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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Defending champion Vivian Cheruiyot will race Gladys Cherono, Mary Keitany and Brigid Kosgei at the Virgin Money London Marathon on April 28.

Cheruiyot became the fourth fastest woman of all time after clocking 2:18:31 to win in London last year. The Olympic 5000m champion finished ahead of Kenyan compatriot Kosgei, who went on to win October’s Chicago Marathon in a personal best 2:18:35.

“It was a great moment for me winning last year’s Virgin Money London Marathon and I am very much looking forward to returning in April,” said Cheruiyot. “The line-up for this year’s race is, once again, incredibly strong so I know I will need to be at my very best to repeat last year’s victory but it is a challenge that I’m really looking forward to. I will be ready.”

Women-only world record holder Keitany was tipped to win in the UK capital marathon in 2018, however, faltered in her attempts to break the women’s mixed world record.

Keitany, who clocked her 2:17:01 best to win the 2017 London title, bounced back in tremendous fashion last year to claim a fourth New York City Marathon crown in five years.

Photo: NYRR

Meanwhile, completing the star quartet for the London Marathon women’s field is 2018 Berlin Marathon champion Gladys Cherono.

While Eliud Kipchoge received most of the media attention after his fantastic world record breaking run at the Berlin Marathon, the 2:01:39 marathoner was not alone in breaking records in the German city, with Cherono winning a third Berlin crown after running a women’s course record time of 2:18:11.

Also confirmed to run are the Ethiopian trio of Tirunesh Dibaba, the three-time Olympic champion on the track and third fastest woman of all time, who finished second in London and won Chicago in 2017, Tadelech Bekele, who finished third in London last year, and 21-year-old Roza Dereje, second in Chicago and winner of the Dubai Marathon in 2018.

The British elite women’s field was previously announced and includes Lily Partridge and Charlotte Purdue, while leading American athlete Molly Huddle, debutant Emily Sisson and Allie Kieffer will make the trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

Another top name set to compete is Irish-born Australian international Sinead Diver, who clocked 2:25:19 to win the Melbourne Marathon last year.

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

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The post London, Berlin, Chicago and New York marathon champions to battle appeared first on Fast Running.

The world’s fastest ever woman over the half marathon will be looking to spoil Vivian Cheruiyot’s plans to make it two Simplyhealth Great North Run wins in three years on Sunday (September 9).

Joyciline Jepkosgei, the world record holder over the half marathon, has been added to the field for one of the world’s biggest half marathon this weekend and will be the main competition for Olympic champion Cheruiyot in the iconic race.

Kenyan Jepkosgei clocked her record time of 64:51 in the Prague Half Marathon last year where she also broke the world 10km, 15km and 20km records.

She went on to beat her own 10km world record time back in Prague three months later when she clocked 29.43 to become the first woman to ever break 30 minutes over 10km.

Betsy Saina, who finished fifth in last year’s race which was won by Mary Keitany, will also be in contention, with British hopes lying with Lily Partridge, Gemma Steel, Charlotte Purdue and Sunderland athlete Aly Dixon.

Steel was the highest placed GB runner last year, finishing sixth in 71:32, ahead of Partridge in seventh and Dixon in eighth place.

Irish athlete Emma Mitchell, who finished 17th over 10,000m at the European Championships, is also among the entries and will make her half-marathon debut.

Elsewhere, Hayley Carruthers aims to continue her impressive season in her first Great North Run ahead of England debut at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October.

RELATED: Hayley Carruthers is just getting started

The men’s race will see Mo Farah battle against Jake Robertson, Daniel Wanjiru and Stanley Biwott as he attempts to win a five consecutive title. The full men’s elite field can be found here.

Women’s elite field (subject to change)
201) Vivian Cheruiyot
202) Joyciline Jepkosgei
203) Betsy Saina
204) Brigid Kosgei
205) Misato Horie
206) Linet Masai
207) Stephanie Bruce
208) Yuka Hori
209) Andrea Seccafien
210) Emma Mitchell
211) Maria Larsson
212) Lily Partridge
213) Charlotte Purdue
214) Gemma Steel
215) Aly Dixon
216) Camille Buscomb
217) Emily Waugh
218) Julie Briscoe
219) Hayley Munn
220) Carla Martinho
221) Tracy Millmore
223) Naomi Mitchell
224) Heather Sellars
225) Carly Needham
226) Eva Vail
227) Rosamund Ponder
228) Hayley Carruthers
229) Nicola Squires
230) Michelle Nolan-Hood
231) Stacey Clusker
232) Sarah Murphy
233) Johanna O’Regan
234) Ashley Gibson
235) Sheena Logan
236) Sarah Winstone
237) Sarah Gruber
239) Alexa Joel
240) Victoria Mousley
241) Jacqueline Penn
242) Alice Smith
244) Georgia Campbell
245) Charlotte Ellis
246) Eilidh Bell

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Mo Farah will look to make history as he bids to become the first runner to win five Simplyhealth Great North Run titles in a row on Sunday, September 9.

Farah, who added the British marathon record to his 13.1 miles best at the London Marathon in April, has competed in every half marathon between Newcastle and South Shields staged since 2013, finishing second in his first outing and winning in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Last year’s fourth win equalled Benson Masya’s record, with the Kenyan winning over the 13.1mile distance in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996. No runner has ever won five.

RELATED: Mo Farah Clinches Fourth Great North Run Win

“I can’t wait to come back to Newcastle and race again,” said the four-time Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion. “It’s something I look forward to every year, the crowds are always unbelievable and it’s a good course for racing.

“To be the best in the world you have to beat the best and it’s going to be no different here. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

In October, Farah will take on Galen Rupp and a host of the world’s best distance runners at the Chicago Marathon.

Olympic and World champion Vivian Cheruiyot will also return to Tyneside as she bids to make it two victories in three years.

The four-time Olympic and five-time world medallist won the world’s biggest half marathon on her debut over the distance in 2016, and finished second to winner Mary Keitany last year.

She said: “I am looking forward to returning to England for the Simplyhealth Great North Run.

“It was a magnificent race when I won here for the first time in 2016 and I want to be on top of that podium again next month.”

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The post Mo Farah and Vivian Cheruiyot set for Great North Run appeared first on Fast Running.