marathon. Maybe is is concentrating on the half marathon world record this year?

While in Ethiopia, I heard thatTsegaye Kebede is running Tokyo next month..

bekele is running dubai

ledfgthj wrote:

bekele is running dubai

And London. There's 3 months between them.

That would make good sense for me, gives him more time to recover and get ready for the world champs (if he gets picked). I think his disappointing run in Berlin last year is just a blip.

I'd be very surprised if there is a world record set in London. It always gets billed as a WR attempt because of the fields it attracts but they rarely get anywhere near.

Having run it twice I would say that's because there's quite a downhill section in the first few miles which is more hindrance than help - everybody goes too fast, and it places more stress on the quads at an early stage. The final few miles along the Thames often has quite strong breeze off the river, too.

It looks a great line-up though, particularly good to see Bekele mixing it up with the WR crowd.

I agree, I live in London and this year will be running my 10th London Marathon. It is a quick course but there are faster courses out there. The course gets very twisty between halfway and 35k and this is where the elite fields seem to lose the time.

Anyone going to stick their neck out and pick a winner? I like Eliud Kipchoge. Don't give Bekele much of a sniff as I don't think 13 weeks is long enough to recover from a hard marathon in Dubai then prepare to race against this field. I think he is turning up for a nice payday.

seriously brah wrote:

ledfgthj wrote:

bekele is running dubai

And London. There's 3 months between them.

One month to recover, two weeks tapering leaves 6 weeks for training. It may be enough for him to run 2:05-2:06 but he is not going to be able to be a factor.

I predict DNS.

I suspect London is Bekele's main target and that it's Dubai he's doing for the cash - given that's pretty soon after Chicago too, I suspect he'll run that (Dubai) at 90%. He wants selection for Rio 2016 so needs to put down a big marker among the very best.

But I might be biased as a long-term fan. I'd love to see him do something special.

londoner wrote:

I suspect London is Bekele's main target and that it's Dubai he's doing for the cash - given that's pretty soon after Chicago too, I suspect he'll run that (Dubai) at 90%. He wants selection for Rio 2016 so needs to put down a big marker among the very best.

But I might be biased as a long-term fan. I'd love to see him do something special.

Yeah, that's the most likely scenario in my mind too.

They need that Mongolian dude in the race. Ryan Hall would also be a great addition to the entry list.

You jest !!!!! obviously a troll Ryan Hall would finish over one mile behind the top 3

Good news for the Americans in Boston. Who's left out of the heavy hittes? G Mutai, Desisa and Kamwoar (sp?)? Boston usually isn't the place for an out-of nowhere runner, like some of the mid majors like Dubai, Fukuka, or Frankfurt...

Although there is an official IAAF World Championships in Beijing this year, the real championship race for the marathon will take place in London in April. I suppose that London has come to be what Fukuoka used to be: the yearly de facto marathon world championships.

What an amazing field. Just staggeringly talented and deep, a true dream matchup for all distance running fans.