BERLIN MARATHON ANALYSIS

Unfortunately, I agree with number 3. He DNFed at NY, and now here. He hasn't finished a marathon since Dubai 2010 I believe (2:06).

I agree that he could definitely run in the 2:05 range, but that may not be good enough to win most major marathons. He still needs a good time for London 2012. Where would he get it? He could go back to Dubai 2012 I suppose. Definitely not Boston. Chicago is too close.

I was impressed with Paula too. Agreed that it will be Keitany vs. Kiplagat at London 2012.

Oh and Makau speaks decent English I thought as well.

Captain Tenneal wrote:He still needs a good time for London 2012. Where would he get it? He could go back to Dubai 2012 I suppose. Definitely not Boston. Chicago is too close. .

If Ethiopia wants to do the smart thing...they'll let him run no matter what. He's obviously in great shape...just not good enough to run the crazy WR pace today. He's a legend...they would just lose out by putting some no name in there as their last guy instead of Haile...the whole world would lose out. Even if he doesn't finish, he makes everyone watch. How many people were up at a crazy hour today just to watch Haile?

8. Scott Overall debuting in 2:10 was great for the Brits. Couldn't have picked a better time to break the Oly A, what with the home Games coming up.

Captain Tenneal wrote:

Unfortunately, I agree with number 3.

Pretty incredible he's still running at this level at his age. That remark he made to Hutchings about being 51 was no joke.

The official Berlin Marathon twitter feed just tweeted that Haile is going to run Dubai to try one more time for an Olympic spot.

wanna be a noticer of things wrote:

8. Scott Overall debuting in 2:10 was great for the Brits. Couldn't have picked a better time to break the Oly A, what with the home Games coming up.

Yep, I noticed that, too. Great run from him.

9. The German men disappointed, best time 2:19.

Gebrselassie revealed afterwards that he has no plans to quit and hopes to run a fast time at the Dubai Marathon on January 27.

10. Athletics Kenya will have a tough job deciding who will go to London. As the WR holder, without a doubt Makau booked his ticket. And both Mutais should also be save (London/Boston). Does that mean they will have to leave Moses Mosop at home, who recorded the 2nd fastest Marathon time ever?

I've always thought that, since the marathon is a road event, they could allow 3 per nation as the system is

BUT

Allow an unlimited amount based on a very high quality qualifying time.

So, Keep the A and B and add an elite time- whatever it is anyone who runs it can get in.

World Record according to ARRS

30 km

1:28:00 Takayuki Matsumiya (JPN) 27 Feb 2005 Kumamoto JPN

Does Thomas really still own this record???

USA 1:30:44 Randy Thomas 17 Feb 1980 Ome JPN

and Patti Dillon\'s is almost as old

surely DeenaK. has a shorter split en route to 2:19:36

USA 1:44:25 Patti Catalano 15 Feb 1981 Ome JPN

runn wrote:

I've always thought that, since the marathon is a road event, they could allow 3 per nation as the system is

BUT

Allow an unlimited amount based on a very high quality qualifying time.

So, Keep the A and B and add an elite time- whatever it is anyone who runs it can get in.

This would favor time trial type courses and make courses like NY less favorable

What shoes did Makau wear? Looks like Adios again.

I'm just back to the Hotel after the press conference, where I could have the officiaL splits.

MAKAU (2:03:38, WR)

14:37 - 29:17 (14:40) - 43:52 (14:35) - 58:30 (14:38) - 1:01:44 HM - 1:13:18 (14:48) - 30 KM in 1:27:38 (14:20) WR - 1:42:16 (14:38) - 1:57:15 (14:59) - last 2,195m in 6'23"

FLORENCE KIPLAGAT (2:19:44)

16:37 - 33:16 (16:39) - 49:50 (16:34) - 1:06:32 (16:42) - 1:10:11 HM - 1:23:15 (16:43) - 1:39:48 (16:33) - 1:56:10 (16:22) - 2:12:30 (16:20) - last 2,195m in 7:14

Some consideration :

a) The weather was perfect

b) The pacers didn't work very well, because the pace was not even (km in 2:48 and in 3:02), so Patrick could run also faster

c) There are 6 Kenyan athletes that can beat the WR :

a part Makau, Geoffrey Mutai, Emanuel Mutai, Moses Mosop, Abel Kirui, Wilson Kipsang (and in the list we can add Sammy Kitwara, if and when decides to prepare marathon in a right way.

d) With the situation that there is in Kenya, I donìt think the WR is something can guaranty the selection for OG. Before Berlin, Makau was out, and the athletes I named before are very close as value, so their selection depends on their shape at the moment.

Personally, I think the only solution for AK is to ask to everybody to run London, selecting the first 3 Kenyans for the Kenyan Olympic Team.

e) About women, instead, the situation seems clear : 3 of them (Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat and Florence Kiplagat) are stronger than everybody else, and together with Lilya Shobukhova are the athletes for Olympic medals.

About Florence, I told her not to run too fast from the beginning, since the real goal was to finish the race in progression for cancelling from her mind the fright of marathon, after what happened in Boston (her shape was exactly like now). So, she finished in very good conditions, thinking is possible for her to run really faster.

I think Paula must be satisfied about her performance. She followed Florence and stimulated her till 15 km, and at 30k was still well ahead Irina Mikitienko (1:41:07 vs 1:41:31). She seemed in good efficiency, the only problem was a lack of specific training after all the problems she had. I think she can come back under 2:20 for next year.

Irina Mikitienko ran very well, using her normal strategy (negative splits) : 1:11:34 + 1:10:44, and overtake Paula at 33 km, finishing the last 2,195m at the same speed of Florence (7:12 Flo, 7:13 Irina).

Next step, Boston.

ARRS, in general, does not recognize enroute splits and they seem to miss a lot of marks because nobody submits to them anymore just to IAAF and National Feds. Plus the number of 30km races yearly is small and typically do not have a good payday attached, 6th in a MM might yield better $.

too much bluemooning wrote:

World Record according to ARRS

30 km

1:28:00 Takayuki Matsumiya (JPN) 27 Feb 2005 Kumamoto JPN

Does Thomas really still own this record???

USA 1:30:44 Randy Thomas 17 Feb 1980 Ome JPN

and Patti Dillon's is almost as old

surely DeenaK. has a shorter split en route to 2:19:36

USA 1:44:25 Patti Catalano 15 Feb 1981 Ome JPN

Watching Makau dancing around like a two year old, holding up the Kenyan flag after running 2.03.38 has confirmed to me that if we white distance runners are serious about gaining success in a sport, we’ll have to forget about running - we will have to take up some sport like swimming or cycling.

Mr Canova,

Could we get an update about Mosop´s preparation for Chicago?!

Walt George wrote:

Watching Makau dancing around like a two year old, holding up the Kenyan flag after running 2.03.38 has confirmed to me that if we white distance runners are serious about gaining success in a sport, we’ll have to forget about running - we will have to take up some sport like swimming or cycling.

And you wonder why there aren't that amny good white distance runners...

Walt George wrote:

Watching Makau dancing around like a two year old, holding up the Kenyan flag after running 2.03.38 has confirmed to me that if we white distance runners are serious about gaining success in a sport, we’ll have to forget about running - we will have to take up some sport like swimming or cycling.

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Saying white men can not dance like a black man and therefore should take up the tricycle seems a bit harsh.

Walt George wrote:

Watching Makau dancing around like a two year old, holding up the Kenyan flag after running 2.03.38 has confirmed to me that if we white distance runners are serious about gaining success in a sport, we’ll have to forget about running - we will have to take up some sport like swimming or cycling....