Nike sponsoring sub-2 hour marathon attempt

jonnner · 11-04-2017 10:45pm

adrian522 wrote: »

Well nobody knows what they are doing. Are they going to have pacers come in and out during the race? If so that invalidates it as a WR attempt.

There are questions over the shoes they are wearing I'm not sure if they will stand up to scrutiny as being legal.

If they are drafting behind a car that is another problem.

Yep pacers will come in and out. Hydration and fuel will be delivered by moped so they don't have to slow down. Don't think that's allowed in record eligible Marathon

.
There's going to be a live stream available which will be busy I'm sure.
I'll be watching. I know well it's basically a marketing ploy, but it'll still be interesting to watch.

robinph · 12-04-2017 5:11am

Don't think there is anything wrong with the course, that is perfectly fine. It's the rotation of pacers and moped drinks station and pace car that will be the issues.

And the shoes which is the whole point of Nike doing it.

overpronator · 12-04-2017 9:11am

It is what it is, a publicity stunt. That aside, if they do manage it, however unlikely that may be its a very interesting proof of concept that its physiologically possible for todays athlethes, other technical caveats aside. That would spur others on surely.

Ill be watching the circus!!

This Fat Girl Runs · 12-04-2017 11:43am

I have a question. In a normal marathon situation, accounting for grabbing for drinks or unforseeables etc, what pace would someone have to actually run to get in under 2 hours?

robinph · 12-04-2017 11:46am

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

I have a question. In a normal marathon situation, accounting for grabbing for drinks or unforseeables etc, what pace would someone have to actually run to get in under 2 hours?

4:35 per mile

A handy place to check running paces and compare for various distances is here:

https://www.mcmillanrunning.com

Edit: I guess to allow yourself an extra 26 seconds though for faffing with drinks, 26 seconds is actually a looong time to be stood around, then you just need to be going a second a mile quicker.

This Fat Girl Runs · 12-04-2017 12:53pm

robinph wrote:

Edit: I guess to allow yourself an extra 26 seconds though for faffing with drinks, 26 seconds is actually a looong time to be stood around, then you just need to be going a second a mile quicker.

Yeah, that's what I was wondering. 26 seconds at say 3 drink stations is a heafty chunk. I wasn't sure do racers factor that into their pace to even the time over the whole course or adjust the pace in later miles to make up for it.

walshb · 12-04-2017 12:58pm

Maybe eliminate a drinks station or two and install water blast stations throughout that showers them with water as they pass through...

average_runner · 12-04-2017 1:00pm

walshb wrote: »

Maybe eliminate a drinks station or two and install water blast stations throughout that showers them with water as they pass through...

How much time would wet gear add on

robinph · 12-04-2017 1:02pm

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

Yeah, that's what I was wondering. 26 seconds at say 3 drink stations is a heafty chunk. I wasn't sure do racers factor that into their pace to even the time over the whole course or adjust the pace in later miles to make up for it.

Someone going for 3hr, 4hrs etc or whatever other time target then yes you would need to allow a bit of extra as you are not going to be able to follow the racing line and will have other people getting in your way, as well as the course being long by at least 42 meters.

Up the very pointy end probably not as much as in theory they are racing other people rather than the clock, but they would need to have a bit more time in hand in a city marathon in order to allow for surviving when the pacers drop off and are no longer there to sheild them from the wind. I'd expect there to be pacers all the way round for this, until the last 100m if they have a few seconds to spare and need them running on their own for the photo.

walshb · 12-04-2017 1:02pm

average_runner wrote: »

How much time would wet gear add on

Fook all!

HigginsJ · 05-05-2017 8:59am

The attempt is this Saturday, anyone think they will do it?

ooter · 05-05-2017 9:11am

Anyone know what time this is happening?

This Fat Girl Runs · 05-05-2017 9:12am

I'll be checking the news regularly! I'm really not sure if they will or not. There's so many variables that could affect the outcome.

HigginsJ · 05-05-2017 9:24am

ooter wrote: »

Anyone know what time this is happening?

It's 5.30am local time so 4.30am here. Will be streamed on youtube.

Roadtoad · 05-05-2017 9:32am

You would be better off doing the Pieta House darkness into light walk at that hour if the day.

sideswipe · 05-05-2017 10:09am

ooter wrote: »

Anyone know what time this is happening?

Details here

Personally I hope they smash it and the obsession with sub 2 fades a bit.

robinph · 05-05-2017 10:32am

Arrgh too many time zones listed there confused me. Think that means it is at 6:45 am on Saturday? Will try to watch it on the way to parkrun then I think.

adrian522 · 05-05-2017 10:40am

robinph wrote: »

Arrgh too many time zones listed there confused me. Think that means it is at 6:45 am on Saturday? Will try to watch it on the way to parkrun then I think.

4:45am here.

ThisRegard · 05-05-2017 10:43am

sideswipe wrote: »

Details here

Personally I hope they smash it and the obsession with sub 2 fades a bit.

Would prefer if they did it in a non artificial situation without dodgy shoes. Even if they do it, people will still be waiting for it to be done proper.

ooter · 05-05-2017 10:44am

HigginsJ wrote: »

It's 5.30am local time so 4.30am here. Will be streamed on youtube.

Swerve.
I'll check to see what happened when I get up tomorrow morning.

robinph · 05-05-2017 10:56am

adrian522 wrote: »

4:45am here.

I did say I was confused.

Chivito550 · 05-05-2017 11:10am

He'll run 2:04. Slower than his PB because he'll go chasing this unrealistic mark and blow up badly in the latter stages, and with the chances of Sub 2 gone there'll be less incentive to dig in, particularly with no supporters to lift the spirits. I predict the whole thing to fall flat on it's face.

adrian522 · 05-05-2017 11:12am

I'd say he'll DNF once he starts to slow (if that is what happens) Not much point in finishing if you are going to be outside current WR.

jamule · 05-05-2017 11:18am

It will be a DNF/DNS etc etc , it will rumble on for a few weeks, they will announce that they are waiting for cooler autumnal weather, they will go through the motions again in the autumn followed by the same ****e. They will make big announcements that THEY ARE SO SO SO CLOSE to doing this followed up by a huge morketing campaign for a €150 shoe (that bares little with the actual shoe!).

HigginsJ · 05-05-2017 11:28am

http://www.runnersworld.com/2-hour-marathon/sub-2-hour-marathon-experts-say-only-one-guy-has-a-chance

Runners World have asked some experts their views, 3 think it will be achieved and they all think it will be Kipchoge.

There seems to be no faith at all in Tadese, majority think he either won't break the current world record or will not finish.

robinph · 05-05-2017 11:29am

There is no reason for them to go off at a nuts pace though like they would in a city marathon where you have uneven course, weather and pacemakers who are just guessing as to how fast exactly they are going etc. For this they just need to stay tucked in behind the pacemakers who are tucked in behind a car which is driving at exactly the right speed. They won't be getting over excited and heading off too fast in the early stages, the pacemakers will be there sheltering them for the duration, they don't have to worry about tripping over people and grabbing drinks.

Whilst they might not make the finish on time, there is no reason to be going off too fast at the start and blowing up early because of that. It's not a race (until the last 100m if anyone else is still there).

How far should they be able to get at sub 2hr pace? 30km, 35km, 40km?

robinph · 05-05-2017 11:38am

HigginsJ wrote: »

http://www.runnersworld.com/2-hour-marathon/sub-2-hour-marathon-experts-say-only-one-guy-has-a-chance

Runners World have asked some experts their views, 3 think it will be achieved and they all think it will be Kipchoge.

There seems to be no faith at all in Tadese, majority think he either won't break the current world record or will not finish.

One of the quotes from that doesn't make sense to me:

“Long-term, chasing times is an endeavor of diminishing returns, and I think the sport ultimately lives or dies based on racing and rivalries. So if these curated-conditions attempts make normal races feel slow and less interesting, I think, long-term, that’s a potential negative.”

I'd have thought that this potentially makes the sport more interesting and about racing and rivalries. If they do break the 2hr mark then whilst it's not an official world record, it will take away some of the prestige of other events trying to get runners to break a world record as people will just consider a 2:02:?? irrelevant as 1:59 has been run already. That would mean that the races will have to be setup as races to get interest, not as time trials, and that can only be good for the sport.

You can still have the world records, but they shouldn't be the primary reason for the race happening.

average_runner · 05-05-2017 11:39am

I think they will go sub 2 providing conditions are right. So much investment gone into this and its so well thought out from the alternating pacers, to the group structure and shape.

Itziger · 05-05-2017 7:02pm

I dunno, can't see it happening just yet. Besides the fact that it's a massive (and cheap) PR stunt and barely legal - shoes, car, pacers - just think we need another few years to get to sub 2 and more than a few years to get to sub 2 in a real race.

Chivito550 · 05-05-2017 10:53pm

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.

opus · 06-05-2017 5:21am

Perfect timing for anyone who did the Darkness into Light event earlier on

Must admit I'm fascinated to watch it, would have gotten up regardless.

This Fat Girl Runs · 06-05-2017 5:31am

I'm up, watching. Kipchoge looks so relaxed. Desisa keeps dropping back a little. Tadesa showing the effort.

The pacing transitions are really smooth. I'm also fascinated by how closely they are running the line.

Itziger · 06-05-2017 5:42am

More like Breaking 1 (for a Half)

For 1 of 3 and by a second or two.

I feel bad for the athletes but I'm hating the Twitter/Nike bull crap.

opus · 06-05-2017 5:53am

This comment is good!

kipchoge looks like hes out for a jog in the park and tedisa looks like hes about to pass out

CR 7 · 06-05-2017 6:19am

He doesn't look like he's even changed stride or facial expression at any point. It looks like they were always expecting it to be Kipchoge to do it.

Itziger · 06-05-2017 6:20am

"The shoes feel like wheels". Yeah, they get two of the fastest half guys on the planet to a 60+ min Half. Hmmmmmm.

Wanderer78 · 06-05-2017 6:26am

Ferocious pace, best of luck to them

CR 7 · 06-05-2017 6:47am

2:00:24 So close..:(

Being ahead of pace early on (if unplanned) must have hurt them a bit.

bonaparte2 · 06-05-2017 6:55am

Am I the only one delighted that they didn't succeed.

Suck it up , Nike

Wanderer78 · 06-05-2017 7:12am

Jaysis, he looks as fresh after that

opus · 06-05-2017 7:14am

Tbh the Nike involvement doesn't bother me in the slightest, it's not like I'd be running out buying a load of their gear either way. Don't Adidas have something similar on the go as well?

Thought that was an epic performance from all three of them, would have loved to have seen Kipochoge make it. Was fantastic to see all the pacers celebrating with him afterwards as you got a feel for the team spirit in the attempt. Impressive how well he looked after finishing!

Commentary was a bit on the ropey side

Slow_Runner · 06-05-2017 7:17am

bonaparte2 wrote: »

Am I the only one delighted that they didn't succeed.

Suck it up , Nike

They'll still lap it up as a success and sell loads of shoes off it. I agree that it's a marketing ploy but do think it is beneficial.
As an experiment in a controlled environment it showed what the human body is capable of and I think it will lead to faster marathon times - expect to see Kipchoge to break the WR this year.
All in all fascinating to watch from both a runner and scientific point of view

tony1980 · 06-05-2017 7:20am

Kipchoge's running form is incredible, even at the end, it looked so effortless to him!

bonaparte2 · 06-05-2017 7:21am

It starts with a two.

So its not a success. They can paint it how they like

robinph · 06-05-2017 7:26am

Well that proves it's definitely possible, even if they missed it today. Surprised at how early on the other guys fell off the pace though, must have just got out of the wrong side of bed as they were all capable of at least making it to half way on pace.

Kipchoge just lost a bit in the last couple of laps, but was still within a second until well into the final few kms.

average_runner · 06-05-2017 7:29am

bonaparte2 wrote: »

It starts with a two.

So its not a success. They can paint it how they like

I disagree, it now shows it very possible to run a sub 2 marathon. Alot of progress made.

CR 7 · 06-05-2017 7:33am

average_runner wrote: »

I disagree, it now shows it very possible to run a sub 2 marathon. Alot of progress made.

I wonder will we see another attempt soon, once they've analysed today's data?

56k viewers on the YouTube stream, and I think over 100k on the Twitter one, so that'll be a success for Nike, considering I haven't seen much mention of it outside of running specific sites/forums, and the time it was on.

robinph · 06-05-2017 7:40am

Not sure there is much point in another attempt. They have proven that it is possible to run significantly faster. Doubt that Nike would be overly bothered about another attempt too soon..... Unless rumours come out that another shoe manufacturer is about to have a go now they know how it's done.

bonaparte2 · 06-05-2017 7:43am

You bet your ass there will be another attempt. Its so tantalizingly close . They could sell a million t shirts at fifty bucks a pop with 1.59 on them.
It'd be a whole new range of gear

they wont sell many with 2.00.24 on them

This Fat Girl Runs · 06-05-2017 7:52am

This doesn't inspire me to go out and buy the shoes.

It does inspire me to go for a run today.

I think it was pretty amazing to watch. The technical and mental ability of these men today was unreal. I actually learned a lot just by watching. Kipchoge runs so relaxed and focused. He's super efficient in running form and until the last 10 minutes he made it look effortless.

The side bits were annoying but I did like what Kipchoge said in one of them. He said "It's not a chance. It's a choice."

All this, gimmick or not, is because someone decided they wanted to see what was possible. Someone asked 'what if?' As an experiment, it answers the question. Isn't that what experiments are for?

Nike sponsoring sub-2 hour marathon attempt

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