It seems like the competition is going to be fierce, and I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the line-up. Any predictions for the race? Do you think we're going to witness some record-breaking performances?
Defending champions setting the pace always adds an extra layer of excitement to the event. What are your expectations for the 128th Boston Marathon? Share your insights, speculations, and general excitement here!
Looking forward to the discussions and the incredible race day ahead! 🏃♀️💨
A lot depends on the Weather, Usually there is a Headwind, Sometimes like every 10-20 Years it seems they have aTailwind, when Ryan Hall ran his 2:04.58 they had tailwinds so strong they almost cancelled the race AND Most statistic Sites like Tilastopaja and World Athletics stopped counting Boston, It is slightly Downhill and in most years it is considered much slower than London, Valencia, Berlin etc.
Glad to see Bates in the field. It suck she won't be running the trials and was a strong contender to make the team. Hopefully a good Boston showing will help with the disappointment and make up for the $$ money she could have made if she made the Olympic team.
A record 11 sub-2:20 women are scheduled to race on Patriots Day in Boston on April 15, the most for any marathon in history, surpassing the 10 that started in London last year. And Hellen Obiri (2:21:38 pb) will be the favor...
So many exciting familiar names! Even with all those really fast Ethiopians I think that Obiri is still the favorite. The only way to beat her is for the Ethiopians to make it really fast. Obiri is great in tough courses and grinding it out and she hasn’t run a really fast time (even though her coach said she could). She was never one to break records or go for super fast times during her track days so it remains to be seen if she can crank out a really fast marathon. If the race is fast then Degefa would be the favorite.
If this is the field for the women's event and they all compete on that day, rest assured that no American woman will finish in the top 10. They won't even be in the discussion and barely mentioned by the announcers covering the event.
If this is the field for the women's event and they all compete on that day, rest assured that no American woman will finish in the top 10. They won't even be in the discussion and barely mentioned by the announcers covering the event.
It is a credit to the organisers to get eleven sub 2.20 women here, but I believe 9 of them can’t run those times here and will struggle to finish top 8 here.
I would select these 6 to finish with Teferi and Degefa before the other 9:
obiri
ngugi
lokedi
weldu
yeshaneh and
gardadi.
the only disclaimer is that some of these may keep their best for Paris, especially those already qualified like the Eritrean and the Moroccan
So many exciting familiar names! Even with all those really fast Ethiopians I think that Obiri is still the favorite. The only way to beat her is for the Ethiopians to make it really fast. Obiri is great in tough courses and grinding it out and she hasn’t run a really fast time (even though her coach said she could). She was never one to break records or go for super fast times during her track days so it remains to be seen if she can crank out a really fast marathon. If the race is fast then Degefa would be the favorite.
what do you mean or go for super fast times
Obiri has almost always ran fast
She still has the most sub 14.30 performances in history in the 5k
and always ran around 8.25 for the 3k
let alone being one of the few HM runners to run sub 65 more than once!
Agree, Obiri, has 2:12:00-2:15:00 potential. Doesn't mean she'll ever do it though. Realistically she may only finish her career with a pb in the 2:16:00-2:18:00 zone. Her running mechanics, over 26 miles, may be counter productive. All hypothetical though. We wish her the best. Seems like a good, humble person. By the way, she's a Kipsibig, from Kisii, a minority ethnic running group in Kenya. Different language and codes compared with majority Kalenjins from Elgeyo Marakwet region.
If this is the field for the women's event and they all compete on that day, rest assured that no American woman will finish in the top 10. They won't even be in the discussion and barely mentioned by the announcers covering the event.
It is a credit to the organisers to get eleven sub 2.20 women here, but I believe 9 of them can’t run those times here and will struggle to finish top 8 here.
I would select these 6 to finish with Teferi and Degefa before the other 9:
obiri
ngugi
lokedi
weldu
yeshaneh and
gardadi.
the only disclaimer is that some of these may keep their best for Paris, especially those already qualified like the Eritrean and the Moroccan
Yeshaneh has five x top 6 major finishes including 2 here
If this is the field for the women's event and they all compete on that day, rest assured that no American woman will finish in the top 10. They won't even be in the discussion and barely mentioned by the announcers covering the event.
It is a credit to the organisers to get eleven sub 2.20 women here, but I believe 9 of them can’t run those times here and will struggle to finish top 8 here.
I would select these 6 to finish with Teferi and Degefa before the other 9:
obiri
ngugi
lokedi
weldu
yeshaneh and
gardadi.
the only disclaimer is that some of these may keep their best for Paris, especially those already qualified like the Eritrean and the Moroccan
Ngugi has four x top 7 finishes in majors including two podiums here
If this is the field for the women's event and they all compete on that day, rest assured that no American woman will finish in the top 10. They won't even be in the discussion and barely mentioned by the announcers covering the event.
It is a credit to the organisers to get eleven sub 2.20 women here, but I believe 9 of them can’t run those times here and will struggle to finish top 8 here.
I would select these 6 to finish with Teferi and Degefa before the other 9:
obiri
ngugi
lokedi
weldu
yeshaneh and
gardadi.
the only disclaimer is that some of these may keep their best for Paris, especially those already qualified like the Eritrean and the Moroccan
Teferi's time in her last marathon was a marked improvement on her previous attempts and more in line with her sublime career as a road runner at shorter distances. A breakthrough that we all wait for for marathoners like Jemal Yimer and Andamlak Belihu, as well as many others you could name.