Kipchoge Boston Course Record?

I hope so but when they first changed the rule it wasn't. It was considered point to point because of the distance between the start and finish.

That said- NY is a tough course.

Seriously, I'm not disagreeing with you. I didn't know it was changed. When they first made these rules it was controversial that NYC was NOT record eligible because it was considered point to point due to the distance between the start and finish.

I can't believe the disrespect in this thread toward Geoffrey Mutai. This is a guy who, in the same year he ran that 2:03 in Boston, ran 2:05:06 without super shoes to set the NYC Marathon course record that still stands today. A time that only one athlete in the next 11 years has come within 2 and a half minutes of. I believe that if Mutai had super shoes and a course like Berlin on that day in New York he would have been the first guy to run 2:01.

Said another way, unless there is a big tailwind, there's no way Kipchoge breaks the course record.

There is a reason many top Americans have PRs from Boston. It is a net downhill course. Yes there are a lot of up hills in the second half, but there is a ton of downhill. As long as he doesn't have a large headwind I think he'll break the record. He broke the world record six months ago and ran another 2:02 a year ago. He can likely go sub 2:03 again on a net downhill course right now.

I believe so. Look at Tokyo ‘21 or Rio ‘16 where there was no one to lead them out. I think he’ll wait until 30k, then start to squeeze it down. I think the challenge of the back half of the course will pose more of a challenge than what is thought.

^^^ 11 of the top 22 fastest Americans of all time have their PR at Boston.

Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, Bob Kempainen, Alberto Salazar, Scorr Fauble, Dick Beardsley, Greg Meyer, Elkanah Kibet, Jared Ward, Bill Rodgers, Ron Tabb. Spanning many different years, and they ran marathons on multiple different courses, Boston was where their fastest times were.

Now you’re starting to see…

I wonder how Kipchoge will handle Heartbreak? That might play into whether or not he breaks the CR.

This logic doesnt make any sense, Boston is not a fast course relative to London/Berlin and others. Just because American's run the vast majority of their races at two slow courses (NYC/Boston), doesn't make the one that is slightly less slow a fast course.

If you take out the gale force tailwind year, the Boston record is almost 5 minutes off of the World Record.

There are no pacers at Boston so typically the fastest guys just run relatively tactical and do what they need to win. If Kipchoge says he's trying to get the course record, then obviously he's not planning on running a tactical start to the race. And the top runner in the world hasn't been running Boston recently. For over a decade the top runners have been showing up at Berlin/London trying to break the world record. It's funny all the people downvoting a simple fact that a ton of people run PRs at Boston. As long as it's not completely crap weather Kipchoge is going to break the course record.

That's correct. The IAAF started to recognize world records around 2003 with an allowable separation (straight line distance from start to finish) not to exceed 30%. That was amended a few years later to 50% because of a race(s) in Asia. FYI -The separation for the NYC Marathon is approximately 48% but it was not the reason the IAAF changed the rule.

Mr. Katz,

Thank you for the contributions you have made to keep the sport of Road Racing accurate, consistent, and legit.

Now, back on topic...

Mutai had a perfect storm, a strong tailwind, Ryan Hall running at the front over the first half, and Mosop pushing him down Boyleston (4sec back).

allafrica.com

Kenya Athletics Denies Doping Claims

The country's athletics body has lashed out at allegations made by a German TV reporter, who claimed distance runners use performance boosters..

Link:allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/...

A bit of history. More than 10 years ago.

Thank you for the kind words.

I am always available to assist with questions relating to the technical side of the sport.

I would not be surprised if Kipchoge finishes third this year at Boston, 2:07 high.

2:08?? He ran significantly faster than that with an ear infection at London.

Clearly the weather conditions will have an impact, but if weather is decent, I expect Kipchoge to go through the half at no more than 1:02. Negative split is always his strategy in races without pacers.

Even if weather is not good, Kipchoge will stay at front, conserve energy, and drop two crazy 5k splits. I can’t wait to see how fast he will go on the downhill to Boston.

London was flat and on that wonky multi lap Covid course. There were also pacers. It’s just my opinion. I’d love to be wrong and see another incredible performance from the great one, however.

Kipchoge usually does what he says he will. But I think he will need a tailwind to get this one.

Yeah, you are a breath of fresh air to come in and post with facts, it truly makes my day when you post with the accurate information that you always provide. Bless you brother, you are a really nice guy!

David