Official 2017 BMW Berlin Marathon Thread

Super excited. This, for me, is the highlight of the sporting year. Bigger than the Worlds, than the UCL final, than Mayweather vs McGreggor and even this year's rhino charge in Kenya.

I can't wait!

I'm calling it right now. Kipsang wins by 10 seconds over Kipchoge. Bekele drops at 16.

Kipsang looked so good with his CR at Tokyo earlier this year, unbeatable.

I love Adidas marketing with the sub2 shoe too. They're giving away 25 pairs but you have to be a sub-2:50 marathoner and in block A of wave 1 in Berlin.

Weather prediction at start: 57 F, coudy, 15% rain chance, 5-7 mph wind

We May Never Know wrote:

Weather prediction at start: 57 F, coudy, 15% rain chance, 5-7 mph wind

Wind is higher than ideal.

I'm very upset about the pacing. Apparently 60:45 is the pace unless it rains and then they'll shoot for 61:00.

I now am rooting for Bekele. I think it shows you how it's a tough sport. He's got the same agent as Hermens. Who is advocating on his behalf? Bekele has the better pb than Kipchoge. I'd argue - hey I'm the GOAT - I want the pacers do go out in 61:15.

I guess the difference between 61:15 and 61:00 is only 1 second per mile. I guess 61:15 and 60:45 is only 2 seconds per mile. But the fastest split ever run in a marathon ins 61:11 - by Bekele last year.

World Record in 60 degrees and 5-8mph wind? Unlikely.

Would need to be 50 degrees with 2-4mph wind. At least it's overcast.

Anyone got a link to watch for free in the US?

This is Bekele's race if they get to the half under 61:00.

So whats the move? Stay up or sleep a few hours and set a 3:00am alarm?

The race is at 8:15am local time, not 9:15 (though I have to start at 9:00 because I haven't run a marathon in 5 years, therefore this is my "first marathon", therefore I am starting in the 4:15+ group, grumble grumble).

As of now, the rain is forecast to stop by 9 but it may still be going at the start.

Anyone know the course and how sheltered it is from the prevailing wind? I don't think 57-60 is a big deal with overcast and especially if it drizzles.

Not In Ithaca wrote:

n't want to go out that fast.

"That's not my goal; that's not my plan," Bekele said before breaking into a nervous smile. He added: "Really, I want to listen to my body during the race, and what's going on. I don't want to stress myself."

Sounds like a snowflake to me.

My view is that a WR would be amazing, but the sport is essentially about competition and all these developments are really making things interesting.

We May Never Know wrote:

Anyone know the course and how sheltered it is from the prevailing wind? I don't think 57-60 is a big deal with overcast and especially if it drizzles.

Last part of course, from 30km on will be into the wind.

Personally, I think the humidity is worse than the wind, no?

Frederic0 wrote:

World Record in 60 degrees and 5-8mph wind? Unlikely.

Would need to be 50 degrees with 2-4mph wind. At least it's overcast.

Agreed. Here is the weather with temp, humidity, dewpoint, etc.... at start half and finish times.

Dewpoint mid 50s. At least cloudy.

Any idea what temps / dewpt last few WRs have been set in?

Will our man Moby have BOOTS ON THE MF GROUND?

A bit too hot

Angryjohnny wrote:

Will our man Moby have BOOTS ON THE MF GROUND?

The big question is will he just cut and paste tweets from local sportswriters or will he actually watch the race on TV

Is it possible Bekele and Kipsang won't go with the pacers and Kipchoge? That would be such a waste of a race.From Dave Monti"Just as critical is the pace itself, something upon which Bekele, Kipchoge and Kipsang apparently do not agree. Kipchoge has requested a first-half split of 1:00:45, a pace of 2:53 per kilometer, which would produce a finish time of 2:01:30 assuming a level pace. When asked about this at today's press conference, Bekele said he didn't want to go out that fast."That's not my goal; that's not my plan," Bekele said before breaking into a nervous smile. He added: "Really, I want to listen to my body during the race, and what's going on. I don't want to stress myself."Kipsang agreed, saying that 1:01:00 to 1:01:15 was fast enough. Bekele refused to say how fast he planned to go.

rojo wrote:

I'm very upset about the pacing. Apparently 60:45 is the pace unless it rains and then they'll shoot for 61:00.

I now am rooting for Bekele. I think it shows you how it's a tough sport. He's got the same agent as Hermens. Who is advocating on his behalf? Bekele has the better pb than Kipchoge. I'd argue - hey I'm the GOAT - I want the pacers do go out in 61:15.

I guess the difference between 61:15 and 61:00 is only 1 second per mile. I guess 61:15 and 60:45 is only 2 seconds per mile. But the fastest split ever run in a marathon ins 61:11 - by Bekele last year.

That's right, that isn't bekele's plan, he wants 60:00 at halfway, 60:45 is hobby jogger Mickey Mouse pu$$y sh!t

Bekele will slay the world record