Don't be surprised if this year we can see very good times in long distances again. The fact that till now there are no regular competitions, where athletes look at the position, but, practically, Trials for groups, with the only goal to run fastest possible, can completely change the vision of times, without any tactic situation as limiting factor.
When, a lot of times, I pointed out that the best performances we can find in the all-time lists were achieved in races with Rudisha (800m), El Guerrouj (1500m), Bekele and Gebrselassie (5000 and 10000m), this means that ALL THE ATHLETES in the race, eccept the above named, had the opportunity to run without the pressure of the position, well knowing they didn't have any chance to fight against the number one in the world, very far from their level.
This means the only tactic was running fast, staying in a group able to use splits normally too much fast for the mentality of the athletes. Going after 5000m in one 10000m in 13'25" is something considered very fast, and nobody wanted to try ; but if in the same race Bekele goes in 13'10", 13'25" means 90 meters behind, and everybody tries because the mental idea about the pace is different.
How many times I pointed out that the decrease of number of athletes running under 13' and under 27' doesn't have anything to do with doping controls, but is ONLY due to the lack of fast competitions, that can be organized with proper rabbits and proper pace only id there is the possibility, and the interest, to try some specific record ?
Now, we are again in this situation : no tactics, the only challenge is running fast, and also athletes of good level, but not big champions, can achieve performances that can put the athlete himself among the best in the World.
For all people not having historical knowledge about athletics, who think some performance of today is something not possible without doping, I want to give some number looking at the lists all-time :
800m :
Performers / Performances under 1'43" : 39 / 111
Performers / Performances under 1'45" : 337 / 2472
1500m :
Performers / Performances under 3'30" : 32 / 103
Performers / Performances under 3'33" : 154 / 921
Performers / Performances under 3'35" : 344 / 2491
5000m :
Performers / Performances under 13'00" : 103 / 364
Performers / Performances under 13'10" : 254 / 1382
10000m :
Performers / Performances under 27'00" : 64 / 126
Performers / Performances under 27'30" : 241 / 680
HM :
Performers / Performances under 1:00:00 : 196 / 436
Performers / Performances under 1:01:00 : 564 / 1483
Marathon :
Performers / Performances under 2:06:00 : 111 / 229
Performers / Performances under 2:10:00 : 1056 / 3105
Therefore, it's time to have a different consideration about times. Who thinks not possible running a Marathon under 2:10:00 without doping, is clearly somebody not knowing anything, whose only experience is to see some athlete training once per day and able running, maybe, 2:20, and of course not knowing what the real talent is.
It's like the owner of a normal car with a cilindrate of 1500cc, who doesn't know possible going very much faster, because never had the idea that cars with 3000cc can exist.
You don't need to be considered a big champion for running a performance already achieved by other athletes, in a period of 50 years, more than hundreds times. And you don't need to put in your mind limits that, really, it's possible to overtake very easily, if yoy let your body to decide, and not your mind.