I was quite happy that the medals were handed out immediately after the race, and I could almost completely ignore podium-related shenanigans.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2023 8:13 am The podium shots are really weird by the way. Only showing the winner rather than a proper shot of all three and it has this weird sponsor background rather than just being out in the open in the stadium. Really horrible to look at.
Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Gudaf Tsegay just got 14:00.21 for the 5000m. The 14-minute barrier suddenly looks breakable! Faith Kipyegon needs to take another shot at it.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Duplantis WR in the pole vault.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
5 seconds is amazingGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 7:58 pm Gudaf Tsegay just got 14:00.21 for the 5000m. The 14-minute barrier suddenly looks breakable! Faith Kipyegon needs to take another shot at it.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Assefa breaks the women's Marathon record
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
From 2:14:04 to 2:11:53. Absolutely massive. Some people think all the new shoes devalue the records.
Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Yeah everyone should run bare-footed a-la Zola BuddGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 1:07 pmFrom 2:14:04 to 2:11:53. Absolutely massive. Some people think all the new shoes devalue the records.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Well yes. Some people think that these new shoes are somehow "cheating", but unless you ban all shoes, then where do you draw the line? How good does a shoe need to be before it "artificially" aids your performance? I suppose the problem is not how good they are as a standalone, but that they are continually getting better, meaning that it's harder to compare times from previous years. There must be diminishing returns with these super shoes though, especially as there is a maximum stack height for the shoe.Fiona T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:07 pmYeah everyone should run bare-footed a-la Zola BuddGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 1:07 pmFrom 2:14:04 to 2:11:53. Absolutely massive. Some people think all the new shoes devalue the records.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Swimming faced a similar problem: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/full-bo ... id=9437780
There's also the javelin redesigns that reduced the potential distance one could be thrown, although they reset the records at the same time.
There's also the javelin redesigns that reduced the potential distance one could be thrown, although they reset the records at the same time.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
I used to think that middle distance records were slightly tarnished by having a pacemaker.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:28 pmWell yes. Some people think that these new shoes are somehow "cheating", but unless you ban all shoes, then where do you draw the line? How good does a shoe need to be before it "artificially" aids your performance? I suppose the problem is not how good they are as a standalone, but that they are continually getting better, meaning that it's harder to compare times from previous years. There must be diminishing returns with these super shoes though, especially as there is a maximum stack height for the shoe.Fiona T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:07 pmYeah everyone should run bare-footed a-la Zola BuddGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 1:07 pm
From 2:14:04 to 2:11:53. Absolutely massive. Some people think all the new shoes devalue the records.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
There is also increasing evidence that some runners are much more responsive to the benefits of the shoes than others, which is completely unfair. That, to me, is a bigger problem.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:28 pmWell yes. Some people think that these new shoes are somehow "cheating", but unless you ban all shoes, then where do you draw the line? How good does a shoe need to be before it "artificially" aids your performance? I suppose the problem is not how good they are as a standalone, but that they are continually getting better, meaning that it's harder to compare times from previous years. There must be diminishing returns with these super shoes though, especially as there is a maximum stack height for the shoe.Fiona T wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:07 pmYeah everyone should run bare-footed a-la Zola BuddGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 1:07 pm
From 2:14:04 to 2:11:53. Absolutely massive. Some people think all the new shoes devalue the records.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
I was discussing the shoes/swimsuits thing with Florence last night. She made a great point that equipment like this becomes an access issue for the sport. If there's an expensive piece of gear that reduces your times by a significant percentage, then at e.g. junior level, those from low-income families become essentially priced out of the sport.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
That's definitely true and they do have certain restrictions on running shoes but they could go further. They certainly could have earlier but these records exist now so maybe the cat's out of the bag.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Better than anyone keeling over mid-race.Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:43 pmI used to think that middle distance records were slightly tarnished by having a pacemaker.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:28 pmWell yes. Some people think that these new shoes are somehow "cheating", but unless you ban all shoes, then where do you draw the line? How good does a shoe need to be before it "artificially" aids your performance? I suppose the problem is not how good they are as a standalone, but that they are continually getting better, meaning that it's harder to compare times from previous years. There must be diminishing returns with these super shoes though, especially as there is a maximum stack height for the shoe.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
This was at least partly a safety issue though if I remember right.Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:32 pm Swimming faced a similar problem: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/full-bo ... id=9437780
There's also the javelin redesigns that reduced the potential distance one could be thrown, although they reset the records at the same time.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
They could have a maximum retail price and only shoes available to the public.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 10:27 am That's definitely true and they do have certain restrictions on running shoes but they could go further. They certainly could have earlier but these records exist now so maybe the cat's out of the bag.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Where did you hear this? It seems a bit strange if true.Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 7:34 am
There is also increasing evidence that some runners are much more responsive to the benefits of the shoes than others, which is completely unfair. That, to me, is a bigger problem.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5856879/Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Sep 29, 2023 2:04 pmWhere did you hear this? It seems a bit strange if true.Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 7:34 am
There is also increasing evidence that some runners are much more responsive to the benefits of the shoes than others, which is completely unfair. That, to me, is a bigger problem.
"Among the 18 subjects, the mean difference in energetic cost over the three velocities between the NP and NS shoes ranged from − 1.59 to − 6.26% and from − 1.97 to − 6.08% for NP versus AB, indicating considerable inter-individual variation in the amount of energetic saving the NP shoes provided."
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Interesting, thanks. But what if shoes in general (versus bare feet) benefited some runners more than others? Would that be a problem?
Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Everyone is different physically, and it seems inevitable that some clothing items will assist some athletes more than others.
Recent research showed that a properly fitting running bra increased performance. Now I'm only speculating, but I imagine that this would benefit a larger breasted athlete a lot more than a flat chested one.
Presumably the shoe differences are related to arches/toe length/foot width/length or other physical differences - not sure how that is different?
Recent research showed that a properly fitting running bra increased performance. Now I'm only speculating, but I imagine that this would benefit a larger breasted athlete a lot more than a flat chested one.
Presumably the shoe differences are related to arches/toe length/foot width/length or other physical differences - not sure how that is different?
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
This is my original impression, admittedly from the perspective of someone who isn't a runner. Any change to equipment in sport is going to benefit some people more than others, but that can invariably be traced back to differences in physique/technique.Fiona T wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:50 pm Everyone is different physically, and it seems inevitable that some clothing items will assist some athletes more than others.
Recent research showed that a properly fitting running bra increased performance. Now I'm only speculating, but I imagine that this would benefit a larger breasted athlete a lot more than a flat chested one.
Presumably the shoe differences are related to arches/toe length/foot width/length or other physical differences - not sure how that is different?
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Not sure if we've had this discussion before and it's probably got a simple answer anywhere but the talk of what external advantages a competitive sportsperson can gain are fair and which aren't always makes me think of the doping debate.
High level competitive athletes do all sorts of things to give themselves an advantage, from using the best equipment to maximising their physical condition. As for so-called "performance enhancing drugs", the thing I've never understood is that at world level it's perfectly normally for athletes to be on all sorts of fancy dietary supplements to improve their condition. All athletes at that level routinely consume stuff to enhance their performance. What makes some of these things fair and others cheating. When does a supplement become a PED? Is an expensive fancy running shoe a Performance Enhancing Device?
High level competitive athletes do all sorts of things to give themselves an advantage, from using the best equipment to maximising their physical condition. As for so-called "performance enhancing drugs", the thing I've never understood is that at world level it's perfectly normally for athletes to be on all sorts of fancy dietary supplements to improve their condition. All athletes at that level routinely consume stuff to enhance their performance. What makes some of these things fair and others cheating. When does a supplement become a PED? Is an expensive fancy running shoe a Performance Enhancing Device?
Mark Deeks wrote:Callum Todd looks like a young Ted Bundy.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
I get the sense that, with all the modern technology available, the "banned" and "acceptable" lists are a bit arbitrary. Banning certain substances only really levels the playing field until enough players find ways around the rules, and newer dietary supplements and equipment become available that enhance performance at least as much as any PED would. You could say it's analogous to how F1 has (according to those I know that follow it) become way more about the car that a driver is in, than the driver themselves.Callum Todd wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 1:48 pm Not sure if we've had this discussion before and it's probably got a simple answer anywhere but the talk of what external advantages a competitive sportsperson can gain are fair and which aren't always makes me think of the doping debate.
High level competitive athletes do all sorts of things to give themselves an advantage, from using the best equipment to maximising their physical condition. As for so-called "performance enhancing drugs", the thing I've never understood is that at world level it's perfectly normally for athletes to be on all sorts of fancy dietary supplements to improve their condition. All athletes at that level routinely consume stuff to enhance their performance. What makes some of these things fair and others cheating. When does a supplement become a PED? Is an expensive fancy running shoe a Performance Enhancing Device?
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
I think with a bra, it's more that you're preventing a hindrance that is only indirectly related to running. With a shoe, you are directly enhancing your running performance. Obviously it could be argued that it's just levelling the playing field for someone with crappy arches or something like that, but I still think it's much nearer the questionable boundary than a sports bra.Fiona T wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:50 pm Everyone is different physically, and it seems inevitable that some clothing items will assist some athletes more than others.
Recent research showed that a properly fitting running bra increased performance. Now I'm only speculating, but I imagine that this would benefit a larger breasted athlete a lot more than a flat chested one.
Presumably the shoe differences are related to arches/toe length/foot width/length or other physical differences - not sure how that is different?
It probably is to a large extent arbitrary. But there are certain things that they probably consider. Some of these supplements likely just contain things that people get in their diet anyway to make sure they're not deficient. And it would be strange to ban the form you take them in, not to mention the policeability of it.Callum Todd wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 1:48 pm Not sure if we've had this discussion before and it's probably got a simple answer anywhere but the talk of what external advantages a competitive sportsperson can gain are fair and which aren't always makes me think of the doping debate.
High level competitive athletes do all sorts of things to give themselves an advantage, from using the best equipment to maximising their physical condition. As for so-called "performance enhancing drugs", the thing I've never understood is that at world level it's perfectly normally for athletes to be on all sorts of fancy dietary supplements to improve their condition. All athletes at that level routinely consume stuff to enhance their performance. What makes some of these things fair and others cheating. When does a supplement become a PED? Is an expensive fancy running shoe a Performance Enhancing Device?
Also, it's likely to be about accessibility and safety. If some performance enhancing substance is only available to a select few, then maybe they're more likely to ban it. If it's dangerous, then they're presumably very likely to ban it.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
It will be predominantly technique rather than physique that governs the difference I expect.Elliott Mellor wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 1:34 pmThis is my original impression, admittedly from the perspective of someone who isn't a runner. Any change to equipment in sport is going to benefit some people more than others, but that can invariably be traced back to differences in physique/technique.Fiona T wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 12:50 pm Everyone is different physically, and it seems inevitable that some clothing items will assist some athletes more than others.
Recent research showed that a properly fitting running bra increased performance. Now I'm only speculating, but I imagine that this would benefit a larger breasted athlete a lot more than a flat chested one.
Presumably the shoe differences are related to arches/toe length/foot width/length or other physical differences - not sure how that is different?
Of course some people will always benefit more than others. But the variances in that study are huge. I highly doubt that there is a comparable technological change in any other sport which so drastically unlevels the playing field.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Does it unlevel the playing field or just change it? I would intuitively say that the people who would benefit most from super shoes are those who have poorer technique when it comes to landing and then taking off again. The shoes take out some of the relevance of that because the foot is hidden above a high stacked shoe sole that handles the energy return itself. I'd be surprised if those who have the most efficient technique already are the ones gaining from it.Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 4:01 pm It will be predominantly technique rather than physique that governs the difference I expect.
Of course some people will always benefit more than others. But the variances in that study are huge. I highly doubt that there is a comparable technological change in any other sport which so drastically unlevels the playing field.
So by removing this aspect of technique it is more likely to level the playing field rather than unlevel it. You might still argue that this is a bad thing of course, because technique is a relevant skill.
One other thing though - the paper does suggest that heel strikers benefit more than mid/forefoot strikers despite being equally efficient beforehand, by about 1%, so that is an unlevelling. But that's not the big differences that you were talking about.
Also, that study was funded by Nike and while that doesn't mean it wasn't done objectively, marathon times have not improved by the levels predicted by the study in the intervening years. The men's world record was 2:02:57 at the time of the study in non-super shoes, and they predicted a 3.4% time reduction (based on a 4% increase in efficiency). This would give a time of 1:58:46. Eliud Kipchoge's current official record is 2:01:09, although he did set a time of 1:59:41 in an unofficial time trial with continuous pacing and drafting from a car (still some way off). Also, you would expect Eliud Kipchoge's record to be a better run than Dennis Kimetto's, as Kipchoge has been the dominant marathon runner for years and is seen by many as the GOAT (until Kelvin Kiptum blows his times away but most people haven't heard of him yet), whereas Kimetto hasn't achieved anywhere near as much in terms of results. Plus shoes have improved since that study so that 3.4% time improvement should be even greater by now.
If you knock 3.4% off Paula Radcliffe's 2:15:25, you get 2:10:49, and even the ridiculously quick new record of 2:11:53 hasn't troubled that.
This is all a bit of an aside really and doesn't exactly go against the idea that some people benefit more from the shoes than others, but it does suggest that the absolute gains aren't as great as the study suggests, so we're dealing with smaller margins, and it does call into question some of the accuracy.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
He might gain some notoriety now.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:04 pm (until Kelvin Kiptum blows his times away but most people haven't heard of him yet)
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Yes, I was going to post about this. New world record!Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 8:25 pmHe might gain some notoriety now.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:04 pm (until Kelvin Kiptum blows his times away but most people haven't heard of him yet)
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
The 2 hour barrier is within reachGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 9:00 pmYes, I was going to post about this. New world record!Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 8:25 pmHe might gain some notoriety now.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:04 pm (until Kelvin Kiptum blows his times away but most people haven't heard of him yet)
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
The split times for that marathon, every kilometer under 3 minutes
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
With all the world records, maybe we'll have to resurrect this thread soon.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
I wonder what could be causing all these records to tumble all of a sudden...Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 9:33 am With all the world records, maybe we'll have to resurrect this thread soon.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Better shoes and and better drugs!Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 12:57 pmI wonder what could be causing all these records to tumble all of a sudden...Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 9:33 am With all the world records, maybe we'll have to resurrect this thread soon.
Edit - Shoe technology has helped more on the road than the track because the maximum allowed stack height for the shoe is higher for road racing so there's more potential for gains there. But some of the women's track times recently have raised a few eyebrows. Also some don't find Kelvin Kiptum at all believable.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
We know that the shoes can account for all of the improvement so you don't need to assume that drugs are better as well.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Maybe not better drugs but on the track more flagrant drug taking is at least a possibilty.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
But there's absolutely no evidence to suggest that. It'd be a bit like accusing all the 2008 swimmers of taking drugs as well as having the new swimsuits. You might well be right but what would lead you to speculate?Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 7:41 pm Maybe not better drugs but on the track more flagrant drug taking is at least a possibilty.
Why?Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:39 pm Also some don't find Kelvin Kiptum at all believable.
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On the track I'm not sure times have overall massively improved on average. It seems that the fastest have just widened the gap - in some events anyway.
Here's one discussion thread on Kiptum. A lot of nonsense gets posted on that forum but a couple of things are that he came out of nowhere to be this top marathoner at a young age with no prior track career to speak of, which is quite rare. And the way he runs the races - going off "slowly" and then just destroying the second half of the race with seemingly no fatigue.
Here's one discussion thread on Kiptum. A lot of nonsense gets posted on that forum but a couple of things are that he came out of nowhere to be this top marathoner at a young age with no prior track career to speak of, which is quite rare. And the way he runs the races - going off "slowly" and then just destroying the second half of the race with seemingly no fatigue.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
I'd be surprised if that was the case. I'm sure the data to test this is available.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 10:59 pm On the track I'm not sure times have overall massively improved on average. It seems that the fastest have just widened the gap - in some events anyway.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
OK, one could do a full statistical analysis, but I've definitely noticed that women's track times have come down more than men's (whatever the reason might be for that). For some reason the 400m hurdles has had massive gains for both men and women, but other than that I'd say women have had bigger improvements.
Flo-Jo spoils the sprints, but if you take her out, both the 100m and 200m have shifted quite significantly over the last couple of years, with multiple times inside the previous non Flo-Jo record in both events (two runners in the 100 (and a further two 0.01s behind) and three in the 200). The men's 100m has been comparatively weak. Noah Lyles has moved up the 3rd in history in the 200m but there's not the same depth there.
There have been fairly big gains in the women's 1500m, mile, 5000m and 10,000m as well. The 5000m stands out most with the top six times (four runners) from 2020 onwards.
By contrast, Joshua Cheptegei is the only runner who has beaten the men's 5000m and 10,000m records (both in 2020), and the 1500m and mile remain unbeaten from the late 90s.
I'm only speculating and I haven't done any statistical tests, but assuming this is a thing, it seems more realistic to me that drugs would have a big sex effect than shoes.
Even in the marathon with everyone going on about Kipchoge and Kiptum, they've taken far less off the record than the women have (about 2.5 minutes to 3.5 when compared to the old records of Kimetto/Radcliffe).
Flo-Jo spoils the sprints, but if you take her out, both the 100m and 200m have shifted quite significantly over the last couple of years, with multiple times inside the previous non Flo-Jo record in both events (two runners in the 100 (and a further two 0.01s behind) and three in the 200). The men's 100m has been comparatively weak. Noah Lyles has moved up the 3rd in history in the 200m but there's not the same depth there.
There have been fairly big gains in the women's 1500m, mile, 5000m and 10,000m as well. The 5000m stands out most with the top six times (four runners) from 2020 onwards.
By contrast, Joshua Cheptegei is the only runner who has beaten the men's 5000m and 10,000m records (both in 2020), and the 1500m and mile remain unbeaten from the late 90s.
I'm only speculating and I haven't done any statistical tests, but assuming this is a thing, it seems more realistic to me that drugs would have a big sex effect than shoes.
Even in the marathon with everyone going on about Kipchoge and Kiptum, they've taken far less off the record than the women have (about 2.5 minutes to 3.5 when compared to the old records of Kimetto/Radcliffe).
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/67164888
Interesting read about coaching
Interesting read about coaching
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Joasia Zakrzewski banned for 12 months for using car in race
Stories like this are always hilarious, but what makes this especially noteworthy is she still only came third. Presumably this was to the great amusement of the two who finished ahead of her, who now brag about having beaten every other competitor including the one in a car.
Stories like this are always hilarious, but what makes this especially noteworthy is she still only came third. Presumably this was to the great amusement of the two who finished ahead of her, who now brag about having beaten every other competitor including the one in a car.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
If the race was long enough you could make up the 12-month time deficit if you drove quickly.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
This is incredible
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/67974629
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/67974629
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Yes, and it also goes back to what I said quite recently about women's times improving more than men's. Two women under the world record, and the men's race gave no times of particular note.Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 2:21 pm This is incredible
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/67974629
But also Agnes Ngetich and Emmaculate Anyango aren't exactly the biggest names to begin with. Ngetich (the winner) had at least got a bronze at the world cross country championships and had at least run a 29:24 10km before this crazy 28:46. Emmaculate Anyango (second), however, had done little of note, with a best 10km time of 30:01 before this 28:57. I'm not sure what to make of these performances.
It's also worth noting that road records are generally slower than track records, but the track 10,000m record is a mere 29:01.03 so it's been destroyed. The shoe rules are different for road racing and the recent development of "super shoes" has shifted the balance in favour of road racing, so this might be the trend from now on. We also had a massive chunk taken off the women's marathon record not so long ago, but the men's improvements seem more incremental.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Kelvin Kiptum has died in a road accident. Shit. I mean, fucking hell.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
These are the kinds of celebrity deaths that get me the most. I struggle to really care when someone old dies, but he had so much ahead of himGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:28 pm Kelvin Kiptum has died in a road accident. Shit. I mean, fucking hell.

also, not the thread for it, but fuck cars
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
According to this Wikipedia page, people in Kenya are about 10 times as likely as people in the UK to die in a car accident in a given year. But fewer people have cars in Kenya. Per car, the death rate is more than 100 times as much!
From here:
It's still a pretty freak event that Kiptum died just five days after his world record was ratified, and with the Paris Olympics coming up. Someone in the Kipchoge camp really wants that gold medal...
From here:
That's really bizarre.Giving details of the crash, police said Kiptum was driving and had "lost control [of the vehicle] and veered off-road entering into a ditch on his left side".
"He drove in the ditch for about 60 metres before hitting a big tree," a police statement said.
It's still a pretty freak event that Kiptum died just five days after his world record was ratified, and with the Paris Olympics coming up. Someone in the Kipchoge camp really wants that gold medal...
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Horrible and shocking. Similar happened with Sammy Wanjiru in his prime.Thomas Carey wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 6:56 amThese are the kinds of celebrity deaths that get me the most. I struggle to really care when someone old dies, but he had so much ahead of himGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:28 pm Kelvin Kiptum has died in a road accident. Shit. I mean, fucking hell.![]()
Mike Brown: "Round 12: T N R S A E I G U
C1: SIGNATURE (18) ["9; not written down"]
C2: SEATING (7)
Score: 108–16 (max 113)
Another niner for Adam and yet another century. Well done, that man."
C1: SIGNATURE (18) ["9; not written down"]
C2: SEATING (7)
Score: 108–16 (max 113)
Another niner for Adam and yet another century. Well done, that man."
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Steve Prefontaine similar.
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
The thing is Kiptum was the sub-2 hour hope. He was also fun to watch. He'd take the first half of his marathons fairly easily and then just go in the second half. With better pacing, sub-2 looked a formality.
Also, for whatever reason, the women's marathon records are often set by people you've never heard of and will never hear of again. Someone might one day break 2:10 but we don't know who. For the men's sub-2 it had to be Kiptum. It was going to be Kiptum. And then this happened.
Also, for whatever reason, the women's marathon records are often set by people you've never heard of and will never hear of again. Someone might one day break 2:10 but we don't know who. For the men's sub-2 it had to be Kiptum. It was going to be Kiptum. And then this happened.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
I reckon if the enhanced games happen then sub 2 hours will happenGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:11 pm The thing is Kiptum was the sub-2 hour hope. He was also fun to watch. He'd take the first half of his marathons fairly easily and then just go in the second half. With better pacing, sub-2 looked a formality.
Also, for whatever reason, the women's marathon records are often set by people you've never heard of and will never hear of again. Someone might one day break 2:10 but we don't know who. For the men's sub-2 it had to be Kiptum. It was going to be Kiptum. And then this happened.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
If you're happy to count that then why not count Kipchoge's sub-2?Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:16 pm I reckon if the enhanced games happen then sub 2 hours will happen
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Why wasn't it official then?Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:25 pmIf you're happy to count that then why not count Kipchoge's sub-2?Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:16 pm I reckon if the enhanced games happen then sub 2 hours will happen
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
He had pacemakers, and if I remember right, was shielded from air resistance by a vehicle in front of him too, not to mention shoes that were beyond regulations.Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:43 pmWhy wasn't it official then?Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:25 pmIf you're happy to count that then why not count Kipchoge's sub-2?Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:16 pm I reckon if the enhanced games happen then sub 2 hours will happen
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Pacemakers should be OK though as most middle distance record breakers have had themIan Volante wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:31 pmHe had pacemakers, and if I remember right, was shielded from air resistance by a vehicle in front of him too, not to mention shoes that were beyond regulations.Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:43 pmWhy wasn't it official then?Sam Cappleman-Lynes wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:25 pm
If you're happy to count that then why not count Kipchoge's sub-2?
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
The pacemakers dropped in and out (there were several laps) so it wasn't like in a proper race where they start with you and then drop out when they can't keep it going.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
I still don't really get why that's illegal. Obviously cars blocking wind and shoes with whatever made them illegal would invalidate the run anyway, but i don't see why you couldn't essentially tell the guy exactly how fast to run (with pacers or a hologram 'ghost car' or whatever else)? He's still running it himself...Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2024 12:56 pm The pacemakers dropped in and out (there were several laps) so it wasn't like in a proper race where they start with you and then drop out when they can't keep it going.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Yeah it's not a massive big deal, though still not legal.
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Re: Track and Field (and Road) Athletics
Also the shoes Kipchoge wore were I believe the Alphaflys, which are a legal shoe. At the time they were a prototype, so perhaps technically illegal due to not being available to the public or something.