Nike sponsoring sub-2 hour marathon attempt

bonaparte2

Did you not see the poster with 1.59.59 in lights and the lads lined up in front of it. When it is done , there will be a huge marketing benefit to whichever company sponsored it.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake

. I 'd say now marathon running will be affected at an elite level until it is done. The very top guys will be told that lifelong fame and unimaginable riches await the man who goes sub2 first and joe public doesn't give a damn where or how it is done.

Winning some so called marathon major for chump change can't compete.

This Fat Girl Runs

Elites are already told they will have money and fame if they win marathons and break records. What's the difference? It's not like sponsorships and advertising are new. Athletes have been appearing on cereal boxes and posters for decades.

Kipchoge himself is a millionaire, but he still hauls water from a well and washes his gear in a bucket. He's obviously not in it for the money. He's in it to see 'what if'.

I think, after seeing the effort that went into the experiment, seeing just what it takes to run at that speed for that length of time, means that anyone wanting to officially break the record is going to have to do it for more than just the money and fame.

bonaparte2

Ask joe average who holds the world marathon record for men?

Ask joe average who Roger Bannister is ?

The person who breaks the two becomes an Icon , a Michael Jordan or a Lance Armstrong or a Tiger Woods.

Its that level of fame

This Fat Girl Runs

I don't really care who joe average knows or not. I could ask joe average who the biggest kpop star is right now and they wouldn't know. How does that change how I feel about kpop? It doesn't.

I think you're overestimating the interest joe average has in running. I don't think breaking the 2 hour marathon barrier will catapult someone to the level of fame like Jordan etc. Especially if it's broken by someone who, like Kipchoge, lives a humble life and isn't interested in fame. Becoming famous is easy. Staying famous takes effort. Most elites channel all their effort into running and don't have much left over for the fame game.

bonaparte2

I might be over egging the argument a bit I suppose.

I'd just love to see the ads they've made, that they now have to chuck in the bin.

They said it couldn't be done, drum roll, it has been done . 1.59. Monza 2017 NIKE

JUST DID IT

This Fat Girl Runs

Oh they already started that with the speeches at the end. It's now the 'fastest marathon ever run'.

Not sure that makes for as great a tshirt as 1:59 but I don't care. I won't be buying any tshirts anyway. :P

bonaparte2

Nor will I, I'm off to my park run , enjoy your run

Chivito550

Lot of hate for NIKE yet half the posters here probably wear Nike shoes/spikes/gear etc.

This run highlights the unfairness of Paula's record a bit more. Like Kipchoge, she was paced the entire distance. Not drastically different to this. Had to be worth at least a minute.

sideswipe

Whilst I can understand some peoples cynicism for the whole project, I enjoyed it. 10k: 28:21:eek: phenomenal.
When sub 2 is broken, and it will be, we can go back to world class marathon runners racing each other with a new appreciation for just how phenomenal these athletes are.

robinph

bonaparte2 wrote: »

Ask joe average who holds the world marathon record for men?

Ask joe average who Roger Bannister is ?

The person who breaks the two becomes an Icon , a Michael Jordan or a Lance Armstrong or a Tiger Woods.

Its that level of fame

This shows that it is possible, but it also shows that you need a lot of money and organisation behind the attempt, and a lot of other elites who are interested in assisting with the attempt.

Not sure if they would be able to get enough interest from all the required people to take themselves out of winning marathon prizes for a season as well as all the required other elites to pace them all aligned for a while. Maybe when a road marathon record gets down to 2:01 it will make the sponsors interested in the investment again. It's not like breaking the 4 minute mile where they can just get enough people together to have another go with the same person in a few weeks time. Kipchoge isn't going to be doing it again this year.

bonaparte2

It is now a huge prize. Its like the South Pole. You'll have a race to get there first.

Everlasting glory to the winner.

A set of steak knives to the losers

robinph

Absolutely, it's just the number of stars that need to align to make it happen and that you can't run again next week.

neverever1

Chivito550 wrote: »

Got 5/1 on none of them Running under WR of 2:02:57. Ludicrous odds. Had been 10/1 but didn't react quickly enough.

4/6 on one of the 3 of them DNF-ing is silly too.

What are you going to do with all your winnings?

spc78

When kipchoge fell off the pace did the pacesetters drop back with him or did he end up running on his own trailing the pacers?

robinph

spc78 wrote: »

When kipchoge fell off the pace did the pacesetters drop back with him or did he end up running on his own trailing the pacers?

The pacers dropped back but the car kept on pace.

There was also more pacers working with the others who had dropped off to try and keep them going.

Chivito550

neverever1 wrote: »

What are you going to do with all your winnings?

Haha. Was worth a punt at those odds to be honest.

ThisRegard

bonaparte2 wrote: »

joe public doesn't give a damn where or how it is done.

These days the how will very much be part of of it.

neverever1

Chivito550 wrote: »

Haha. Was worth a punt at those odds to be honest.

Yeah it was but there was just too much in their favour for it to fail to go below world record.

Chivito550

neverever1 wrote: »

Yeah it was but there was just too much in their favour for it to fail to go below world record.

One of them DNFing was my insurance bet to more or less cover me. Didn't think one of them would bother trotting in at 2:14. Must have been told that without finishing they weren't getting paid.

adrian522

TBH I thought none of them would break the current WR. I thought at the pace they would be going at they would be on target to half way and then start to drift at around 30k and finish up in 2:03+ if they finished at all. So he obviously exceeded that.

I think this does devalue the WR and I hope they just leave it alone now. Presumably they will be allowed to run in London, be interesting to see what shoes they wear at that marathon.

The DL in Doha was still the most interesting athletics on this weekend.

bonaparte2

I too think it devalues the WR and that they should leave it alone now.

As someone who was often 24 secs outside a goal time, I could never leave it alone and I don't think they will either

neverever1

Chivito550 wrote: »

One of them DNFing was my insurance bet to more or less cover me. Didn't think one of them would bother trotting in at 2:14. Must have been told that without finishing they weren't getting paid.

The bookies usually get things right, that's what I've learned over time anyway.

Chivito550

neverever1 wrote: »

The bookies usually get things right, that's what I've learned over time anyway.

Ah you come across bizarre Athletics odds from time to time. Most bookies don't have a dedicated athletics trader.

neverever1

Chivito550 wrote: »

Ah you come across bizarre Athletics odds from time to time. Most bookies don't have a dedicated athletics trader.

I find they don't do much athletics odds, usually just for major competitions but I suppose you can get some good odds at those.

Chivito550

Looking forward to NIKE's next project:

#Breaking100

An attempt to launch the javelin 100m. Runway to be placed on the edge of a mountain cliff.

This Fat Girl Runs

I saw a lot of values out there today. Sportsmanship, community, cameraderie, willpower, teamwork to name a few. Can't see how that's a bad thing.

Chivito550

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

I saw a lot of values out there today. Sportsmanship, community, cameraderie, willpower, teamwork to name a few. Can't see how that's a bad thing.

Take away the $$$$$ and all that vanishes sadly. Kipchoge was paid a handsome sum I believe to skip London Marathon to do this, and the pacemakers weren't doing it for the good of their health.

Thing was a bit of fun. Wouldn't get too caught up in it either way. The old WR is still the WR but it does maybe allow athletes to believe they can go quicker than first thought. So instead of targeting a new WR, Kipchoge might look to go sub 2:02 instead, if he runs Berlin.

This Fat Girl Runs

Chivito550 wrote:

Take away the $$$$$ and all that vanishes sadly. Kipchoge was paid a handsome sum I believe to skip London Marathon to do this, and the pacemakers weren't doing it for the good of their health.

Heaven forbid a professional athlete actually gets paid to be part of a challenge like this. Imagine getting paid to do what you love? The mind boggles! :P

Chivito550

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

Heaven forbid a professional athlete actually gets paid to be part of a challenge like this. Imagine getting paid to do what you love? The mind boggles! :P

Never said anything wrong with it. Just giving perspective to the whole thing.

velo.2010

Yeah, I would rather they 'broke' the 2 hour mark, then just have it as an oddity in the sport - much like Obadele Thompson's wind assisted 9.69s in the 90's.

As it stands, its neither one thing or the other, but may be seen by some as a slightly more realistic effort than going sub 2 hrs. Kipchoge probably needs to break the actual WR to help with some of the confusion.

This Fat Girl Runs

Chivito550 wrote:

Never said anything wrong with it. Just giving perspective to the whole thing.

As am I. These men are elites, not elitists. There's a big difference.

Djoucer

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

As am I. These men are elites, not elitists. There's a big difference.

No one said otherwise?

It's a marketing stunt, an interesting angle with an incredible athlete.

Everyone can run quicker under the conditions Nike created.

adrian522

Personally I'd much prefer to have seen Kipchoge go head to head to Bekele in London than running this marketing event but each to their own. Bekele and Kipchogue are 2 of the best log distance runners of all time, hopefully they end up in the same race at some point rather than just running glorified time trials.

Inventive User Name

I think it's an amazing achievement, despite the fact that it can't be recognised as an official WR. Never really thought about it before, but I think the IAAF should consider changing the rules they broke. I mean, athletes getting their own drinks is messing up their rhythm & breaking their stride. Pacers are used to (obviously) set the pace - multiple pacers just allows it to be maintained for longer. They still have to be followed The key point for me is neither of these violations are a performance enhancer, like a PED. You can have the best group of pacers, and have fellas in scooters handing you your drinks, but without having the talent & putting in the work it won't make a difference.

bonaparte2

Had they TUEs. ?

runnerholic

adrian522 wrote: »

Personally I'd much prefer to have seen Kipchoge go head to head to Bekele in London than running this marketing event but each to their own. Bekele and Kipchogue are 2 of the best log distance runners of all time, hopefully they end up in the same race at some point rather than just running glorified time trials.

Are either Kipchoge or Bekele running Berlin?

opus

Spotted this online, might be of interest.

HigginsJ

17.1 seconds per 100metres is ridiculous!!

adrian522

runnerholic wrote: »

Are either Kipchoge or Bekele running Berlin?

I've no idea. I'd have thought they would both run the world championships in London.

El Caballo

adrian522 wrote: »

I've no idea. I'd have thought they would both run the world championships in London.

They won't. The World Championship Marathon is a poor mans Berlin in the eyes of the top Kenyans and Ethiopians. Even the Olympic marathon is starting to drift that way too. The money and times of the majors is where it's at for most of these guys.

Chivito550

How many here can run an 800 in 2:17, or in fact a 400 in 68.5. Really hammers home how ridiculous these splits were.

El Caballo wrote: »

They won't. The World Championship Marathon is a poor mans Berlin in the eyes of the top Kenyans and Ethiopians. Even the Olympic marathon is starting to drift that way too. The money and times of the majors is where it's at for most of these guys.

The Olympic marathon is very prestigious but I agree regarding the Worlds. The marathon is the only event where the Olympics and Worlds are not of similar standard.

ThisRegard

Inventive User Name wrote: »

They still have to be followed The key point for me is neither of these violations are a performance enhancer, like a PED. You can have the best group of pacers, and have fellas in scooters handing you your drinks, but without having the talent & putting in the work it won't make a difference.

Part of being talented is being able to do all this yourself​, you can be a talented runner but make a mess of your pacing and race planning. Why not use a Casio if it had no advantage? To stretch the analogy it's like giving every cyclist on the peleton their own lad on a derney.

El Caballo

ThisRegard wrote: »

Part of being talented is being able to do all this yourself​, you can be a talented runner but make a mess of your pacing and race planning. To stretch the analogy it's like giving every cyclist on the peleton their own lad on a derney.

Idk, isn't this the same as froome and Sky do all the time;)

ThisRegard

Race radios, the ruination of many a good stage.

walshb

Brilliant time by a truly brilliant man..

Singer

I got up early this morning to watch the most of the attempt. I was somewhat swept up with the hype, my interest was piqued from listening to the likes of the RunnersWorld podcasts and reading various articles about it. There's definitely plenty to be cynical about - I don't think the shoes are really a big deal, and the pseudo-scientific babble and full-on marketing were a bit tough to stomach at times. However, actually watching Kipchoge and friends running the attempt was very compelling - there was no doubt that I was watching an extraordinary effort and performance. I hope it's not attempted again any time soon though.

Bananaleaf

Anyone know Tadese and Desisa's finish times?

adrian522

2:06 and 2:14 I think.

Singer

Bananaleaf wrote: »

Anyone know Tadese and Desisa's finish times?

Zersenay Tadese 2:06:51
Lelisa Desisa: 2:14:10

Good PB for Tadese, but Desisa looked wrecked early enough. Neither made it through 2 hour pace half-way through. I was surprised that both finished!

Bananaleaf

Singer wrote: »

Zersenay Tadese 2:06:51
Lelisa Desisa: 2:14:10

Good PB for Tadese, but Desisa looked wrecked early enough. Neither made it through 2 hour pace half-way through. I was surprised that both finished!

Yes it was good, his previous PB was 2:10 or something, was it?

Out of curiosity, where did you find those finishing times or were you watching it? I was searching Google for a whole 3minutes before I posted here asking :pac: