Whilst Eluid Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele’s assault on the world record was being billed as a battle for the ages, it was potentially leading us away from the greater race.

A World Record holder, Brigid Kosgei, versus a World Champion, Ruth Chepngetich. 2:14:04 against 2:17:08, both times from last year. Both with a point to prove to Kenyan Athletics that they should be on the Tokyo Olympic team and the looped course and fast pacemakers mean it could be electric from the start.

Add in 22 year old Alemu Megertu, who has a 66:43 half marathon and isn’t afraid to go with the front runners.

At the other end of the spectrum you have Edith Chelimo debuting at the marathon at 34, with a 65:58 PB, and Vivian Cheruiyot, 37 years old and with a 2:18:31 PB and not someone you can count out.

Only a little bit of training

Kosgei has downplayed the prospects of a world record a little though. “Due to this pandemic, I cannot say I’ll run this way or that way, because coronavirus means we did not do enough training, like last year. So I want to try my best only on Sunday.”

But the Kenyan star has previously said she feels her record could be lowered to around 2:10, so maybe “just 180, 190km a week” at 3000m of altitude will be enough?

Despite disqualification in the Hour race with Siffan Hassan, Kosgei still showed some of the raw speed that makes her so exciting as a marathoner.

Will Sinead Diver lead from the front again? Photo: Ian Walton for Virgin Money London Marathon

Will the laps play a part?

Aside from the front runners there is also a wonderful mix of PB hunting women to watch. We’re hoping a good bunch work together with the high quality pacers, like Aly Dixon and Eilish McColgan (called in last minute to replace an injured Arter), to really put themselves in contention in the second half.

The lapped course and potentially tough weather conditions could also make for interesting racing. The psychological aspect of lapped races means that one has to ignore the faster athletes lapping you, even though it will affect your perception of your own effort levels and pace.

It can work both way though, so if there are struggling athletes you can lap, then it will make your own effort seem that much easier. Perception of effort may be a key element if the wind and rain pick up on Sunday.

The sub 2:30 race

With Steph Twell starting 2020 with a half marathon PB in Houston, Texas, there was high hopes the year would bring an improvement to her already excellent mark of 2:26:40 set in Frankfurt last year. With a third place 33:38 in a 10k in Switzerland just last weekend, we might see a tactical race from the Brit with the fastest PB in the event.

“It’s my first female-only race, and a British championships too, which is really important to me. This is an opportunity for me to grow again. The time will count too.” was what Twell said at the press conference, which might be an insight into race tactics.

Lily Partridge, Tracy Barlow, Natasha Cockram, Tish Jones, Helen Davies and Naomi Mitchell will all be looking for new personal bests and pushing for that Olympic qualifying time of 2:29:30.

Which shoes will be best for race day? Ben Connor is clearly winning the cool 80’s jacket war. Photo: Dan Vernon for London Marathon Events

There are other men in the race too

Even though Bekele has withdrawn it doesn’t mean it’s just a jog in the park for Kipchoge to win. 2:02:55 man Mosinet Geremew is still looking for his first major marathon win and the 28 year old won’t be afraid of going with the early pace.

That still leaves another five, yes FIVE, men who has PBed under 2:05. Seven runners in total have the pace to run a marathon in 125 minutes.

Marius Kipserum is the only other Kenyan, with the four other athletes all heralding from Ethiopia. Maybe they feel the need to pick up the baton for their fallen compatriot Bekele and we will see something special? Shura Kitata brings a sub 60 min half PB from January 2020, but who knows how the COVID summer training has gone for any of these stars?

Sisay Lemma is one of the only front runners to have notched a podium marathon finish in 2020, with a third placed 2:04:51 at Tokyo Marathon earlier in the year. Will that experience help or hinder the 29 year old?

Frank Futselaar (NED) (skinny blue jeans), Ross Millington (Snazzy jacket), Charlie Hulson (favourite colour blue?), and Jonny Mellor (far right) prepare for some shared miles on Sunday.  Photo: Dan Vernon for London Marathon Events

All aboard the 2:10 train

For the men’s race it looks like there could be a decent amount gunning for the 2:10 mark, with British stars like Chris Thompson, Jonny Mellor and Ben Connor all featuring.

“I’ve always thought I was capable of running two zero-something,” said the NB Manchester athlete before the event. “If I can come away with another qualifying time, that’s goal number one. But if I can get under 2:10 then I’d be delighted.”

In a group paced by Sir Mo Farah, Matt Clowes and Jake Smith, could we see some more British or Irish runners make a big leap in 2020.

One to watch for us, after an excellent performance just behind Sir Mo at the Larne Coastal Half, is Stephen Scullion. The prodigious talent never ceases to amaze with his performances and we certainly wouldn’t bet against something special from the Northern Irishman this weekend.

Exciting debutants to the distance include Fast10’s Jack Gray, who is known for aggressive front running at the shorter distances. With such an opportunity to be within a big group, paced by experienced marathoners, don’t be surprised to see Gray, and others, rolling the dice for the big times.

Another Fast10 athlete, Ollie Lockley, is a man who has flown under the radar a little in the pre race coverage but his half marathon PB is one many of the other men on the start line would love to have achieved and we know he will get amongst it.

For a detailed preview of the course before the Sunday action, check out Dan Biagi’s analysis.

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The post The best battle is still on appeared first on Fast Running.

This weekend is one that will be remembered for a long time to come in running circles. There’s not much to say about the astounding achievement of Eliud Kipchoge that hasn’t been said but whether you think it was a vanity project or the equivalent of going to the moon, there’s no doubt that things change as a result of this barrier-breaking run.

What remains to be seen is how much and how soon the knowledge that sub-two is possible has an impact on those running at the highest level on the roads. With Bekele nipping at the heels of Kipchoge’s time in Berlin, what does the future hold for the official world record? Exciting times are ahead.

After a somewhat tumultuous couple of weeks in the world of athletics there is a wry irony in the fact that the company that had caused many to doubt their sport has now become the reason that many are feeling inspired again.

Kosgei smashes the marathon WR

Brigid Kosgei wasn’t about the let the gents hog the headlines either. In less than perfect conditions Kenya’s second record breaker of the weekend showed us all at Chicago Marathon that we shouldn’t underestimate her. After her compatriot’s efforts just one day previous, much was being made online of how the women’s equivalent to breaking two hours was the 2:15:00 barrier.

With her 2:14:04 Kosgei obliterated that barrier and has made us all go back to the mental drawing board on what the next target should be. Talking of barriers, Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack smashed her PB barrier to run an Olympic Qualifying time of 2:26:47 and take 5th (after an 11th at Boston in April). Can we get a photo?

A tough day for Farah

Salazaar-coached athletes featured heavily in the elite lineup of Chicago and Mo Farah, whilst now until the tutelage of Gary Lough, had plenty of questions asked of him before stepping up to defend his title. At 15k Mo was already 10s behind the lead group and just wasn’t able to execute his normal strong finish.

Whether the distractions of the past week were to blame or other factors, who knows. With the wind worsening throughout the race he had to settle for 8th place in 2:09:58. In the end it was Lawrence Cherono who add a second World Major win to his 2019 after his Boston victory earlier in the year.

Aaron Woodman of Willowfield was the next GB finisher has he continued his fabulous year clocking a new PB of 2:24:57 with Chris Mason a little further back in 2:27:01. Amy Hudson was the first British female to finish clocking 2:58:47 ahead of Marie Baxter (3:02:50) and Betty Bohane (3:03:47).

Slightly less attention grabbing, but a hat-tip must go to Richard White in 2:40:06 who placed 9th at Koln Marathon in 2:40:06. Melbourne Marathon results are tbc.

Shortened course at Great Birmingham Run

Back in the UK our resident athletes were turning up the speed over a variety of distances and terrains this weekend.

The Great Birmingham Run Half Marathon had to be shortened due to a suspicious vehicle being left on the course. Across the shortened course Hayley Carruthers (Birchfield) was the winner with 1:02:09 leaving plenty of clear road between her and Tonbridge’s Lucy Reid (1:03:34) and AFD’s Laura Gent (1:05:54)

Our first female runner over the line! A great run. Congratulations Hayley Carruthers!
.@SimplyhealthUK #GreatBirminghamRun pic.twitter.com/kmTiRpl6YY

— Great Run (@Great_Run) October 13, 2019

We are not 100% sure of the final race distance but Birchfield Harrier’s Omar Ahmed upgraded his silver spot last year to nab top spot in a winning time of 52:18. Doug Musson was a few minutes behind in 55:33.  A fast podium was finished off my William Mycroft (Enfield & Haringey) in 56:41.

Partridge back on form and Stephanie Davis destroys her PB in Oxford

First back to the crease at Lancashire CCC this weekend were Ben Connor (Derby) and Lily Partridge who completed the Manchester Half Marathon in 1:03:11 and 1:13:45 respectively.  Following Ben home was Wayany Gherbeilasie (Shettleston Harriers) in 1:04:06 and Frank Baddick (Newham and Essex Beagles) in 1:04:18. Chasing Lily round familiar streets was locally based athlete Jip Vastenburg (New Balance Manchester) who took second place in 1:14:18. Third went to Elinor Kirk of Swansea Harriers in 1:16:13.

Our elite winner is through the finish line!

Congratulations to Ben Connor with a time of 1:03:11 #mcrhalf pic.twitter.com/gXoBKvyrVE

— Wiggle Manchester Half (@ManchesterHalf) October 13, 2019

Alex Milne was a comfortable winner of Oxford Half Marathon where he clocked 67:31 to see off Seyfu Jamaal (68:24) and Ewan Cameron (68:30). Stephanie Davis absolutely dominated the women’s race to run a huge PB of 72:57 in one of the performances of the day by British athletes. Mel Wilkins was 2nd in 77:21 and Rachel Felton 3rd in 78:26.

Tom Merson (Exmouth Harriers) ran to a convincing victory at the Great West Run in Exeter, his 1:07:03 a good five minutes ahead of his nearest competitor, Jordan Andrews (Tavistock Run Project), who finished in 1:12:48. A little closer but still safely behind was Michael Sandiford in 1:14:51. Carys Hughes of Cardiff AAC lead the ladies race in 1:20:45 and was similarly untroubled by second place. That spot went to Serane Stone (Tiverton Harriers) in 1:23:22 and third was taken by Rachel Bunting (North Devon Road Runners) in 1:26:17

In London, Extinction Rebellion heeded the organiser’s pleas not to disrupt the Royal Parks Half Marathon leaving the race to go ahead as planned, to the benefit of Georgie Fenn who finished first lady in 1:22:09. First male was james Hoad in 1:06:48. Further results tbc.

At Maidstone Half Marathon first place went to Daniel Watt in 1:23:20, followed by Chris Humphreys in 1:23:47 and John Witton in 1:25:04. In the women’s race, Charlotte Bates took the win in 1:36:35. Louise Brass was second in 1:36:35 and Rebecca Still was third in 1:40:54.

The AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon was won by Matthew Walters in 1:21:57 and Laura Midwinder in 1:36:28

A day of disruption at major races

Great things were expected from the British field at the Great Eastern Run, Peterborough. However, frustration not PB’s was the order of the day for organisers and athletes alike as the event had to be cancelled due to a Police incident.

GER tweeted “In the interest of safety for our participants we took the decision to cancel the half marathon half an hour after its original start time because of Police information that a man was acting suspiciously close to the route.”

Sitting alongside the incident at the Great Birmingham run it was an odd day for major British road races.

Morwood and Twell bring home the cabbages

Joe Morwood and Steph Twell won the famous Cabbage Patch 10 race in Teddington whose former winners include the likes of Mo Farah, Richard Nerurkar, Mara Yamauchi and Paula Fudge. Morwood ran 50:18 over the 10 flat, fast 10 mile course and Twell ran 55:02.

Fin McNally scored an impressive 2nd place in 50:34 with Nick Torry 3rd in 50:45. Twell had a more comfortable victory well clear of 2nd place athlete Emily Hosker-Thornhill who ran 59:54 and 3rd placed athlete Caroline Hoyte who ran 60:10.

Ross Millington and Adam Craig had impressive run outs at the 4 Mijl van Groningen race in the Netherlands. Millington finished 6th in 18:10 and Craig 11th in 18:25. Karl Darcy was also racing, finishing 24th in 19:19.

McCormack and Douglas claim WMRA World Cup titles

The mountain racers were in action in Ljubjana at the Smarna Gorna Mountain Race and it was the race that saw Sarah McCormack and Andrew Douglas lift the 2019 Mountain Running World Cup titles after a season of fabulously consistent racing for the Irish and Scottish athletes.

The Smarna Gorna race was the last of the season and saw McCormack finish 2nd in 51:51 and Douglas 4th in 43:23 as well as strong runs from Emma Clayton (5th – 54:19).

England athletes perform in Rennes

In 10k land England Athletes were in action at the Rennes 10k – a technical course of 1km laps. The women finished with a fabulous 1-2-3 with Danielle Hodgkinson (34:54) winning the race followed by Fast Running’s Hannah Irwin (35:13) in second and Hannah Viner (35:15) in 3rd.

The men also had a fantastic day with Ollie Lockley (30:07) finishing 2nd, Jack Gray (30:15) 4th, Owen Hind (30:34) 6th and Alex Bampton (30:52) 8th. We believe both the men’s and women’s team won the team competition.

We believe there was a Scottish team competing as well and are awaiting results.

Credit: Richard Own

Hulson sub 30

Back in blighty, Charlie Hulson was in fine form at the Farndon 10k, dipping under 30 to take top spot in 29:56. Daniel Cliffe was next in a nice round 32:00 and Raif Serif took heed of the two minute-gap memo to finish third in 34:20. Swift ladies were out on the course too, with 37:11 being the required time to take first for Joanna Marsden. Becky Lewis managed to hold onto the sub-40 dream, bringing home silver in 39:46 and Gemma Barnett was third in 40:22.

Oswestry 10k was won by Claire Martin in 37:31. Local lady Bethan Jones was second in 40:02 and Lauren Morley third in 41:39 . In the men’s race Felix McGrath of Bristol and West AC won in 31:44. Jack Pickett was second in 32:03 and Jimmy Kershaw third in 33:04

In Guildford the 10k victory went to Rob Sherwood (33:22) in a close race that saw Oliver Pritchard finish just four seconds behind (33:26) and James Share a little after in 33:48. Women’s winner Jenny Pick (34:19) had company too, albeit not quite so close. Carolyne Baxter was behind her in 37:38 and Clare Rees in 39:08.

Denmead 10k, Goldhill 10k, Victoria Park 10k & Grittleton 10k results tbc

Cross country season kicks off

With this Saturday heralding the start of the Cross Country season in the UK it feels apt that the top story of the week was a team effort, with the aforementioned Kipchoge so quick to acknowledge the importance of his team of 41 pacers and countless support staff . Cross Country turns our generally solo sport of running into one of squad-goals, with clubs all over the nation donning their vests and spikes to hurtle round boggy fields for points and placings.

Kicking us off in our trip around the mud-splatters is the first of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series which took place in Llandaff fields, Cardiff. Kicking off the series in winning style was Charlotte Arter (Cardiff AC), followed by Jenny Nesbitt (Cardiff AC) and Iona Lake (City of Norwich). The Senior men’s opening title went to Marc Scott (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) who was chased in by Mahamed Mohamed (Southampton AC) and Michael Ward (Cardiff AC). Full details on the race can be found here.

Senior Women X-Challenge
Charlotte Arter (Cardiff AC)
Jenny Nesbitt (Cardiff AC)
Iona Lake (City of Norwich)
4th to Jessica Gibbon (Reading AC)#MuddyBrilliant pic.twitter.com/RUyyzkD1Q7

— Cardiff Cross Challenge (@CrossCardiff) October 12, 2019

You can see the result of the XC results and links to where they’ll be published below. You’ll find them there once club-compilers have finished their epic jobs!

On the longer end of things, the final in the Centurion 100 mile grand slam series took place on Saturday-Sunday. The Autumn 100 was a soggy one this year but that didn’t deter Denmark’s Henrik Westerlin who smashed through the century in 14:02:19. This was the quickest 100 ever seen at any of the Centurion Running trail events.

Geoffrey Cheshire was close, by 100mile standards, finishing half an hour behind (14:31:16) on the four leg course from Goring. Another 30 minutes was enough for John Melbourne to squelch home to third in 15:01:39. The UK won out in the women’s race as Amy Sarkies took 18:30:27 to make it round the course.

French-based athlete Edwina Sutton couldn’t chase her down and came second in 19:48:01 and was probably in a clean pair of socks and downing her second cup of tea before Caroline Abid finished third in 20:56:51.

Well done to Henrik & Amy our 2019 Autumn #A100 winners!

@stumarchphoto pic.twitter.com/KBigF87zyN

— centurionrunning (@centurionrunner) October 13, 2019

UK Cross Country results & links

Chiltern League – results tbc 

Met League – Claybury, 8k results

Women:
00: 29:09 Naomi Taschimowitz Shaftsbury Barnet Harriers
00:30:07 Khahisa Mhlanga Herts Phoenix
00:20:13 Revee Walcott-Nolan NEB
Men:
00:25:33 Abdishakur Abdulle Hillingdon AC in 25:33,
00:25:41 Ahmed Abdulle WG&EL25:41,
00:25:47 Ash Harrell WG&EL 25:48

Hampshire League – results tbc 

Cumbria League – results tbc
Essex League – tbc
Kent League – results tbc
Liverpool and District League – full results 

Men:
00:31:58 Jon Jo Doherty St Hel Sutt
00:32:02 To. Rogerson Liverpool H
00:32:36 Martin Swensson Penny Lane

Women:
00:37:22 Unknown female
00:39:15 Charlotte Dewhurst Liverpool H
00:41:12 Jade Smith St Hel Sutt

Manchester Area League – results tbc

North Midlands League – results tbc 

Red Rose League – results tbc 

Surrey League – results tbc 

Sussex League – results tbc 

Booth Decorators League – results tbc 

CC6 League – results tbc 

East Sussex League – results tbc 

East Yorkshire League – results tbc 

Herefordshire League – results tbc

Isle of Man League – results tbc 

South Yorkshire League – results tbc 

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The post Great domestic racing as world records tumble – weekend round up appeared first on Fast Running.

Setting off like she was on a mission from the very start, Kosgei crested the finishing tape in 2:14:04 (unofficial). This is, for me, a better performance than Kipchoge’s 1:59:40 in Vienna yesterday. Simply fantastic running.

From the first 5km split it looked like something very special could be on, with the 64:28 half marathoner (although that was at the Great North Run and not record eligible) going through in 15:28. That’s around 2:10 marathon pace, although she settled into 2:14 pace and went through halfway in 66:59.

When the pacemakers dropped away around the 30km mark some expected the Kenyan to slow down, but that wasn’t the case at all. The 30-35km split was 15:57 and that’s just four seconds slower than Mo Farah ran for the same segment, albeit a few minutes earlier.

Jonathan Gault, of LetsRun.com, reported on Twitter that Kosgei then went on to run her 24th mile in 4:45, which is sub 2:05 marathon pace. That speed so late in the race is simply phenomenal. 40km passed in 2:07:11 and at this point you start to believe that this weekend marathon history is really being made.

Breaking into the top 30 overall, Brigid Kosgei smashed Paul Radcliffe’s 2:15:25 set in London back in 2003 wth a 2:14:04. That’s around 5:07 per mile for the 26.2 miles.

The men’s race

The men’s race was won in 2:05:45 by Lawrence Cherono, in a sprint finish with Dejene Debela, Asefa Mengstu and Bedan Karoki. Sir Mo Farah finished in eighth position in what must be a disappointing 2:09:58 for the 2018 winner.

It was anyone’s win coming into the final stretch, but Cherono had the legs of the other runners and all four finished within eight seconds.

Farah was off the pace of the leaders by half way, running 62:54 and forty seconds back from the lead. It may not sound like a lot, but it’s a lifetime when there are six world class marathoners in the lead pack. Farah had training partner Bashir Abdi for company, but the Belgian pulled away in the second half and went on to finish fifth in 2:06:14.

It is worth noting that both Kosgei and Cherono are managed by Federico Rosa and Associati. The Italian athlete representative was also responsible for representing Abel Kiprop, Jemima Sumgong, Matthew Kisorio, Agatha Jeruto and Rita Jeptoo, all of whom have been banned for doping offences. In 2016 Rosa himself was charged with doping offences, but the case was later dropped by authorities in Kenya.

Fionnuala McCormack PB

Irish international Fionnuala McCormack finished an excellent fifth in 2:26:47 to take a huge chunk off of her 2:30:38 PB from Boston marathon earlier this year.

The cross country star is a runner who seems suited to the hard work and grind of the marathon distance and it was great to see her pass through halfway in 1:12:56 and hold strong for a 2:26:47 finish.

We believe this puts McCormack third on the all time marathon list for Ireland, behind Catherina McKiernan (2:22:23) and Irish born Australian international Sinead Diver (2:24:11), although technically McCormack’s mark is second all time as Diver ran her time representing Australia.

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