Why was Berlin so slow this year?

MOA wrote:

Tommy2Nuttz wrote:

Even if the big guns went out too hard and blew up, surely those behind could have got a 2:03 or so. Its always a strong field there.

With all the super shoes out there, you'd think a faster time was possible at Berlin.

…“could have got”…

With all the books and schools out there, you’d think better grammar was possible.

With all the books and schools out there, you'd think better grammar were possible.

i am the mushroom man wrote:

Pacer dropped out at like 25k and without Kipchoge confidence up front nobody was able to carry on the pace. I think it’s time we stop thinking of 2:05, 2:06 as slow and begin to realize how lucky we were to have somebody so consistent to watch for the past 7 years. There will be others, but I seriously doubt we’re going to see the all time list start to fill up with 2:02s

Even the great EK just ran 2:04:17 after a 61 half way split in London in 2018. And don't forget that we have a major fall marathon each week after Tokyo, thus even Berlin couldn't contract a solid no of 2:03 potentials...

It’s already been said but it was warm for a marathon with full sun. If it was cloudy even at the same temp, the times would have been better.

What was Kipchoges, half split in Tokyo? 64 or 65? I know Tokyo was a lot hotter, but he went out conservative. The Berlin pacers went out crazy fast. 2:05 in yesterday’s conditions is extremely impressive.

Tommy2Nuttz wrote:

Even if the big guns went out too hard and blew up, surely those behind could have got a 2:03 or so. Its always a strong field there.

With all the super shoes out there, you'd think a faster time was possible at Berlin.

Temperatures above 60 for a marathon have residual effects as the race goes on but worse is the nearly 80 percent humidity they battled. Obviously you have not run a marathon and know how weather effects marathon performances. Possibly if the leaders would have gone out in 1:01:48 instead of 1:00:48 they may have gotten that minute back and possibly another minute…maybe. So maybe 2:04:45 at best but given the weather even 2:02/2:03 wasn’t going to happen

NativeSon wrote:

Tommy2Nuttz wrote:

Even if the big guns went out too hard and blew up, surely those behind could have got a 2:03 or so. Its always a strong field there.

With all the super shoes out there, you'd think a faster time was possible at Berlin.

The pacing was off and I think that was the reason why the men bombed but regardless, ................

It was a weak filed on both sides and especially on the women's side.

Other than Adola and Bekele, everyone else was just pedestrian or should i say second tier.

As for the women, on paper, Helen Tola was the best and she would up third.

In a race with stronger Ethiopians and stronger Kenyans as well, even given the conditions (weather), they'd have run 2:03 or better.

You don’t know what you are talking about. You have no idea about exercise physiology. Weather/pacing cost them minimum 2 minutes. Even if conditions were perfect and pacing was smarter 2:03:30 is the best case scenario on a winning time that day

michiganrunner55 wrote:

Tommy2Nuttz wrote:

Even if the big guns went out too hard and blew up, surely those behind could have got a 2:03 or so. Its always a strong field there.

With all the super shoes out there, you'd think a faster time was possible at Berlin.

Temperatures above 60 for a marathon have residual effects as the race goes on but worse is the nearly 80 percent humidity they battled. Obviously you have not run a marathon and know how weather effects marathon performances. Possibly if the leaders would have gone out in 1:01:48 instead of 1:00:48 they may have gotten that minute back and possibly another minute…maybe. So maybe 2:04:45 at best but given the weather even 2:02/2:03 wasn’t going to happen

Unless Eliud Kipchoge was running, would of probably finish in the 2:03:xx range.

Could it be that Thickele’s increased bodyfat level bit him in the tush in the wake of unexpected thermal conditions?