Two hour marathon

[Singapore Joe]

The Nike sponsored guys are apparently making their attempt this weekend.

http://www.runnersworld.com/2-hour-marathon/a-primer-on-the-sub-2-hour-marathon

 

A tough thing to attempt and shedding nearly three minutes off the world record sounds unlikely but this is not exactly a regular race. It's dedicated event on a very flat Monza F1 race course on the day selected for optimal weather with a whole team of pacers and a specially made shoe. In the trial run they went well under an hour for a half marathon but the world record for half marathon is already under 59 minutes so that's not yet such a big thing. Doing it two times would be.

 

Even if they break two hours that most likely won't qualify as a world record but I don't think anybody cares. The publicity and marketing value would be gigantical anyway.

[MtlJeff]

It's preposterous to think about that kind of speed for a marathon. I know guys can do it or come close, i just can't wrap my head around it.

 

I come from a family of runners, my dad has run a 2:30 marathon, and my mom has run a 3:10. My dad came close to qualifying for the Olympics. I've run a 4:45 Mile and a 28 minute 5-mile at 35yrs old....so we're runners.

 

That being said, running 26 miles straight at a 4.5 minute clip is something that boggles my mind. These guys aren't human

[SilverBullets]

its absolutely mind boggling to think about the pace these guys are capable of running.

 

I will say, I kind of hate what Nike is doing here. It is almost taking away the evolution of the record by manufacturing perfect conditions and allowing them to dictate the terms.

[AppAlum]

My wife would call 2 hours a marathon.

[Singapore Joe]

It's preposterous to think about that kind of speed for a marathon. I know guys can do it or come close, i just can't wrap my head around it.

 

I come from a family of runners, my dad has run a 2:30 marathon, and my mom has run a 3:10. My dad came close to qualifying for the Olympics. I've run a 4:45 Mile and a 28 minute 5-mile at 35yrs old....so we're runners.

 

That being said, running 26 miles straight at a 4.5 minute clip is something that boggles my mind. These guys aren't human

That is some serious running in the family! At 35 I would have matched you for the five miles - or, 8km as I like to call it ;) - but since I've busted my achilles tendons and here I am, aged 47 this year, sitting in my compression gear after a yoga class wondering whether I will ever again run distances >10km. Not the end of the world but a bit of a pity as I like running. Shouldn't have fell victim of the damned minimalistic running some years ago.

 

Let's see what the guys do. Whether that qualifies as a record or not doesn't change the fact that if they succeed it will be huge. I am sceptical about their chances but wouldn't be the first time I am wrong. After all, the conditions are not "normal" so the whole set up is engineered for their advantage. I'm also pretty sure they wouldn't go for it if they didn't have a realistic chance, so the odds are not overwhelmingly stacked against them.

[Singapore Joe]

And by the postings here we can conclude that Callaway Apex is the golf iron preferred by runners ;)

[Springsteennut]

My wife would call 2 hours a marathon.

 

 

Better than a waste of time

[SmiterOfPv1x]

I can drive 26 miles in way under 2 hours.

 

I could (probably) run it in under two days.

 

My wife would be asleep.

[MtlJeff]

It's preposterous to think about that kind of speed for a marathon. I know guys can do it or come close, i just can't wrap my head around it.

 

I come from a family of runners, my dad has run a 2:30 marathon, and my mom has run a 3:10. My dad came close to qualifying for the Olympics. I've run a 4:45 Mile and a 28 minute 5-mile at 35yrs old....so we're runners.

 

That being said, running 26 miles straight at a 4.5 minute clip is something that boggles my mind. These guys aren't human

That is some serious running in the family! At 35 I would have matched you for the five miles - or, 8km as I like to call it ;) - but since I've busted my achilles tendons and here I am, aged 47 this year, sitting in my compression gear after a yoga class wondering whether I will ever again run distances >10km. Not the end of the world but a bit of a pity as I like running. Shouldn't have fell victim of the damned minimalistic running some years ago.

 

Let's see what the guys do. Whether that qualifies as a record or not doesn't change the fact that if they succeed it will be huge. I am sceptical about their chances but wouldn't be the first time I am wrong. After all, the conditions are not "normal" so the whole set up is engineered for their advantage. I'm also pretty sure they wouldn't go for it if they didn't have a realistic chance, so the odds are not overwhelmingly stacked against them.

 

I like to call it an "8K" too! I'm Canadian after all....i called it a 5 mile for our American readers haha

 

I'm trying to scale back my running, i ran about 3600km last year, and it cost me a lot of muscle. The goal is around 2600 this year, with the difference being spent in the gym doing strength training

 

I also don't want to blow out my knees and joints!

[SmiterOfPv1x]

Wow! 3600km in a year? I'm no mathematician but that's roughly 7 miles a day. I didn't run that much the entire year. What am I doing on this thread??

[MtlJeff]

Wow! 3600km in a year? I'm no mathematician but that's roughly 7 miles a day. I didn't run that much the entire year. What am I doing on this thread??

 

I did 8k a day at lunch during the week and roughly 15k on the weekends.

 

It was too much.

 

In the past 5 months since i've started cutting back i've put on muscle. Late last year i was probably around 165lbs (6 foot) , now i am around 172-173.

[Singapore Joe]

Wow! 3600km in a year? I'm no mathematician but that's roughly 7 miles a day. I didn't run that much the entire year. What am I doing on this thread??

 

I did 8k a day at lunch during the week and roughly 15k on the weekends.

 

It was too much.

 

In the past 5 months since i've started cutting back i've put on muscle. Late last year i was probably around 165lbs (6 foot) , now i am around 172-173.

3650km would have been a nice and clear target, 10km a day :) But seriously, that is pretty impressive running. I never did more than 50km/week but a typical week was around 40. Are your legs holding up all right?

 

I'm 6'4" and just under 200lbs (that's 194cm and 90kg) but my weight typically fluctuates between 200 and 210. A bit too heavy to run but in my active running days I was around 185lbs.

 

Edit: In addition to achilles tendons and knees, one should look after his hip flexors. In yoga I am realizing how stiff I have became but the instructor is doing things to my hips that no woman has ever done before so the hips are starting to open up again (I say again as I used to be somewhat flexible in the good ol' days). That has great, positive impact on any sport, golf in particular, but also helps with the running posture.

 

Anyway... the trial will be on Saturday morning at 05:45 Monza time (that's CET - Central European Time, Friday 11:45pm Eastern Time in the US). Runners World will broadcast it live as will Nike facebook site.

[MtlJeff]

Right now all is good, no knee or leg problems. My mom and dad it's the same. My dad still plays squash a couple of times a week too and is 65 now.

 

For whatever reason we seem to be able to run

[One_Putt_Blunder]

2:00:24 Almost broke 2.

 

Guessing they didn't get on the gas quick enough coming around parabolica. Lesmos is a tricky section too. ?

[Singapore Joe]

That is a HUGE time but yet so far while being so close. Must be devastating. Kipchoge looked really strong throughout but said in an interview that it was hard to maintain the pace for the last 5km. That could go to the history books as an understatement of the century. From Desisa and Tadese one saw pretty early on that they won't make it.

 

Curious to see what will be the time Kipchoge runs in his next race. Wouldn't be surprised him to run a huge official time as well after all all this training and the mental preparation for going crazy fast. Won't of course be anywhere near this time but betting on him to break the world record some time before retiring would probably not be a loosing bet.

 

And now we wait for the next move by Adidas.