Eliud Kipchoge's workout this morning, 9 weeks before London Marathon. Stronger than prior to Berlin?

Germandistancerunner wrote:

Don't forget the Ethiopians. They have 4 really strong runner. Geremew showed us allready in lisbon in half he is on a good way. Kitata is clear one of the top threads. For me he would be the main competitor to kipchoge. But also Gebreselassi how show us with first and second marathon finishes he is really strong(2 times sub 2:04) and Mule Waishun maybe a bit the Dark horse run in rak half a new pb this year and last year in a fast Amsterdam marathon he only was beaten by an really strong Cherono.

I think you have a good thought there that Kitata can be dangerous. If he chose a tactic to stay just behind the leaders all the way to the last stages this time.

I understand your point of view. From my experience and knowing the people i work with, i don't think there would be a reason for them to make up such things.

I agree some information can get slightly modified 'on the way', however i think it is genuine. If something is slightly different i won't lose sleep about it, i'm just happy to be involved in this beautiful sport. It's not like his training is a magic formula, some things work for few people, while for others don't. Just take the positives out of everything, my humble advice.

I wouldn't discount the ethiopians for sure. Geremew is flying lately but i don't know if he can improve anymore, i honestly can't see him break 2:04. I would rank Wasihun under Geremew a bit, he is consistent too but his latest race wasn't as impressive (Rak course is faster, with greater competition).

Leul Gebrselassie was in top 4 marathoners for me last year. In 2019 he is yet to race an his form is unknown. If he can pick up things where he left them, he'll be a threat, but i won't rank him higher than Geremew. Shura Kitata was mesmerizing last year, this year he was impressive in winning Houston half. If he had a strong, injury-free build-up i would put him up there with Mo Farah as Eliud's top challengers. I can see him run 2:03:xx if the weather won't bother them too much.

I think this looks solid with two track workouts per week and then the long run. This was the way Eliud`s group did it when my coached runner used to train with them a couple of years back . And the paces pretty the same back then. The training before the 2 hours attempt was not given out in public I think I remember , maybe it was parts of it ? But one of the workouts at track then that I`m sure never went public was the 15 x 2000m they did at 5:40 min and 200m easy jog rest. They started with a big group , but at the end only Kamworor and Kipchoge could finish together.

It was never in doubt, was it? Incredible piece of front-running. The pacemakers disappointed a little to be honest. Gideon Kipketer did the job i supposed he was capable of, while half marathon studs Stephen Kiprop and Eric Kiptanui weren't firing today.

As this training pointed, and considering London is not as fast as Berlin, wind and a bit of tactic mind games with the ethiopians drafting, Eliud was at least equal to Berlin WR shape today. No doubt about it.

Great to see Geremew, Wasihun and Kitata upping their game. Would like to see them keep consistent and challenge Kipchoge in other races too, as he would only thrive on it.

Now Eliud will have a well deserved break from hard running and in my opinion he will go for the WR in Berlin(maybe first sub 2:01?), if he stays healthy he will commit to this 100% as i know him.

Hope you enjoyed this thread guys.

Thank you so much Mzungu!! It would be great if you could keep us updated in the future too. Eliud is a diamond shining so bright we need to be grateful for every insight we get into his training.

Anticlimax wrote:

As usual it will be a carnage on the streets of London. They will go out at sub2 pace for the downhill first 5k, then hit halfway in 60:30-40. Kipchoge prevails with a 2:02:3x CR, nobody else runs under 2:04, Farah blows up to run 2:06, maximum 6-7 guys under 2:10 from the first group.

Pretty accuracy, especially on kipchoge's finish time. Props!

Second this comment! Please Mzungu, keep these posts coming! We all count down to Berlin now :)

I think this was his best form he had in the marathon. You're right the pacer were in my opinion really disappointing especially Eric Kiptanui and Stephen Kiprop. But in which incredible confidence Eliud runs the second half off the marathon with all these Ethiopians on his wheel. I would say maybe with form he maybe would break the 2 with the same event like 2 years ago. This 2:02 looks so strong on a not easy weather and not so easy course with not great pacers.

Think age and wear and tear will catch up to him before a sub 2 hour possibility.

Germandistancerunner wrote:

I think this was his best form he had in the marathon. You're right the pacer were in my opinion really disappointing especially Eric Kiptanui and Stephen Kiprop. But in which incredible confidence Eliud runs the second half off the marathon with all these Ethiopians on his wheel. I would say maybe with form he maybe would break the 2 with the same event like 2 years ago. This 2:02 looks so strong on a not easy weather and not so easy course with not great pacers.

I would say he was at least around his shape from Berlin 2018 too. I don't think he will try an assisted sub-2 again, but run Berlin instead and try to run as fast as possible. If he gets there in the same shape as now, with stronger pacers and perfect weather conditions..we could be in for something really special and witness Kipchoge get close to the 2-hour barrier in a regular marathon. I have a feeling he'll go for it this time..but time will tell. I'll update this thread or make another one when i'll have news or insight in his future training. Today we were blessed with a masterpiece from the master himself at work and therefore we should live and cherish the moment.

But I don't get why a lot of Kipchoge's traingroup have a lot struggle to perform in marathon this spring. At first Abel Kirui. Well he looks injured it is not normal that he can't follow from k 5. But why he starts when he has so big problems. Next is Gideon Kipketer bad in Tokyo l well in London also no great Pacing. Augustine Choge in Paris another DNF. Laban Korir Barcelona and Hamburg 2:09 and 2:11. Geoffrey Kirui not great in Boston. But he don't train full-time with the group. Stephen Kiprotich not really impressing in Hamburg 3. Place ok but nothing great. But we also have some good results Anthony Martim 3.Barcelona 2:06 near 2 minutes pb. Mike Kigen 2:05 Rotterdam pb and for sure Abdi Nageeye 2:06 great pb. But all in all also a lot disappointments.

Mzungu in Iten wrote:

I'll update this thread or make another one when i'll have news or insight in his future training. Today we were blessed with a masterpiece from the master himself at work and therefore we should live and cherish the moment.

Awesome. Thanks very much for the updates. Best regards

Could it be that the Kipchoge training group is designed basically to maximize the benefit for Eliud -- but not for anyone else? If that's the case (reminds me of some high school and college programs), then the others can try to hang on as much as possible, but the majority of the coaching brainpower will be focused on Eliud. In which case, it's sometimes better for an up-and-comer to train elsewhere and focus on achieving the best for their own bodies.

Just a thought!

100% this. In fact, most training groups are optimal for one athlete, or few athletes. The rest get sucked in and struggle. I doubt many, if any (Kamworor to a degree) can handle Kipchoge’s training volume/paces/intensity, etc. maybe they don’t recover as well as he does or they don’t benefit from the workouts as much because a). The workouts are too long/fast/hard b). They don’t take the easy days easy enough to recover c). Plenty of other factors.

You're absolutely right! Such problems are often encountered. Unfortunately in the end it's the athlete's fault. Why?

All the time, Patrick Sang, tells them to push as hard as they are comfortable and let Kipchoge or others go if they have to strain too much to keep up. The team explain them the only way to progress is to train at your own current level and try to improve it ever so slightly.

It's a recipe for disaster for a young runner or a 2:07 guy to try do all the workouts Kipchoge does and match him stride by stride. However, few understand and conceptualize these facts. Instinct will always tell them to try their hardest to follow the best, when in fact it should be the mind taking over matter.

Geoffrey Kamworor is incredibly talented, but over the last year he stalled a little, i hope he'll rediscover the drive and power that got himself the nickname 'the lion'. At the moment i think he is the only guy in Eliud's team who could pace him through 25k at 2:00 flat pace.

Sure, you can say it's the athlete's fault, and maybe you're right. One important factor that isn't hammered home enough, though -- today I rewatched the video of Kipchoge beating Bekele and ElG in 2003 at 5,000 meters.

It reinforced my sense that Kipchoge -- for all the plaudits he gets, deservedly, for his mental strength -- is just an unbelievable talent. He took down ElG and Bekele in what effectively was a 1,000 meter race. He out kicked the best miler ever over the last 200 meters.

I'm a huge Kamworor fan. But I struggle to believe he'll ever be as good as Kipchoge, even if he maximizes his talent. For the 2:07 guys in that group? Hats off to you, but good luck.

How exactly does Sang personalize things for them anyway? Is it enough to say, "Do what you can?" If "what" involves a 40km progression in which every step is too fast for a 2:07 guy, they're not best served to hang on as long as they seem useful. They're best served by coming up with their own workouts, imho

Here you say something about the team and Sang that sounds strange.Sang wont tell the more novice runners about something like training at own current level. That you just make up. Every runner in the group trying to hang on as long as possible.Thats the Kenyan style. Instead they ends early or just rest some reps between.

You misunderstood. That's what it implies, sometimes they can call it a day after 30 or 35k instead or 40k. Also during track workouts, some will skip some reps or do less than the total volume.

Mzungu in Iten wrote:

You misunderstood. That's what it implies, sometimes they can call it a day after 30 or 35k instead or 40k. Also during track workouts, some will skip some reps or do less than the total volume.

As I said you just make up reality. There is no Sang or others in the group that tells the other runners to run their individual current level. They start in a very big group and tries to hang on to the Eliud pace as long as possible. There is no different groups with alternate paces.Its the Kenyan style! Hang on until you die . Only the most talented will survive and become great runners.