The London Marathon has now become a game of who can blow up the least after going out at suicide pace. Just have the pacers go out at an even 1:02:30 for halfway, that way lots of guys are still in it and we can have 10 or so guys duking it out at the end.
Get rid of pacers- make it a race. The assemble a great field every year and it's a disappointment because they don't set a world record.
Racing is more exciting than records.
Disagree. Great race.
Except for 2 years ago when kipchoge almost got the wr....
I would love to know how much London pays in appearance fees -
Kipchoge, Bekele, Farah, Adola, among the other names - that had to be a lot of money right there. At least a million, right? Kipchoge must be able to get 350+, with more incentives if he breaks the records.
All that money spent to create a field that could chase the world record.
And yet - all of it wasted because the pacers go out so hard at the start. Neither of the races were exciting. There was no lead pack that lasted more than what, 1/2 the race? The biggest news from the day will be that Keitany crashed, Farah held on to a suicidal first half to break the national record, and that's about it. Kipchoge winning is great. but it wasn't in any special kind of time for him, and it was the expected result.
Maybe one day we'll see the WR broken. But I much more enjoy seeing NY, Chicago, Boston, and the other races that focus on the competition itself.
London has become a circus.
At the front of the field chasing the WR. Couldn't believe it when I tuned in and they'd put male pacers into the womens race to try and get a WR.
At the back of the field another 2 hours of charity runners, fancy dress, people getting married on route, and stories of people who've lost 14-stone and become a runner.
Its changed wrote:
London has become a circus.
^^^ Yep, unfortunately... Makes less and less want to run it. Besides, it is crazy difficult to get in if you aren't UK citizen or super fast...
The only good news was that Kipchoge wore normal shorts and didn't have anything untucked. He looked like a real runner, not the hybrid derivative image we've been seeing recently (Mo Farah today).
And I think Kitata may have set the healstriking world record, I'm still verifying. All is good!
a few questions wrote:
Maybe one day we'll see the WR broken. But I much more enjoy seeing NY, Chicago, Boston, and the other races that focus on the competition itself.
I respectfully agree.
Even with the slower times, the 2018 Boston was more interesting than the 2018 London Marathon.
Well, if today's women's race had not been a record attempt, the finishing results would - I'm sure - have been very different.
no filter wrote:
a few questions wrote:
Maybe one day we'll see the WR broken. But I much more enjoy seeing NY, Chicago, Boston, and the other races that focus on the competition itself.
I respectfully agree.
Even with the slower times, the 2018 Boston was more interesting than the 2018 London Marathon.
Same. Boston I was nearly crying with joy for Kawauchi and Desiree
It's the best way for Kipchoge to win, WR or not.
dont know anything bout the london course, but is it possible that the best way to run there is to go out fast?
THIS!
Kipchoge showed what is needed to break More Farah. If only the Kenyans/Ethiopians had tried a very fast pacing strategy in championship 5K/10K, Farah's sit and kick wouldn't have gotten him as many medals. Also see Kawauchi w.r.t Rupp.
I like the pacers but the insane pacers are indeed ruining it. If the woman would have had even pacing for a 1:08 half and 1:02 for the men, it would have been much more interesting. I thought the pacers were there to make sure the pace is right not to make sure its wrong. I feel like they need a pacer that drops out at 5k and is there to ensure an absolutely perfect first 5k.
no filter wrote:
a few questions wrote:
Maybe one day we'll see the WR broken. But I much more enjoy seeing NY, Chicago, Boston, and the other races that focus on the competition itself.
I respectfully agree.
Even with the slower times, the 2018 Boston was more interesting than the 2018 London Marathon.
Is it possible to disrespectfully agree with something?
ohyesit'sgood wrote:
no filter wrote:
I respectfully agree.
Even with the slower times, the 2018 Boston was more interesting than the 2018 London Marathon.
Same. Boston I was nearly crying with joy for Kawauchi and Desiree
Neither one of then would have been top 5 in London.
FFF wrote:
He looked like a real runner, not the hybrid derivative image we've been seeing recently (Mo Farah today).
this makes no sense. What does a real runner look like? It's based on gear?
More and more people are wearing compression: rupp, mo, kipchoge......cuts down on drag.
Too bad for them. They missed out on that wonderful kite flying sensation that I enjoyed recently in Boston with my Nike Kite Jacket.
No more pacers and time trials.
Same goes with that 1500 on Friday at Brian Clay