Official 2017 BMW Berlin Marathon Thread

I’m going with Kipsang in 2:03.00. Bekele just misses the win in 2:03.01 for an epic comeback 2nd place finish. Kipchoge finally lays an egg after his hard performance in May, finishes in 2:04.48.

No way The Boss loses. Kipchoge in 2:02:30 FTW and the WR.

Am hoping by some miracle that when I wake at 1am, there will be a live stream (You Tube?) that I can access.

` wrote:

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.

Not one damn person on here cares about you starting in the 4:15 group. This thread isn't about you.

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.

Look out boys, Robert is getting very upset!

Prediction

Rain is factor

Rabbits lay down unrealistic pace

Big 3 all positive split race

Bekele wins in 2:04:30

Kipchoge and Kipsang close behind

Yuta "The Mental Oriental" Shitara runs an incredible 2:06 for 4th

My prediction:

The pacers do indeed hit half in very close to 61:00. Kipchoge right there. Bekele 10-20sec back. Kipsang with Bekele.

The pacers are gone at 28k!! WTF now??

Kipchoge purposely slows, Bekele and Kipsang join him by 32k.

They gentlemanly share leading over the last 10k. They are good at math and they make sure they stay AT WR pace. ie 2:02:57 pace.

The last 3k is epic. Kipsang surges first. All 3 are together with 1km to go.

Bekele wins on the last 200m.

Bekele 2:02:45.

Kipchoge 2:02:47.

Kipsang 2:02:50.

This is the truth.

Mark my words - If there is one thing that Eliud learned in Breaking 2 it is that drafting pays off. He is gonna draft in 3rd-4th until 19-20 then break off for the win. New world record 2:02:05.

My prediction:

The race goes out fast, 5k in 14:15, 10k in 28:35, by this point they will have dropped everyone but the big 3. the half is reached in 60:35-60:45, close to schedule. At this point Kipsang is leading them, they go through 30k in 1:26:10-1:26:30, however, Bekele, with the limited training he's had, has dropped out somewhere between. At this point, Kipsang and Kipchoge battle for the last 12 and a little kilometers, but with 3 to go Kipchoge uses his superior natural speed and breaks away. Kipchoge wins in 2:01:30-2:02:00,

Kipsang comes in 15-30 seconds behind.

Stay up or watch in the morning? What you got?

` wrote:

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.

Grumble grumble? You need to channel Eliud. Don't get annoyed, be happy.

The Nike Monza sub 2 was interesting;

everyone there knew Kipchoge was capable of something close...

Most importantly Kipchoge knew it.

Bekele is not a factor. Long past his prime, now forced to be clean.

Kipsang is overly confident. Hubris. Icarus stuff.

Kipchoge wins.

2:01:12

Its Egun wrote:

2:01:12

"Bartender! I'll have what he's drinking!"

rojo wrote:

Also last year Bekele got dropped early. at 28k, he was 5th.

What are you talking about? He won Berlin last year in 2:03

Bubbadeeboos wrote:

rojo wrote:

Also last year Bekele got dropped early. at 28k, he was 5th.

What are you talking about? He won Berlin last year in 2:03

London was this year and he looked BAD for a section. I don't know how he pulled it together to finish so well. Talent.

The rain has stopped.

I'm drinking a couple of beers and staying up. My only concern is waking up for east coast football in the morning... what's your plan?Rooting for Kenenisa but I think Kipchoge will set the WR.

West Coast Viewer wrote:

Stay up or watch in the morning? What you got?

Bekele FTW 2:02:35

i'm excited to see how the race plays out but i'm rooting for Kipsang. he's overdue.