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May 6, 2017 8:10 AM Subscribe
It’s been a big year for marathon running. Mary Keitany broke the women’s only world record at the London Marathon in April. Now as part of a Nike sponsored effort to break the 2 hour marathon barrier, Eliud Kipchoge completed the distance in 2 hours and 25 seconds. Unfortunately because of the way pacers were used, this doesn’t count as a world record, but it’s still a major milestone on the road to a sub-2 time.
How do they measure the distance on a looped track? Is it from the middle of the lane or the shortest edge? If it is measured from the middle and you run on the inside edge you could shave distance on each lap.
posted by srboisvert at 8:29 AM on May 6, 2017
posted by srboisvert at 8:29 AM on May 6, 2017
This article by the always-excellent Alex Hutchinson (writer of the third link in crocomancer's post) describes the loop factor, beaning. The course in Italy had a "larger turning radius" than the average track or road course -- no 90-degree-or-sharper turns, for example -- and this was seen as an advantage for runners.
posted by Hellgirl at 8:29 AM on May 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Hellgirl at 8:29 AM on May 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also did he have to pee in a cup?
posted by srboisvert at 8:31 AM on May 6, 2017
posted by srboisvert at 8:31 AM on May 6, 2017
My understanding is there was a red (I think) line they had to run just outside of to ensure they weren't running short.
posted by obfuscation at 8:39 AM on May 6, 2017
posted by obfuscation at 8:39 AM on May 6, 2017
The green laser line was to show them where the tangents were; so essentially to make sure they weren't running more than they had to.
Super, super effort by all three men. Thrilling to watch.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:51 AM on May 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Super, super effort by all three men. Thrilling to watch.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:51 AM on May 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's been an eventful few days in athletics - Thomas Rohler opened his season in the Javelin at 93.90m, making him the second best ever, and potentially future WR holder if the IAAF accepts EAA's idea of resetting all pre-2005 records (I have a FPP on this, but not sure if the blue is actually interested in this).
Failing this close must be good new for Nike, as they will certainly try it again and with even more eyes.
posted by lmfsilva at 9:45 AM on May 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Failing this close must be good new for Nike, as they will certainly try it again and with even more eyes.
posted by lmfsilva at 9:45 AM on May 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Boy that last 0.2 miles really is the hardest.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:46 AM on May 6, 2017
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:46 AM on May 6, 2017
I am deeply deeply interested in this javelin post.
posted by PinkMoose at 9:59 AM on May 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by PinkMoose at 9:59 AM on May 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
It was amazing to watch. And somewhat insane how fresh Kipchoge looked at the end. You totally get the feeling that, next time, 1:59 will definitely go. And then over the next year, five more dudes will do it in race conditions, just like after Bannister. Psychological barriers are a big thing.
posted by DangerIsMyMiddleName at 10:18 AM on May 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by DangerIsMyMiddleName at 10:18 AM on May 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
How do they measure the distance on a looped track?
For any official course, the measured distance is the shortest route a runner could possibly take. This means that in a normal race, almost everyone actually runs further than the measured distance. Being able to follow the actual line was another way this 2 hour attempt was setting up perfect conditions.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 10:27 AM on May 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
For any official course, the measured distance is the shortest route a runner could possibly take. This means that in a normal race, almost everyone actually runs further than the measured distance. Being able to follow the actual line was another way this 2 hour attempt was setting up perfect conditions.
posted by the agents of KAOS at 10:27 AM on May 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Every marathon should have pacers and deliver drinks by moped.
posted by fixedgear at 10:45 AM on May 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fixedgear at 10:45 AM on May 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
I doubt Nike tested him for PEDs on the eve of an unsanctioned unofficial run to advertise shoes that soon may not be competition legal.
Regular PED testing is given as a result of WADA and professional matathon racing though.
posted by cmfletcher at 10:49 AM on May 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Regular PED testing is given as a result of WADA and professional matathon racing though.
posted by cmfletcher at 10:49 AM on May 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Has anyone ever run a barefoot ultra-marathon?
The Tarahumara of Mexico routinely ran up to 300 km barefoot or in huaraches. At 2000 meter altitude (>6k feet), on rough mountain terrain.
Tarahumara runners first participated in the Olympics in 1928. They placed like 30th in the marathon, but after reaching the goal they just kept running.
In the 1990s Tarahumaras started entering Leadville Race to the Sky in the Colorado Rockies. For some reason they would start the 100k race with running shoes, but would take them off at the first water station to continue barefoot or with sandals.
Tarahumaras have placed first in Leadville.
posted by Dr. Curare at 11:35 AM on May 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Tarahumara of Mexico routinely ran up to 300 km barefoot or in huaraches. At 2000 meter altitude (>6k feet), on rough mountain terrain.
Tarahumara runners first participated in the Olympics in 1928. They placed like 30th in the marathon, but after reaching the goal they just kept running.
In the 1990s Tarahumaras started entering Leadville Race to the Sky in the Colorado Rockies. For some reason they would start the 100k race with running shoes, but would take them off at the first water station to continue barefoot or with sandals.
Tarahumaras have placed first in Leadville.
posted by Dr. Curare at 11:35 AM on May 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Correction: Leadville is 100 miles, not kilometers. And at 12,000 feet.
posted by Dr. Curare at 11:38 AM on May 6, 2017
posted by Dr. Curare at 11:38 AM on May 6, 2017
This was insane to watch, but I did feel a little ripped off to only learn at the end that he wouldn't be setting a world record because of the pacers. You could see him just straining for it at the finish, and it's a shame that doesn't count for the record books.
I did read one article that said that the team looked at using a single set of pacers that would pull out at some point, which would have been a legal race, but they concluded it wouldn't be enough to get below two hours. It will be really interesting to see what the IAAF does with the shoes though, if you can even even formulate a coherent rule about them.
posted by zachlipton at 2:28 PM on May 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
I did read one article that said that the team looked at using a single set of pacers that would pull out at some point, which would have been a legal race, but they concluded it wouldn't be enough to get below two hours. It will be really interesting to see what the IAAF does with the shoes though, if you can even even formulate a coherent rule about them.
posted by zachlipton at 2:28 PM on May 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nike's write up on the shoe has this statement about the other aids:
posted by Mitheral at 7:01 PM on May 6, 2017
Nike Aeroblade tape helps reduce drag where most critical — the lower legs.Anyone know how much of a difference this makes? I would have guessed air resistance at marathon speeds would be negligible.
posted by Mitheral at 7:01 PM on May 6, 2017
and potentially future WR holder if the IAAF accepts EAA's idea of resetting all pre-2005 records (I have a FPP on this, but not sure if the blue is actually interested in this).
I've heard this as an aside in a couple of places and would love to see a roundup of what it's actually about.
sure I could search it myself but MeFi is really good at roundups ok
posted by solarion at 7:46 PM on May 6, 2017
I've heard this as an aside in a couple of places and would love to see a roundup of what it's actually about.
sure I could search it myself but MeFi is really good at roundups ok
posted by solarion at 7:46 PM on May 6, 2017
Anyone know how much of a difference this makes? I would have guessed air resistance at marathon speeds would be negligible.
I know there is published research showing that smaller feet make you faster so I'd imagine it does add up over many steps.
posted by fshgrl at 9:14 PM on May 6, 2017
I know there is published research showing that smaller feet make you faster so I'd imagine it does add up over many steps.
posted by fshgrl at 9:14 PM on May 6, 2017
If a world-class marathoner is running at 12 or 13 mph (around 20 kph), then their feet must move at about twice that speed (since the feet alternate such that each foot is moving forward only about half the time). A leg swinging forward at 25 mph (40 kph) is getting into strong air resistance territory.
posted by mbrubeck at 9:38 PM on May 6, 2017
posted by mbrubeck at 9:38 PM on May 6, 2017
Sure. However the Aeroblade tape can only effect the skin friction and then the effect is only the difference between Aeroblade and bare skin. And the air between a runner's legs has got to be turbulent as hell.
Even if the tape has a measurable effect on reduced drag the runner is incurring a weight penalty carrying the tape the distance and a power penalty for accelerating and decelerating that weight with every step.
Even their own press release on the system is weasel worded and doesn't actually tout any measured benefit. You think they would have at least a couple lazy science results showing how much faster a runner is with their system.
Also if this really works then they are completely missing the boat on a shit ton of money to be made in autoracing and the hanger on markets. Or even just the trucking industry.
posted by Mitheral at 11:04 PM on May 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Even if the tape has a measurable effect on reduced drag the runner is incurring a weight penalty carrying the tape the distance and a power penalty for accelerating and decelerating that weight with every step.
Even their own press release on the system is weasel worded and doesn't actually tout any measured benefit. You think they would have at least a couple lazy science results showing how much faster a runner is with their system.
Also if this really works then they are completely missing the boat on a shit ton of money to be made in autoracing and the hanger on markets. Or even just the trucking industry.
posted by Mitheral at 11:04 PM on May 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
(I've finished up what I had on the record erasure, and it's here)
posted by lmfsilva at 4:18 AM on May 7, 2017
posted by lmfsilva at 4:18 AM on May 7, 2017
Mitheral, I think they have to be careful not to get their gear banned with the claims. Those shark suits were banned after people kept destroying records in them.
Having said that there IS research showing that compression sleeves make people run quite a bit faster over long distances and those are not banned. yet.
posted by fshgrl at 6:06 PM on May 7, 2017
Having said that there IS research showing that compression sleeves make people run quite a bit faster over long distances and those are not banned. yet.
posted by fshgrl at 6:06 PM on May 7, 2017
I'm not a fan of assuming that because a record was above the norm that it was drug-based cheating. I don't think anyone has ever accused Bob Beamon of being on PEDs when he jumped nearly 2 feet beyond the existing long jump record, and yet that record is still the Olympic record nearly 50 years later, and only one person has ever jumped beyond it in international competition.
I'm sure there are some cheaters that would get stripped, but also likely people who justly won their records.
posted by tavella at 10:18 PM on May 7, 2017
I'm sure there are some cheaters that would get stripped, but also likely people who justly won their records.
posted by tavella at 10:18 PM on May 7, 2017
This is so goddamn impressive. I remember when I was in close to my peak condition as a runner in the early 1980s -- that I timed myself running a single mile, indoors on a track in perfect conditions. And I was so proud that it took me only 7 minutes. This guy runs 26 of them -- in a row -- averaging about 4 and a half minutes per. Jesus.
posted by anothermug at 7:58 PM on May 9, 2017
posted by anothermug at 7:58 PM on May 9, 2017
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posted by beaning at 8:19 AM on May 6, 2017