As a kid I once had the misfortune of running directly under a hornet’s nest that some older kids had been throwing a football at. I guess my understandable aversion to actual hornet’s nests bled over to figurative ones, at least when it comes to delving into controversial topics on the internet.

So why did I decide to open my mouth about Kipchoge’s sub 2 hour run? Why not just blindly celebrate it as the remarkable personal achievement and experiment that it was?

If that’s all there were to it then believe me, I’d have nothing more to say. The marketing and the majority of popular coverage outside of running circles paints a different picture, though; that this was in fact the first sub 2 marathon (e.g. Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge smashes two-hour marathon barrier).

We should be celebrating

What Kipchoge did was indeed a remarkable achievement that should be celebrated. He’s possibly the only human capable of it under those specified conditions, and he seems like a wonderful person who is inspiring countless people.

For that last reason alone, the run was a success worth every bit of what went into it. Nothing here is meant in any way as negative towards him or to lessen his personal achievement. And if all you care about is the personal inspiration, then please, read no further.

Seriously. It’s not worth your time and I would not want to diminish those feelings of enthusiasm and motivation through my own thoughts that are admittedly often overly unemotional and analytical.

If all you care about is the personal inspiration, then please, read no further.

If you’re interested in discussions about what the achievement truly means in terms of human potential and competitive standards, read on.

Celebrating the achievement and having a rational discussion around those topics should not be mutually exclusive. The discussion transcends this single performance and is important to anyone who cares about sport or the limits of the human body and mind. If this post were just specifically about Kipchoge’s run itself then I definitely wouldn’t care enough to write it.

This post also isn’t meant to be a breakdown of the actual differences between his attempt and a sanctioned race, or a commentary on the latest running footwear fashion trends.

Far more thorough and scientifically backed analyses have been done on the topic. Here’s a good start:.

A quick summary

• Studies on the shoes have shown the claim of about 4% improvement in efficiency on the original version are valid. Less than a 1% increase in time would have put Kipchoge over 2 hours.
• Studies on the drafting formation have shown a benefit of anywhere from a 1:52 to a 4:30 benefit. Even sanctioned races can have (much less optimal) drafting for much of it, so the relative benefit is less, but the necessary difference here is only 20 seconds. In a race pacers have to start with everyone else, so by definition will fall back eventually if they’re pacing the best in the world.
• The controlled environment was also a factor, but those same conditions could in theory exist in an actual race. Again, though, every tiny thing matters at margins this slim.

Now what we’re actually here to discuss

Now, on to why these differences are worth discussing as we move forward into an era where performance enhancements can exist through many means.

For that, I want to make a clear distinction between personal achievements and competitive achievements. The former helps an individual explore their limits and potential, while the latter helps provide a measuring stick for those limits and at the very upper end defines some of the limits of humans as a species.

Why our own personal goals are not to be belittled

I’ve spent a good deal of time pursuing goals that were arbitrarily defined (let’s run through the woods on this loop with books that the guy with the cigarette and conch shell set out) or even that I just flat out made up myself (how about I run the big rounds in the UK, but consecutively and ride my bike between?).

I’ve written a number of times about how I decided on those goals and why. Those goals are my own; they were meant for me to personally test and expand my own limits. Frankly, I don’t really care what anyone else thinks about them.

I will also absolutely go to the mat for anyone whose personal goal is in any way intentionally belittled (figuratively, I will figuratively go to the mat… let’s not forget I’m a scrawny ultrarunner).

Celebrate Kipchoge’s achievement for what it is

It doesn’t matter if that goal is to run a two hour marathon or a two hour 5K. Aiming to bake a great cheesecake, or to do something absolutely no one else would even care to attempt or think about, is still an achievement. Nearly every day I have the amazing fortune of seeing one of my kids light up with pride from doing something that I wouldn’t otherwise give a second thought. And it’s awesome.

For them, it’s a huge personal achievement. As long as a personal goal doesn’t bring harm to someone or something else, anyone’s achievement of one should be celebrated. It’s theirs. No one else can take that away, ever.

So for Kipchoge, deciding to do this, putting in the work for it, and achieving it should absolutely be celebrated. It’s something that he and everyone else involved in it can take pride in for the rest of their lives. And if it inspired others, that’s an immense bonus.

Now back to controversy, competitive achievements

But here’s where I have to run under the hornet’s nest. Again, not for what the achievement actually was but for what it was marketed and largely covered as: a competitive achievement, i.e. one that is meritorious because of how it compares to other performances rather than one that’s purpose is exclusively a personal challenge.

Its purpose was to exceed all previous performances and break through a barrier long dreamed about by many, to be at that upper end of competitive achievements defining human potential.

I know many people are reading this and saying, “But it wasn’t, everyone was clear that it wouldn’t count and Kipchoge said it was about showing that no human is limited.”

That’s great, and I love the sentiment, but at the end of the day whether it was the intention of anyone, beyond the INEOS and Nike marketing departments, or not, other performances will be measured against this one. Kipchoge will widely go down as the first to break 2 hours. It’s not even worth denying.

So why does this matter?

My own thoughts on why this does or doesn’t matter have admittedly bounced all over the place, but the ones that have remained most steady and convinced me that I should actually write this are below.

Whenever a goal is competitive, standards have to be in place.

All is fair in love and war (and personal achievements). But not in competitive sports. Otherwise they have no meaning.

After spending four years as a college sports talk radio host I stopped caring about college sports altogether due to a number of major cheating scandals that were given little to no penalty. The standards for the marathon are laid out in IAAF rules.

If some rules are ignored, why not ignore all of them?

Sure, only the bare minimum for Kipchoge to go sub 2 were ignored, but there have long been plenty of other runners capable of exactly the same thing: ignoring just enough rules to go sub 2 (Bekele, Kimetto, Gebrselassie, etc. – all capable of going sub 2 if given just enough aid to do so).

They just chose not to and didn’t have a big marketing push for it.

It was also done in a way that most people don’t immediately recognise the extent of the benefits. Drafting with a full group in formation like that doesn’t seem like a big deal to the casual runner, but it’s enormous when moving at 13.1 mph (21.1 kmh) with such slim time margins.

It would be much more obvious if it were downhill, with a tailwind, or with doping (which would set a horrible example to kids and aspiring athletes, and no I am not in any way suggesting whatsoever that Kipchoge dopes). But from a performance/external aid standpoint, none of those are any different.

These guys have been finishing sub one hour marathons – Editor.  Photo: Berlin Marathon

Tailwinds, downhill (or on rollerblades… too much? – Editor)

They all provide benefits and performance enhancement through different means but with similar results.

As for the shoes, I don’t really want to get into that.

Yes these were an unreleased prototype (which would violate IAAF rule 143), but the Vaporflys are currently allowed in sanctioned races. So to be honest it’s almost stupid not to wear them. Nearly every sport has rules on equipment (anyone want to see what the baseball home run record would be if pros could use double wall carbon composite bats instead of wooden ones?).

Athletes have a voice in setting rules, but once they’re set it’s the athlete’s job to go perform the best they can under those rules. I used a pair of Vaporflys myself for triathlons (the measly 4%, not the Next%), and I might just dust them off for a 26.2 mile run around NYC in a few weeks.

So this doesn’t prove a competitive sub 2 is possible

No, I’m sorry, but this does not prove that sub 2 is possible any more than some of his previous performances have. This was undoubtedly extremely exciting and inspiring, but doing sub 2 with aid does not prove doing sub 2 without aid is possible.

Achieving what seemed impossible means achieving what seemed impossible, not slightly modifying it to where it seems possible and then doing it.

I would much rather see someone reach too far and then know where the current limit is than lower the bar and never know how high they could have actually jumped.

Goals are meant to make us reach further, and lessening them is in a way just admitting that they’re not possible.

Better to be in Berlin

The 2:01:39 he ran in Berlin is likely a better performance and even more indicative that a sanctioned sub 2 is possible. I can’t think of any situation where adding variables to an equation just to then have to figure out how to subtract them back out (e.g. how much exactly did the drafting help) is a good strategy.

No one thought, I hope, that there was some magical threshold of exactly 2 hours where if someone’s legs moved that fast they might explode and we had to make sure that wouldn’t happen.

You know how I know Gary Robbins can finish Barkley? Because he came agonizingly close legitimately. If he had instead gotten his own special set of rules from laz and then finished that way, I would not be nearly as certain.

And no, the aided Sub Two isn’t like summiting Everest with oxygen first and then doing it without. Summiting Everest is a binary outcome and people who overcommit and come up short, well, they tend to die. So I guess I should modify my previous statement to say adding unnecessary variables is never a good strategy unless said variables prevent death.

Stealing the thunder of the first in competition

Whether it’s Kipchoge or someone else, I don’t want this to steal thunder from the first person to do it in a sanctioned race.

Everyone in the local running circle will know when it happens, but to the broader public it will be a sidenote – “oh, that’s cool but didn’t someone already do that?” Unless it is Kipchoge, that person will now also have a qualifier / footnote next to their achievement (first to break 2 in a sanctioned race), instead of just “first to break 2 hours.”

Photo: Virgin Money London Marathon

Has it lowered chances of Kipchoge running under two hours competitively?

My last bullet here, and the most selfish one, is that I hate seeing someone with his enormous capabilities investing time in something like this instead of trying to actually break 2 hours.

We unfortunately only get to witness a limited number of races from Kipchoge in his prime, and given the variability in race conditions our statistical chances of seeing him do it in an actual race just dropped significantly.

Maybe this will break some mental barrier in his head and make it more likely he can do it in any given race (I hope so!), but I would have thought that battling it out with Bekele two weeks earlier in Berlin would have not only been more exciting but would have also helped him improve more.

Human Potential

Human potential can be measured by the limits of an individual, or by the limits of humanity. Both are extremely valuable. Everyone’s strengths are different (Kipchoge might not be able to bake a very good cheesecake) and it is important for us all to explore what our strengths and weaknesses are, but it is the sum of those strengths that defines our collective potential.

Overall, my concern with the sub 2 event boils down to the lack of clarity between what type of potential was being measured.

Without a doubt Kipchoge’s individual potential under a set of specific conditions was measured, but the event has largely been portrayed as much more than that.

Even if it were truly a measure of human potential, it’s not clear what type. Physiological? Technological? Logistical? All of these have merit, but it’s great to be able to distinguish between them and acknowledge which it is, if only to better inform future endeavors to push those limits even further.

Fighting against technology to find true human potential

One of the more interesting aspects to me of Barkley is that as technology improves it gets harder, attempting to compensate and remove technological improvements from the equation to keep it all about the person.

So what we’re left with is a performance that will at least, I hope, inspire some kid out there who will one day break 2, but how the result stacks up against other performances and what it really tells us about human physiological limits will always very much be uncertain.

Being unable to compare performances from different eras is a norm in sports, but we can’t even really measure this against something from the same year. And please, let’s at least stop it with the moon landing comparisons.

John Kelly is an ultra-distance athlete and the 15th person to ever finish the Barkley Marathons. In his own words he likes to “take what should be a simple, straight forward thought and over-analyze it into a novel”. He has a personal blog here. 

The post Exploring Human Potential Through Sport 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.

With 10 athletes who have run inside 2:06 in men’s race and six sub 2:20 runners in the women’s race, the Virgin Money London Marathon has once again attracted a super field for the 39th edition on Sunday (April 28).

Defending champions Eliud Kipchoge and Vivian Cheruiyot are back once again, with world record holder Kipchoge going for his fourth victory in the UK capital after victories in 2015, 2016 and 2018.

Kipchoge will once again race against Mo Farah, who finished third last year in London, and both men head into Sunday’s race having lowered their personal bests from 12 months ago.

Photo: Virgin Money London Marathon

After taking the win in London last April, Kipchoge memorably clocked 2:01:39 to smash the world record at September’s Berlin Marathon, while Farah ran a PB of 2:05:11 to win his first marathon major one month later in Chicago.

It not just about the star duo, and eight other athletes who have run under 2:06 will join Kipchoge and Farah on the start line.

The challengers for the podium include Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata, who finished second in London and New York last year, compatriot Mosinet Geremew who won the Dubai Marathon last year in a time of 2:04:00, former world record holder Wilson Kipsang and 2017 London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru.

Kiptum has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit on the eve of the event. 

Outside of Kipchoge, Farah and the podium challengers, there is the hotly anticipated British duel between Callum Hawkins and Dewi Griffiths.

Photo: Virgin Money London Marathon

After Griffiths ran 2:09:49 on his marathon debut in Frankfurt two years ago, marathon fans have been eager to see the Welshman and the Hawkins go head-to-head over 26.2 miles.

Griffiths, who ran 62:44 over 13.1 miles in Houston earlier this year, is now returning to his best form after an injury plagued two years.

“The moment I crossed the line [in Frankfurt] I thought the world is there for the taking, but unfortunately I got a hamstring injury and then a stress fracture of the hip and I’ve had to wait and be patient to be back on the Start Line,” said Griffiths.

“That’s the exciting thing in many ways – even though I ran 2:09 there was some frustration because I thought I could’ve run quicker. That’s just who I am; I can run a PB and be disappointed. But now I’m excited to be here.”

Hawkins himself has had to overcome adversity in the 12 months, and races in his first marathon after collapsing in the closing stages – with gold in sight – at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The 2:10:17 marathoner heads into Sunday’s race after running 62:50 at last month’s Lisbon Half Marathon.

“Lisbon didn’t go quite as well as I was hoping – I thought I was in better shape,” said Hawkins. “But since then I’ve been going well in training out in Majorca and I feel in pretty good shape.

“Every session I was doing I was setting PBs. I’d probably say I’m in better shape now than before Rio and pre-London 2017.

“This year for me is all planned around making Tokyo and I think [the World Championships in] Doha is part of those plans. It’s a great opportunity to gain selection and then I can have the best build up for the Olympics.”

The other leading British challengers include Jonny Mellor (2:12:57), Tsegai Tewelde (2:12:23), Andy Davies (2:15:11), Josh Griffiths (2:14:49), Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Robbie Simpson (2:15:04) and debutant Jack Martin.

Irish marathon champion Mick Clohisey also races in the London Marathon for the first time having previously clocked 2:16:21 around the UK capital at the 2017 World Championships.

Clohisey was the fastest Irish marathoner in 2018 after running a personal best 2:14:55 in Seville before winning the Irish crown at the Dublin Marathon in October.

Four reigning marathon major champions battle in the women’s race

With all the bluster around the men’s race we cannot overlook the excellent line-up for the women’s event. Defending champion Vivian Cheruiyot ran 2:18:31 to win after overtaking Mary Keitany in the closing stages last year. Her compatriot and 2018 New York marathon winner Keitany will be looking for redemption after going at world record pace in the sweltering heat of 2018 and we can expect a fast pace again from the 2:17:01 Kenyan who holds the record for fastest in a women-only race.

Four other starters will have PBs under 2:2. Both Brigid Kosgei (2:18:35) and Roza Dereje (2:19:17) have both posted rapid half marathon times in 2019 already. Kenyan Kosgei ran 65:50 to win the Houston Half in January and then 65:28 to win the RAK Half in Bahrain. Ethiopia’s Dereje is only 21 years of age and ran 66:01 to win the Barcelona Half earlier this year.

Gladys Cherono (2:18:11) was the quickest female marathoner of 2018 with her win at the Berlin marathon, but was a disappointing sixth behind Kosgei at h Houston Half in January. Birhane Dibaba (2:19:51) makes up our six sub 2:20 women and makes her London Marathon debut after twice winning the Tokyo Marathon.

The US should be well resented at the from end of the field with Molly Huddle looking to improve on her 2:26:44 from the New York Marathon last year. The 67:25 half marathoner might have some competition for first American female from Brittany Charbonneau (2:36:26) and the exciting debut of her training partner Emily Sisson. The New Balance athlete ran the third fastest 10,000m in US history just last month with a 30:49 at the Stanford Invitational and Huddle also broke 31 minutes at the meet with the Ray Treacy athletes working together, as they might on Sunday.

British women improving together

There is also a host of strong British women who have targeted the London Marathon and it wold not be surprising to see a few under 2:30 this weekend. Charlotte Purdue has been in action with a victory at the Big Half in the build up to London and a 69:46 PB at the Marugame Half in February so will be confident of lowering her 2:29:23 mark from 2017.

Sonia Samuels has the quickest British female PB in the field and actually improved her own half marathon best earlier this year in Barcelona with a 72:19 so it would not be surprising to see the experienced marathoner convert the improvement to the anger distance after a great spring of warm weather training.

Lily Partridge has also remarked that she will be aiming for an improvement on her fine 2:29:24 from finishing eighth in hot conditions in London last year. Even just better weather conditions should see the Aldershot, Farnham and District runner jump forward, with two solid 72 minute half marathons in the wild up to London showing great promise too.

RELATED: Hayley Carruthers discusses London Marathon training 

Tracy Barlow and Hayley Carruthers are two athletes that could well knock some solid time from their previous bests and feature high up in the rankings of British women with Carruthers running 71:57 at the Big Half earlier this year. Expect Fast 10’s Natasha Cockram, Tish Jones and Clara Evans to all run well.

Irish born Sinead Diver, who now represents Australia and won the Melbourne Marathon in 2:25:19 is also one to watch in the women’s race. Diver also ran a PB of 68:55 at the Marugame Half in February, just ahead of Charlotte Purdue.

London Marathon schedule

8:40: Mini London Marathon
09:05: Elite Wheelchair Races
09:10: World Para Athletics Marathon Championships Ambulant Athletes
09:25: The Elite Women’s Race
10:10: The Elite Men’s Race, British Athletics & England Athletics Marathon Championships and Mass Race

Tv Guide

08:30-10:00 – BBC Two – includes the wheelchair start, the IPC races and the Women’s elite race start
08:30-14:30 – Uninterrupted coverage, Connected TV & online
08:55-12:25 – Elite races, BBC Red Button, Connected TV and online
09:00-13:00 – Uninterrupted coverage, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
10:00-14:30 – BBC One – includes the start of the men’s elite race and the masses

The latest news on the London Marathon can be found here.

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Eliud Kipchoge will return to the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday, April 28, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Britain’s Mo Farah.

Kipchoge won his third London Marathon title at last year’s race, with Farah finishing in third place.

The Kenyan went on to set a new marathon world record of 2:01:39 at the BMW Berlin Marathon, while Farah clocked 2:05:11 to break the European record to win the Chicago Marathon.

The two men will now go head-to-head once again on the streets of the capital with both looking to be crowned the king of London.

“It is always a great honour to come and race the Virgin Money London Marathon and I’m excited to be returning in 2019,” said the world record holder and defending champion. “I had a memorable 2018, winning the Virgin Money London Marathon and then setting a new world record at the BMW Berlin Marathon. I’m hoping that 2019 is just as good to me.

“I am looking forward to racing Sir Mo Farah again. He is a great champion and proved in Chicago that he can win a major marathon so I relish the battle with him and also the many other great athletes that I’m sure will once again be on the Start Line in London.”

Photo: Virgin Money London Marathon

Kipchoge’s marathon world record has cemented his position as the greatest marathon runner of all time.

He is unbeaten in the Virgin Money London Marathon with three victories from his three appearances in 2015, 2016 and 2018. He holds the course record of 2:03:05, which he set in 2016, and, if he wins one more title, he will become the most successful athlete in the elite men’s race in London Marathon history.

In addition to this, Kipchoge is the reigning Olympic marathon champion and has won three BMW Berlin Marathon titles and one Bank of America Chicago Marathon title.

Adding extra spice to the clash between Kipchoge and Farah is the fact that they are currently joint top of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XII leaderboard and victory in London could confirm the Series XII title.

The Abbott World Marathon Majors series tracks the points awarded for the best finishes in the world’s six best marathons. Series XII started at the 2018 BMW Berlin Marathon and will finish at the same race in 2019, taking in the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 2018 TCS New York City Marathon, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2019 Boston Marathon and the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.

Ethiopia’s 22-year-old marathon star Shura Kitata also returns to the London Marathon after finishing runner-up to Kipchoge last year and placing second in the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon. That means the top three from the 2018 podium will all be in London again this year.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the Virgin Money London Marathon, said: “There is no doubt that Eliud Kipchoge is the greatest marathon runner of all time. His world record at the BMW Berlin Marathon was a legendary sporting moment and one more win at the Virgin Money London Marathon would make him the most successful athlete in the history of the elite men’s race in our event’s illustrious history.

“Since Sir Mo Farah won the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October, everyone has been talking about another head-to-head between Mo and Eliud and we are absolutely thrilled that this showdown will happen at the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.

“We will see two absolute legends of distance running competing over 26.2 miles of roads in the greatest marathon in the world. I cannot wait until Sunday 28 April to see who comes out on top.”

The latest news on the London Marathon can be found here.

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Eliud Kipchoge and Caterine Ibarguen have been named the male and female World Athletes of the Year at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2018 in Monaco on Tuesday (December 4).

Kipchoge underlined his status as the world’s most dominant distance runner after smashing the world record at the Berlin Marathon with a stellar 2:01:39 run.

His time in the German capital was 78 seconds faster than the previous world record, representing the biggest single improvement on a men’s marathon world record since 1967.

“This award means a lot to me,” said Kipchoge. “It’s a tribute to the hard work that I’ve put in during my career. I think I knew at 30km into the race I was sure I was going to run a world record. I didn’t know however that it was going to result into such a great time.

Photo: NN Running Team

“I want to pass my gratitude to my family and my children, they are my ignition key.

“Secondly, I want to say thank you to my coach Patrick Sang and to my management Global Sports Communication as they have showed me that when you believe in yourself, you can do great things. Finally a huge thanks to my sponsors Nike & NN who help me make it all possible.”

The 34-year-old Kenyan also won the London Marathon in April in 2:04:17 to finish comfortably ahead of one of the deepest marathon fields in history.

Not content with being the best triple jumper in the world, Ibarguen also tested herself against the world’s best in the long jump this year – and consistently came out on top in that too.

The 34-year-old Colombian won both horizontal jumps at the Central American and Caribbean Games, the IAAF Continental Cup and at the IAAF Diamond League finals – winning the latter two titles in two different cities within the space of 24 hours.

She was unbeaten in all eight of her triple jump competitions, ending the year with a world-leading mark of 14.96m in her specialist event and a national record of 6.93m in the long jump.

Other award recipients in Monaco include Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who won the male rising star award, and US sprinter Sydney McLaughlin, who won the female rising star award.

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Eliud Kipchoge astounded the running world by taking the huge chunk of one minute and 18 seconds off the world record at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday (September 16).

The Olympic champion still had enough energy in reserve to take to social media in the next few hours and express his appreciation of the part played by the various teams which make up the community around the greatest marathon runner of the modern era.

Kipchoge expanded on the importance of this community while relaxing the next morning in an arm chair in the hotel lobby within easy jogging distance of the finish line where he took the marathon into new territory with his time of 2:01:39.

“In sport you need to have a good team,” he says. “That’s why, in terms of where I’m going to run next, I’m going to have a full discussion with the management, with the sponsors, technical team, coaching team. It’s part of the team where they hold me in their hands.”

This was a point he made strongly in response to the last question posed at Sunday’s press conference where the assembled media were digesting the enormity of his achievement. Before any decision about his future racing, he would consult with this community.

He and coach Patrick Sang, the latter himself with a distinguished track pedigree as an Olympic silver medallist in the steeplechase, have a partnership going back many years.

Together they have created the path which took the then 18-year-old to the world 5000m title in Paris in 2003 to his current supremacy in the marathon. But the multi-faceted aspects of Kipchoge’s teams or community have taken time to develop.

“It’s not a one-day event to bring together a good team, it takes ages but I’m lucky to be working with Global Sports Communication [GSC – his management team] and to be with people who think in a really positive way and we have come a long way together,” he explains. “That’s why we have our team-mates and we think together, we have a coaching system, management system, the sponsorship systems and, above all, we have the medical system whereby they handle us with massage and everything.”

Photo: NN Running team

It is an approach which could be summarised from the Biblical injunction of “to every thing, there is a season.”

Hence Eliud Kipchoge responded that it was too soon to consider if he could improve his world record further.

“It’s too early to do that because it’s only a few hours since I ran the fastest time ever,” he says. “I don’t think it’s good to think about it – the core thing now is to make sure I recover fully.”

While saying it is also too early to consider whether he wants to compete in the marathon at the World Championships in Doha next year, he doesn’t lose sight of the fact that he is the reigning Olympic champion and Tokyo 2020 draws ever closer.

If he is on the start line in Tokyo, his preparation for the race of races in the distance firmament will not differ from that for a big city race where finishing time, as well as place, are significant.

“It’s about the gold medal but the preparation is the same – you should be comfortable with pacemakers and without pacemakers,” he says. “Tokyo seems far away but it’s at the back of my mind that I will really assemble myself in Tokyo.

“I am the Olympic champion and I feel like defending my title.”

As we witnessed at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, when Eliud Kipchoge and his team set their sights on something, there is currently no-one else in the marathon world to match him.

One thing is sure from his comments after the race, Eliud Kipchoge does want to return to Berlin. It remains to be seen if that might already happen at the 46th edition of German capital marathon which will be held on 29 September 2019.

“Definitely I will be coming back,” he adds. “I always say Berlin is for me forever.”

RELATED: Eliud Kipchoge smashes world record at Berlin Marathon

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Eliud Kipchoge clocked 2:01:39 to become the fastest marathoner ever as he stormed to victory at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday (September 16).

The Kenyan star took an amazing one minute and 18 seconds off the previous world record of 2:02:57 set four years ago in the German capital by his compatriot Dennis Kimetto.

“I am really grateful and happy to smash the world record,” said the marathon king after the race. “They say you can miss two times, but you can’t miss a third time. Thank you to everybody. My only word is thank you.”

Defending his title in Berlin, Kipchoge went through 5km at 14:24, before hitting the halfway mark in 61:06 over a minute ahead of former world record holder Wilson Kipsang and Amos Kipruto.

Racing on his own after the pacer makers dropped out in the second half of the race, the 33 year-old increased the pace going through 35km in 1:41:02, well ahead of his rivals, and looked calm and relaxed, showing off his trademark smile as he picked up drinks at water stations.

The humble, and now truly the greatest marathoner of all-time, crossed the line in 2:01:39 to smash the world marathon record.

Kipchoge, who clocked an unofficial 2:00:25 in Nike’s Breaking2 attempt in Monza last year, celebrated his achievement alongside adoring fans and will leave Berlin with many dreaming of a sub two-hour marathon one day.

WATCH: Berlin Marathon race highlights

Kipruto claimed the runner-up spot in a time of 2:06:24 ahead of Wilson Kipsang, who crossed the line in 2:06:48.

Gladys Cherono won the women’s race in a course record time of 2:18:11.

Cherono lead from the 25km mark after Tirunesh Dibaba dictated the early proceeding, with Ruti Aga never far off the pace.

Ethiopia’s Aga took the runners-up spot in 2:18:34 ahead of compatriot Dibaba in 2:18:55 as all three leading women superbly dipped under 2:19.

RELATED: Is Eliud Kipchoge the greatest marathoner of all time?

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Pre-race favourite Eliud Kipchoge fought off a loaded men’s field as he stormed to his third London Marathon win in 2:04:17, while Mo Farah ran a superb race to finish third in new British record time of 2:06:21.

With Farah, Olympic champion Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele and Daniel Wanjiru all on the start line, plus the depth of athletes behind them, organisers assembled the greatest field ever for a men’s marathon, and while the world record is unharmed, it was an enthralling and exciting battle in the UK capital.

The race started at a furious pace with the lead group running under 2-hour marathon pace up to 10km and by halfway this dropped to 61:00, but still on course for Dennis Kimetto’s 2:02:57 world record.

Throughout the first half of the race four-time Olympic gold medalist Farah had mishaps at the drink stations and appeared to be unable to identify his own – causing confusion.

As the second half progressed, and the temperatures increased the pace was no longer fast enough to break the world record. The front of the race was down to three leading men; Kipchoge in front, with Tola Shura Kitata on his shoulder, with Farah adrift on his own in third, but still running both British and European record-breaking pace.

Kipchoge, as always appeared calm and assured and as the race reached the Embankment with two miles to go the man regarded as the best marathoner of all-time turned the screw on Kitata and opened up a significant gap on the Ethiopian.

Kipchoge maintained his lead and crossed the line in 2:04:17 to clinch his third title in London and his ninth win in 10 marathons.

“I can say I enjoyed the race. I enjoyed the race very much,” said the 33 year-old. “I still enjoy the win, and I’m happy to be able to win for the third time in London.”

Kitata took second in 2:04:49, with Farah, competing in his second marathon, clocking 2:06:21 to break Steve Jones’ long-standing British record of 2:07:13 set in 1985.

“These guys went for it, for the world record,” said Farah after the race. “It was do or die and I had to hold on as long as I could.

“I’m satisfied with the result. I can’t do any better than what I did. I got a personal best and I fought as much as I could. Eliud is a great marathoner who has more experience with the marathon, and today is one of those things; you be a man, fight like a man, or start off in the back and regret it later on. I fought as much as I could.

“After 30K, I was definitely feeling it; the pace slowed down a bit and I was tired but I managed to hang in there and come away with third.

“I gave it 110%. Definitely a tick to get the new GB record… I will target to be a champion next year in a marathon, but when you’re out there it’s do or die. You have to go with it or hang back. It just shows that my training has obviously gone well and I want to thank everyone out there for their support.”

On his drink mishap, Farah added: “When he tried to grab my drink it was his drink, and when he grabbed his drink it was my drink. So I was telling the guys – because the drink has a name on it, but when you’re running fast you can’t see the name. I was telling the people ‘just tell me which one is his drink or my drink, just point to my drink.’”

The second fastest man ever Kenenisa Bekele finished sixth in 2:08:53 and 2017 London champion Daniel Wanjiru crossed the line in 2:10:35 to finish eighth.

Irish athlete Stephen Scullion finished 12th running a big two minute PB 2:15:55, while Britain’s Jonny Mellor struggled in the heat and came home in 14th place in 2:17:55.

Matt Clowes, making his marathon debut, struggled in the second half of the race crossing the line in 2:43:16.

A full report on all the British performances will follow.

Vivian Cheruiyot was the surprise winner of the women’s crown, as Mary Keitany and Tirunesh Dibaba both faded in their attempts to break Paula Radcliffe’s record – a full report of the women’s race can be found here.

The post Eliud Kipchoge wins in London as Mo Farah breaks British record appeared first on Fast Running.

Mo Farah will join three giants of marathon running on the Virgin Money London Marathon start line on Sunday (April 22), and despite the expected high temperatures, he is cool and calm ahead of his second race over the distance.

The 35 year-old stated he will “definitely go after the British record” of 2:07:13 when he faces Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele and defending champion Daniel Wanjiru, with the three more experienced marathoners favourites to contest the 2018 crown.

Kenya’s Wanjiru, who has a PB of 2:05:21, impressed last year to win his first marathon major in a time of 2:05:48. The 25 year-old finished ahead of world 5000m and 10,000m record holder Bekele who had who had fallen behind after issues with his shoes.

It was Wanjiru’s third marathon and backed up his superb run in Amsterdam in 2016, where sliced almost three minutes off his 2014 debut run.

Ethiopia’s Bekele returns determined to clinch his first London victory and with a 2:03:03 PB he is the fastest in the field and the second quickest of all time. Bekele’s last race was in December where he clocked 73:48 over the rarely ran distance of 25km in Kolkata, India.

Although Kipchoge, the third fastest of all-time (2:03:05), is considered by many the best marathoner ever and goes into the race as the favourite to clinch the 2018 title.

Kipchoge, who won the London Marathon in 2016, ran an unofficial 2:00:25 in the Nike breaking2 project last year, before winning the Berlin Marathon in 2:03:32, and both men have one eye on Dennis Kimmetto’s world record of 2:02:57.

Photo: Virgin Money London Marathon

Although temperatures are expected to reach 23C for the mass race, the elite race should not exceed 19C, so while not perfect conditions for world records, who can doubt these two if they go at it together.

“If I was to win on Sunday, it would mean so much. It would show my consistency and I would be the happiest man on earth. To win London three times would be the best,” said Kipchoge, who has only failed to win one of his nine marathons.

While the victory will most likely be out of reach for Farah, the British record is not. The four-time Olympic gold medalist ran 2:08:21 in his one and only venture over the distance four years ago, and now retired from the track and focusing only on the roads, many will be surprised if Steve Jones’ long-standing best doesn’t fall.

Jones, who set the record at the Chicago Marathon in 1985, said: “Without a doubt, he’ll beat it, it’s not as if he’s stepping into the unknown. He’s got the endurance, the race experience, physically and psychologically. He’s got all the tools.”

RELATED: Steve Jones says Mo Farah could break the world record one day

Farah’s only race this year was the inaugural Big Half in March, which he won in 61:40 finishing three seconds ahead of Wanjiru.

Another name to watch out for is Bedan Karoki, who finished third on his debut last year and ran a fantastic personal best 58:42 for a second successive RAK half marathon victory two months ago. It was a 28 second PB and moved him to number four on the all-time list.

Whilst there is a big jump from the Kenyan’s 2:07:41 to the front of the field, the half marathon speed and a fourth-place finish in the 2017 10,000m World Championships leaves him as one not to discount.

The same can be said for the potential of Guye Adola. The runner who only decided to race in the Berlin Marathon on the Wednesday before the race and then posted the quickest debut in history of 2:03:46 to finish second to Kipchoge.

Elsewhere, Stanley Biwott, a former winner of New York Marathon, has been forced to pull out, as has World Championships bronze medalist Alphonce Simbu. Kenyan Biwott has a personal best 2:03:51 and was the fourth quickest in the elite men, while Tanzania’s Simbu ran a PB 2:09:10 to finish fifth in last year’s race.

Predictions: who will win and how quick will Farah run?

Paul Halford: Kipchoge win: 2:04:31 / Farah will run: 2:06:50
Ruth Jones: Bekele win: 2:03:30 / Farah will run: 2:06:30
Robbie Britton: Kipchoge win 2:04:17 / Farah will run: 2:06:23

What time does the race start at?
The elite men’s race starts at 10am along with the mass start

How can I watch it?
The BBC will have live coverage on BBC one starting at 8:30am and highlights will be on BBC two at 6pm.

A preview of the women’s elite race can be found here, where we ask will Mary Keitany break Paula Radcliffe’s record?

All the latest London Marathon updates can be found here, and an interview with two of Britain’s marathon debutants is here, while an insight into Lily Partridge’s marathon journey can be found here.

The post London Marathon: men’s winner, podium places and predictions appeared first on Fast Running.

Everyone seems to be talking about the expected heat for the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday. That’s no surprise, given how much the weather affected the results at the Boston Marathon and Commonwealth Games in the past seven days – seemingly making both a lottery.

With highs of 23C possible, the organisers have been particularly careful to ensure all runners are prepared, sending out specific advice as well as planning for extra water and showers to be on the course in the capital.

However, how much will conditions affect the elite race and the possibility of world and British records?

RELATED: Mo Farah out to break Steve Jones’ British marathon record

If some forecasts are correct, the race could prove to be the hottest ever London Marathon, beating the record from 2007 and 1996 of 22.2C.

However, while the worst of the weather is expected in the afternoon, massively impacting the thousands running in the mass start, the thermometer may not exceed 18C during the morning and around midday when the elite will be crossing the finish line.

Nerurkar shares his thoughts

Someone who knows all about running in hot weather is Britain’s Richard Nerurkar. He has spent much of his life living in the blazingly hot Ethiopia and one of his best results came in the 1996 Olympic marathon when he finished fifth in temperatures of more than 26C.

But while we saw the 28C-plus conditions in the Gold Coast last Sunday affecting a huge proportion of the elite runners, what we are expecting this weekend should not have a big bearing on the results sheet, Nerurkar believes.

“It’s different for the elites compared to the masses,” he told Fast Running from the Thursday morning press conference at race headquarters.

“The elites are running for just over two hours and they’re finished by 12-ish. The masses will be running until 1-3pm and will have been on their feet for four hours or more. The peak of 23C is going to be after the elite are finished.

“Secondly, when the elite are running the temperatures will not be extreme. When you look at other championships you can go back to far worse conditions than that.

“Ninety nine percent of the 40,000 runners will be fine but you are concerned about the relatively small numbers when something serious could be happen. So you’ve got to put those messages out in the hope that your advice will reduce those numbers of serious issues.”

Regarding that advice, race director Hugh Brasher said on Thursday: “In terms of the some of the detail we are sending to the runners, that information is led with run according to the conditions. If it is warm then slow your pace accordingly.”

Not the best time for fancy dress

He also said that runners planning to wear fancy dress in the event should make their own decision on whether their gear is appropriate for the conditions. “If you think it isn’t appropriate, don’t do it in fancy dress,” he warned.

He added: “I’m sure the elite athletes will be adapting their race plan to the weather. It doesn’t matter what speed you’re running.”

However, the four elite runners at Thursday’s press conference – Eliud Kipchoge, Guye Adola, Daniel Wanjiru and Kenenisa Bekele – certainly did not seem concerned about the weather.

The favourite for the men’s race on Sunday is Olympic champion Kipchoge, who has his eyes on the world record of 2:02:57 held by fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto (who is racing in Vienna on Sunday).

“If I was to win on Sunday, it would mean so much,” says Kipchoge. “It would show my consistency and I would be the happiest man on earth. To win London three times would be the best.”

He has been training at home where conditions of late have been typically 18-20C and as high as 23C and said: “If the weather is too hot, we’re all running under the same conditions so I’m not worried. We really will see a beautiful race on Sunday.

“I treat myself as the best when I train and one day I would love to run a world record.”

However, it could be a different matter when it comes to world records – and Paula Radcliffe’s 2:15:25 is under threat too, particularly from women’s only world record holder Mary Keitany, who will be assisted by male pacers on Sunday.

“To run 2:15 is really something else,” said the Kenyan star on Wednesday. “But I will try to follow in the footsteps of the legend, Paula.

“I must thank the race organisers for their decision to assist the women to see how fast we can go. With the male pacemakers, we have a great opportunity and we have to try and see if it’s possible.

“It would mean so much to me because I’ve had Paula’s record in mind since I started my career. As long as I’m running I want to get it.”

Nerurkar shared his thoughts on the world record attempts: “I think it does reduce the chances because everything needs to come together for world records and that’s one thing that’s less than perfect.

“So many of us have been in Berlin when world records have been broken and the weather has been perfect when it’s been 10C at the start and 13-14C at the finish and it’s not going to be perfect like that on Sunday, so you wouldn’t put your money on a world record.”

On Sunday, we are unlikely to see a repeat of the Commonwealth race in which Callum Hawkins ended up in an ambulance. However, the hotter conditions than usual could well suggest more tactical races are on the cards.

RELATED: London Marathon: surviving transport strike & high temperatures

The post Will a hot London Marathon impact elite runners chasing records? appeared first on Fast Running.