Track & field thread

Postby **shafnutz05** » Sat Oct 12, 2019 7:30 am

Insane. It's pretty wild how genetically sub-Saharan Africans are so predisposed to being athletic and fast. Both men and women, just look at the current long-distance records. Kenya specifically, of course, just churns out great athletes. And even with that genetic advantage, it *still* takes an absurd amount of training to be able to accomplish a feat like this. That's maintaining a mile pace of 4:35 or so for 26+ miles. And it's not long ago that the four minute mile was the next big thing. Impressive.

Postby **Tomas** » Sat Oct 12, 2019 6:52 pm

The CNN article mentioned "Despite the achievement, the milestone won't count as a world record. In fact, Ineos hasn't even submitted a request to the IAAF for the attempt to be officially ratified."

So, just in case somebody is surprised why - here is the main reason why the run will not be considered a "world record" : Kipchoge used a big number of pace-setters during his run - and those pace-setters did not run with him since the start (that is, once one pace-setter left, another - fully fresh - took over). Even though Kipchoge had to run the course by himself, the aid of pace-setters is a significant advantage that runners would not have during any "legitimate" marathon race.

(There are other, "second order" factors - like the constant-speed driven pace car, the laser line showing the progress toward the target time...)

Postby **CBear3** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:48 am

Man, when I was 18 I could have paced him for 1 mile, and 1 mile only. That's just insane.

Postby **dodint** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:17 am

He also had people on bikes deliver his energy gels and water, also against official rules. It's a neat exhibition but not meaningful outside of that event. Unfortunately that's not how it's being conveyed by most media outlets and people on social media.

It bothers me because someone will break 2:00 someday and miscoverage of this event will take away from that real achievement.

Postby **count2infinity** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:28 am

He also had people on bikes deliver his energy gels and water, also against official rules. It's a neat exhibition but not meaningful outside of that event. Unfortunately that's not how it's being conveyed by most media outlets and people on social media.

It bothers me because someone will break 2:00 someday and miscoverage of this event will take away from that real achievement.

This wasn't a real achievement?

Postby **dodint** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:29 am

In the context of world records, no. Thought that was pretty clear.

Postby **count2infinity** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:33 am

I just get the idea that you're significantly underselling how impressive this feat was.

Postby **Dickie Dunn** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:48 am

Nike had set up something similar in Italy in 2017 and Kipchoge fell 25 seconds short.

As far as someone legitimately breaking 2:00 someday, I'm not so sure. While the world record time has been dropping over the past two decades, Kipchoge is the current world record holder at 2:01:39. They had to go through all of this **** with flat track and pacers and gel delivery and whatever the hell else to get him to shave 2 minutes off his time. That roughly 4 seconds per mile took all of that control and effort leaves me unconvinced that sub-2 is possibly without a controlled situation.

Postby **dodint** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:08 am

I just get the idea that you're significantly underselling how impressive this feat was.

I'm married to a former collegiate runner that holds records in PA. And I run myself, though not competitively. I just scrutinize it in a way that Twitter Bros. don't.

It's akin to pointing to a hockey all-star game and admiring how many goals were scored. Yeah, it's cool, but it's a novelty with nothing to compare it to.

Postby **dodint** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:09 am

Nike had set up something similar in Italy in 2017 and Kipchoge fell 25 seconds short.

Yeah, that's where I was impressed. I knew about the Nike event and that they failed. This time someone did it. It's very cool, in its own space.

Postby **CBear3** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:41 am

Which reminds me, did your wife run the 5K at VIR, and did she get lost?

Postby **dodint** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:44 am

Yeah, she won the women's division. The event was a **** for a bunch of reasons, they have to mail her the trophy because the trophy factory burnt down.

Overall winner was a 12 year old that did it in 21 minutes.

I did decent. First half of the course was basically uphill, so I ran a negative split which is unheard of for me. VIR didn't allow us to run the course, we ran the access roads. Sad.

Postby **CBear3** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:50 am

Yeah, she won the women's division. The event was a **** for a bunch of reasons, they have to mail her the trophy because the trophy factory burnt down.

Overall winner was a 12 year old that did it in 21 minutes.

I did decent. First half of the course was basically uphill, so I ran a negative split which is unheard of for me. VIR didn't allow us to run the course, we ran the access roads. Sad.

Darn country clubs.

Postby **count2infinity** » Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:58 am

I just get the idea that you're significantly underselling how impressive this feat was.
I'm married to a former collegiate runner that holds records in PA. And I run myself, though not competitively. I just scrutinize it in a way that Twitter Bros. don't.

It's akin to pointing to a hockey all-star game and admiring how many goals were scored. Yeah, it's cool, but it's a novelty with nothing to compare it to.

I don't find that to be an apt analogy here, but agree to disagree I suppose.

Postby **Tomas** » Fri Oct 18, 2019 4:16 pm

The race:

Also:

Postby **dodint** » Fri Oct 18, 2019 8:34 pm

You can't have a race with one entrant. Change my mind.

Postby **shafnutz05** » Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:00 pm

Legit lol at:

"Pace runners also block the wind"
"Electric cars so there are no emissions for the runners"

Postby **dodint** » Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:08 pm

Drafting is absolutely a factor. I am sure they selected a site without a crosswind though. Hell, surprised there wasn't a significant tailwind

Postby **CBear3** » Fri Oct 18, 2019 10:36 pm

I’m with dodint. The amount of work done to run 6 seconds faster per mile makes it “ok, that’s cool” feat instead of the major human achievement it will be when somebody does it in a race.

Having said that, one of my favorite bits at marathon/health expos is the gigantic treadmill they have set up where you see how long you can hold his WR pace and watching people fly off the end of it.

Postby **dodint** » Fri Oct 18, 2019 10:43 pm

That would be amazing.

Postby **shafnutz05** » Sat Oct 19, 2019 5:39 pm

Yeah, it amazes me that these people are literally sprinting for 26 miles. Wtf

Postby **crusherstasiak** » Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:56 pm

Yeah, it amazes me that these people are literally sprinting for 26 miles. Wtf

where's the 'like' button?

Postby **Tomas** » Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:23 am

This is actually a very good athletic accomplishment!

Postby **Tomas** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 11:08 pm

Time to resurrect this threat, especially now that the 2022 World Championship is in the good ol' USA.

For all you Pittsburghers, the guy to watch is Ayden Owens. Born and raised in Pittsburgh (I believe went to North Allegheny HS). I think he has a very good chance to medal in decathlon, despite being only 22 or 23(?).

Representing Puerto Rico and Arkansas Razorbacks (he happens to be my former MBA student).