Berlin marathon 2017 - Greatest race on earth

Testosterscone

World Records Since 2003 - 6 (all in Berlin)

Starting list

Eliud Kipchoge
- 2003 5000m World Champion
- 2016 Olympic Marathon Champion
- Career marathon wins - 7
- Fastest Marathon time - 2.00.25 (2.03.05 official)
- Last time he ran Berlin he won in 2.04.00 and did it in these shoes

Kenenisa Bekele
- 5000m/10,000m World Record Holder (12.37 and 26.17)
- 3 time Olympic Champion
- 5 time World Champion
- 11 time World Cross Country Champion
- 2016 Berlin Marathon winner (PB of 2.03.03)

Wilson Kipsang
- Former Marathon World Record holder
- 2012 Olympic Marathon Bronze medalist
- 5 time World marathon Major Champion
- Only man to ever beat Kipchoge in a marathon
- PB of 2.03.13 from last year (2nd in Berlin to Bekele)

Other runners include former World Record holder Patrick Makau

The three men listed are all capable of going under the current WR and winning the race (current record 2.02.57) this weekend

OOnegative

Weather currently giving 12 degrees with small possibility of rain for Berlin Sunday, stacked field who will hopefully race each other to a WR. Big soft spot for Kipsang to be honest but think he's past his best.

Testosterscone

OOnegative wrote: »

Weather currently giving 12 degrees with small possibility of rain for Berlin Sunday, stacked field who will hopefully race each other to a WR. Big soft spot for Kipsang to be honest but think he's past his best.

Ran PB last year and followed it up with a course record in Tokyo in Feb, I think he has seen a huge resurgence in the past 12 months, dunno if he has the racing mentality of the track veterans but still wouldn't be suprised to see him dip under the 2.03 (though maybe not get the win)

OOnegative

Testosterscone wrote: »

Ran PB last year and followed it up with a course record in Tokyo in Feb, I think he has seen a huge resurgence in the past 12 months, dunno if he has the racing mentality of the track veterans but still wouldn't be suprised to see him dip under the 2.03 (though maybe not get the win)

Just thought he lacked a killer instinct in London '16 when he had a chance to win the race against Kipchoge. He may well have been having a bad day like us mortals but he faded badly in that race and finished back in 6/7th. He looks such an effortless & elegant runner.

Edit: Realise that was over 12 months ago now, things change.

MisterDrak

Doesn't seem to be televised anywhere ???

EuroSport used to have it, and always had a good coverage of the event ?

average_runner

Apparently Kipchoge said he ran 40k at altitude in 2:08 a few weeks ago.


What I always find about these statements, is that they are sent out to try and prove the athlete is all good but usually the opposite.

So Kipchoge won't win, but dont put money on this theory:D

average_runner

MisterDrak wrote: »

Doesn't seem to be televised anywhere ???

EuroSport used to have it, and always had a good coverage of the event ?

Money dispute last year ended it!

Testosterscone

MisterDrak wrote: »

Doesn't seem to be televised anywhere ???

EuroSport used to have it, and always had a good coverage of the event ?

http://www.watchathletics.com/schedule/watchlive/2878

I think NBCSN in US also has it so I think could possibly be European Coverage also

El Caballo

average_runner wrote: »

Apparently Kipchoge said he ran 40k at altitude in 2:08 a few weeks ago.


What I always find about these statements, is that they are sent out to try and prove the athlete is all good but usually the opposite.

So Kipchoge won't win, but dont put money on this theory:D

The Statement is actually 40k at 2.08 pace so he supposedly ran 40k in 2:01 at altitude.

We know from Canova's log that Moses Mosop ran 40k in 2:07 in the lead up to his illegal 2:03 in Boston which was realistically worth more like 2:05/6 because of the huge tailwind which is still a hugely quick time and while Kipchoge is a better runner than Mosop, it's hard to comprehend that Kipchoge could "actually" run that much faster than him over a 40k workout when Mosop was in incredible shape. I don't buy the 40k at 2.08 pace. Much more likely that he ran 40k in 2:08 which while sounding insane to Joe soap, is something that a lot of Kenyan 2:03/4 guys could and have done in the past. Think it's all mind games though.

El Caballo

Pacers have been asked to run 60:50 through halfway, 2:01:40 pace!!!

Chivito550

Have to say I can't really warm to this stuff. The way it's hyped up in the media, anything other than a WR will be a complete anti-climax.

As for whether it's the greatest race on earth, we'll only know that afterwards, depending on how competitive it is in the last mile.

average_runner

Chivito550 wrote: »

Have to say I can't really warm to this stuff. The way it's hyped up in the media, anything other than a WR will be a complete anti-climax.

As for whether it's the greatest race on earth, we'll only know that afterwards, depending on how competitive it is in the last mile.

A competitive last mile doesn't make a race great, there is a number of things.

Testosterscone

Chivito550 wrote: »

Have to say I can't really warm to this stuff. The way it's hyped up in the media, anything other than a WR will be a complete anti-climax.

As for whether it's the greatest race on earth, we'll only know that afterwards, depending on how competitive it is in the last mile.

Athletics has been criticized for the top guys avoiding each other and here we have arguably the top 3 (marathon- some might argue Bekele is too inconsistent at the distance to be considered a great marathon runner yet) runners of all time all capable of running inside the current world record and two who have a track record in being very smart racers.

Why wouldn't they hype up this race to try catch the imagination of the general public?

Plenty of attention was drummed up for El Clasico's in the past or Nadal Federer Grand slam finals. Not all were classic's but the hype built up around them wasn't any less.

Perhaps we need to be a little less smart at times and celebrate these sort of head to heads to entice other Race Directors to not be afraid of setting up races that aren't selected time trials or soft wins (the way Berlin has in the past or some DL races (Paris and the UK ones) have been accused of in shorter distances.

Chivito550

Testosterscone wrote: »

Athletics has been criticized for the top guys avoiding each other and here we have arguably the top 3 (marathon- some might argue Bekele is too inconsistent at the distance to be considered a great marathon runner yet) runners of all time all capable of running inside the current world record and two who have a track record in being very smart racers.

Why wouldn't they hype up this race to try catch the imagination of the general public?

Plenty of attention was drummed up for El Clasico's in the past or Nadal Federer Grand slam finals. Not all were classic's but the hype built up around them wasn't any less.

Perhaps we need to be a little less smart at times and celebrate these sort of head to heads to entice other Race Directors to not be afraid of setting up races that aren't selected time trials or soft wins (the way Berlin has in the past or some DL races (Paris and the UK ones) have been accused of in shorter distances.

Hyping up races is great, if it's the actual head to head that is being hyped up. Athletics needs more of that.

Hyping up races as a strong chance of seeing a WR is destined to end in anti climax and disappointment. WRs very rarely happen. They are not supposed to happen often. The likely scenario is the record will not go this weekend and it will all feel a bit meh to many. The same way Van Niekerk winning in London nowhere near his WR felt like a let down because of the hype of the 43 second barrier.

The other scenario is that the record goes, everyone is delighted, and then future marathons can't live up to that standard.

Hype the athletes, not the record attempts.

Testosterscone

Chivito550 wrote: »

Hyping up races is great, if it's the actual head to head that is being hyped up. Athletics needs more of that.

Hyping up races as a strong chance of seeing a WR is destined to end in anti climax and disappointment. WRs very rarely happen. They are not supposed to happen often. The likely scenario is the record will not go this weekend and it will all feel a bit meh to many. The same way Van Niekerk winning in London nowhere near his WR felt like a let down because of the hype of the 43 second barrier.

The other scenario is that the record goes, everyone is delighted, and then future marathons can't live up to that standard.

Hype the athletes, not the record attempts.

To be fair there has been huge hype around the 2003 rematch between Kipchoge and Bekele (to bad El G never moved up to the marathon :P)

Also there records against each other; despite Bekele winning 15 of the 22 heads up he is 0-2 over the marathon against Kipchoge.

Djoucer

The hype is warranted in this case.

Great line up, potential WR on a fast course.

That's what hype is. It's unfulfilled potential.

Criticising hype is akin tilting at windmills. You can only say if it was justified after the event.

Pherekydes

Djoucer wrote: »

The hype is warranted in this case.
You can only say if it was justified after the event.

Contradiction, your honour!

tommykb

MisterDrak wrote: »

Doesn't seem to be televised anywhere ???

EuroSport used to have it, and always had a good coverage of the event ?

Supposed to be on Sky chanel 424?

average_runner

tommykb wrote: »

Supposed to be on Sky chanel 424?

What channel is that?

tommykb

https://www.freesports.tv/ - Think it shows up as Eir 2 on Sky

Testosterscone

Should be intereesting :P

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2017/09/craziest-guy-berlin-japans-yuta-****ara-will-race-berlin-marathon-8-days-running-6017-half-marathon-likely-go-leaders/

Suppose you have to throw caution to the wind some times

Testosterscone

El Caballo wrote: »

The Statement is actually 40k at 2.08 pace so he supposedly ran 40k in 2:01 at altitude.

Looks like there is conflicting information on this

http://www.sweatelite.co/eliud-kipchoge-full-training-log-leading-marathon-world-record-attempt/

This video seems to back up a bit of the training also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=738&v=l-w1R90nJhE

Slow_Runner

Testosterscone wrote: »

Looks like there is conflicting information on this

http://www.sweatelite.co/eliud-kipchoge-full-training-log-leading-marathon-world-record-attempt/

Sweet jebus!!!:O

Chivito550

Just seen a stat on twitter that Kipsang has gone sub 2:05 for 8 years in a row. That is simply stunning.

Testosterscone

Chivito550 wrote: »

Just seen a stat on twitter that Kipsang has gone sub 2:05 for 8 years in a row. That is simply stunning.

He also has 4 sub 2.04 clockings to Kipchoges 1 and 9 marathon wins (5 WMM which is the same as Kipchoge)

Itziger

Slow_Runner wrote: »

Sweet jebus!!!:O

Hmmm, those 40km tempo runs. Must chuck in a few of them next marathon plan. Easy PM though on those days

Glencarraig

tommykb wrote: »

Supposed to be on Sky chanel 424?

Not on the programme planner on 424

rom

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2017/09/television-streaming-info-2017-berlin-marathon/

If you want to watch it pm me tonight and I can help you out but wont in the morning.

El Caballo

El Caballo wrote: »

Pacers have been asked to run 60:50 through halfway, 2:01:40 pace!!!

They decided to amend the pace through halfway..

to 60:45!!!

I think Kipchoge has lost it altogether, that is faster than the Irish Half Marathon record set by Alistair Cragg of 1:00:49. I think it was in London in 2013 where the pacers went out in 61:30 to the absolute horror of the commentators and carnage ensued with Kebede winning in 2:06. 4 and a bit years later and 61:00 doesn't cut it anymore:pac:

This could be carnage if he goes with it. Bekele and Kipsang want no part of it either as both seem to be hinting towards running 61:10 for the first half which is pretty much what they went through halfway in last year. Bekele saying he is going to run his own race.

average_runner

Kipsang to win tomorrow. Bekele second.

Pacing Mule

tommykb wrote: »

https://www.freesports.tv/ - Think it shows up as Eir 2 on Sky

It's a UK only channel.

lukeeman

If you have a freesat box, it's channel 252.

Murph_D

https://www.firstonetv.watch/Live/Germany/Das-Erste-1 (German commentary)

runnerholic

Can't get this anywhere. Can anyone advise?

runnerholic

Murph_D wrote: »

https://www.firstonetv.watch/Live/Germany/Das-Erste-1 (German commentary)

You have to give permission for them to access your computer. Risky?

Murph_D

Own risk, I guess. I didn't have to click anything else but probably because I'd already enabled whatever they were trying to access.

Lazare

Conditions look absolutely perfect.

ooter

Kipsang just pulled up, Eliot still looking strong.
Not sure if he's on WR pace cos it's German commentary on the channel I'm watching.

Bahanaman

https://www.facebook.com/revistarunonline/videos/739577152897122/?hc_ref=ARS6704SU8xkExfff86XOdhmZi87IivH8oxmGtnfzYHmgWKJWld_QZb4OOjuVsOU6lo

ooter

Why do they keep showing #21 on the tv, is he the leading German runner?

Bahanaman

The fella with Kipchoge looks fairly comfortable!

RacoonQueen

runnerholic wrote: »

You have to give permission for them to access your computer. Risky?

Murph_D wrote: »

Own risk, I guess. I didn't have to click anything else but probably because I'd already enabled whatever they were trying to access.

I just had to disable adblocker and enable flash for that site.

Lazare

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I just had to disable adblocker and enable flash for that site.

Working perfectly on my android phone, have it casted to the TV.

Excellent stream.

ooter

I moved my dish the other day to 19.2 e to access PL football so have it in HD on my telly.

Vital Transformation

This is live on a new freeview channel called FreeSports. Can be tuned into the other channels on Sky. Just turned it on to see Kipchoge win.

Absoluvely

Insane debut from Guye Adola. Wonder if Nike will bring him on board for their next 2hr attempt.

ooter

#21 has blown up big time, game over for him.

This Fat Girl Runs

I tuned in at and hour and a half in. Kipchoge as awesome as ever. Adola was a surprise but a welcome one. Nice for Kipchoge to have the company. Saw Kipsang pull up, looks like stomach issues?

I'm watching the German broadcast, disappointed they aren't showing the elite women. They haven't spared even a second on them so far :mad:

Edit: Just hit send on that and they flipped to the leading woman for a minute. Yay.

Swashbuckler

This Fat Girl Runs wrote:

I'm watching the German broadcast, disappointed they aren't showing the elite women. They haven't spared even a second on them so far

They had them covered for a good hour but seemed to switch to the men when bekele dropped off and kipsang pulled up.

This Fat Girl Runs

ooter wrote: »

#21 has blown up big time, game over for him.

He didn't take on anything at the water/fuel station he passed beforehand, I figured then he was a goner. Poor guy.

runnerholic

That was awesome from Kipchoge. He came under pressure from Adola 5k from home but kept his rythym, reeled him back and then turned the screw. Unfortunately conditions mitigated against a WR, I hope he breaks it at some point.