Official 2017 Frankfurt Marathon Thread - How will the NAZ Elite's Matt Llano, Scott Fauble and Smith do?

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I think NAZ Elite is really great for our sport. They give a ton of really solid athletes the chance to keep the pro dream alive and make it really easy to follow/support them. They tend to do previews like this for a lot of their races plus all their training logs are online to view for free. Ever want to see what a 2:12 guy or 2:28 woman does their entire buildup to a marathon? NAZ Elite lets you in on that. Hoping to see some solid times out of their 3 guys running. The preview said Aaron Braun's 2:13 in Chicago has him at 8th on the US list in 2017. Let's see if any of these 3 can crack the top-10!

he’s not only toeing the line but he’s doing so in PR shape. His workouts seemed to take a serious turn for the better these past eight weeks and that includes three long marathon pace efforts on Lake Mary Rd at 7,000ft (a 14 miler, a 16 miler and another 14 miler) where he averaged 5:15 pace, 5:13 pace and 5:13 pace again. Those efforts, combined with steady 120-mile weeks and a number of other high-level sessions suggest he’s in at least the same form as his 2:12:28 PR set in Berlin in 2015.

I'm rooting for Matt. I feel like he's very underrated being right at that border of elite and sub-elite. I think those long runs might be a little short, but it was @ alt. Who knows, I hope he PR's after his injury troubles and his dedication.

Vivian is still learning the marathon, but she recently tweeted that she is in 2:20 shape.

She ran 2:23 in the london marathon, which was her marathon debut. She was dropped very early as

Mary K went out at a suicidal pace to break the all women's marathon record, with Dibaba chasing her. It was

a terrible race to make her debut in, due to the pace being so intense at an early stage.

In Frankfurt, she can relax and just focus on running a top time. I wouldn't be surprised if she goes 2:19.

Also, I had no idea that she was 34 years old. She is basically the same age as Mary K., and 2 years older than

Dibaba. She is definitely a late comer, and it is going to be quite interesting to see if she can improve, and

how long can she run the marathon at a top level. Mary K is 35,and will probably run at a high level for the next

2 years or so. Edna Kipligat is 37, and even though she won Boston, I think she has regressed a little. She

couldn't pull away at the World Championships, allowing Rose Chelimo to beat her. However, she is still an elite marathoner,

and probably has one more big marathon win in her.

If Vivian can get her time down to 2:18, then the big 2 ( mary and dibaba) will have some company, and, hopefully, we will see some outstanding battles.

My Top 5

1. Mary K

2. Dibaba

____________________

3. Cherono

4. E Kipligat

5. S Chepchirchir

They're going to kill it. Good luck guys!

The IAAF preview is out with a focus on Cheruiyot.

Here are the elites listed in the IAAF article. The Americans don't even make the cut..

Men

Getu Feleke (ETH) 2:04:50

Mark Korir (KEN) 2:05:49

Martin Kosgei (KEN) 2:07:22

Shure Kitata Tola (ETH) 2:07:28

Kelkile Gezahegn (ETH) 2:07:29

Henryk Szost (POL) 2:07:39

Arne Gabius (GER) 2:08:33

Mark Lokwanamoi (KEN) 2:08:39

Afewerk Mesfin (ETH) 2:09:49

Raymond Chemungor (KEN) 2:10:06

Jared Shegumo (POL) 2:10:34

Abdelhadi El Hachimi (BEL) 2:10:35

William Ngelel (KEN) 2:10:50

Artur Kozlowski (POL) 2:10:58

Women

Feyse Tadese (ETH) 2:20:27

Yebrqual Melese (ETH) 2:22:51

Merima Mohammed (BRN) 2:23:06

Guteni Shone (ETH) 2:23:32

Abebech Afework (ETH) 2:23:33

Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:23:50

Meskerem Assefa (ETH) 2:24:18

Fate Tola (GER) 2:25:14

Sara Hall (USA) 2:28:26

Katharina Heinig (GER) 2:28:34

https://www.iaaf.org/news/preview/frankfurt-marathon-2017-cheruiyot

The race is at 5 am ET as Daylight savings just ended in Europe tonight. Initially, some thought it was at 4 am ET.

Anyway, I'm turning it into a prediction thread for Vivian.

So what do you all think Cheruiyot will run? 5 global titles on the track and a 2:23:50 in her debut in London.

I'm going 2:19:17. If you think any of the Americans will have a great one chime in as well.

wejo wrote:

The race is at 5 am ET as Daylight savings just ended in Europe tonight. Initially, some thought it was at 4 am ET.

Anyway, I'm turning it into a prediction thread for Vivian.

So what do you all think Cheruiyot will run? 5 global titles on the track and a 2:23:50 in her debut in London.

I'm going 2:19:17. If you think any of the Americans will have a great one chime in as well.

2:18:39 and one American under 2:12:00.

I say 2:20:08 for Cheruiyot and Scott Smith as first American in 2:12:36.

I want to say faster, but I just don't believe that a 16 mile fast "long run" is gonna get you there.

Don't expect great things. Dry and not too warm, but very windy in Frankfurt today. Most of the first half will be run into a headwind.

Szost a white guy with a 2:07 best, why have I never heard of him?

I think that race was a fluke

Let's go Vivian. But I think 2:20 asking a little too much.

yyy wrote:

I think that race was a fluke

No such thing as a fluke in the marathon. Good and bad days? Yes. But flukes? No.

And they're off. I like this marathon but I hate the way it ends indoors.

Fast times not expected. Visibly windy and they're currently running into it.

Tiny Vivian has already separated herself from the other women barely visible as she's hidden by the men pacing her and the sub elites who compete with the women's leaders. Plus for her as she's completely shielded from the wind.

Is there an English language feed available in the US? I am watching the German feed.

Vivian went through 5k in 15:25, btw.

Men's lead pack down to seven Kenyans and Ethiopians already with one Kenyan barely hanging on.