Olympic Marathon (Read 1594 times)

I was out in China (Hangzhou) in September. ALthough I brought my running shoes over there, I only ran once. I went to the gym in the hotel and tried to run 5k at an easy pace (10:00mm). After 2km, my lungs were burning (not from effort). After 3km, I had to walk, and at 4km, I gave up. It was impossible for me to run. While no one would accuse me of being an Olympic marathoner, I can't imagine anyone trying to do long runs in that atmosphere.

I just snarfed Diet Coke out my nose. Who should I send the bill for my new keyboard?

It's dishwasher safe.

As long as we're sharing anecdotes, here are the results from the Beijing Marathon last October, which is, you know, an actual athletic competition in Beijing. On the men's side at least, that makes Beijing faster than any American marathon last year. Men - 1. Nephat Kinyanjui, KEN 2:08:09 2. Ren Longyun, CHN 2:08:15 3. Han Gang, CHN 2:08:56 4. David Kipkorir Mandago, KEN 2:09:59 5. Luka Chelimo, KEN 2:10:47 6. Kataoka Yusuke, JPN 2:12:28 7. Kiprotich Kenei, KEN 2:14:30 8. Chen Guoqiang, CHN 2:14:39 9. John Maluni, KEN 2:14:51 10. Su Wei, CHN 2:14:53 Women - 1. Chen Rong, CHN 2:27:05 2. Zhang Yingying, CHN 2:27:20 3. Bai Xue, CHN 2:27:46 4. Zhu Yingying, CHN 2:28:47 5. Jo Pun Hui, PRK 2:29:16 6. Zhang Xin, CHN 2:31:29 7. Jong Yong Ok, PRK 2:32:28 8. Yang Fengxia, CHN 2:33:11 9. An Un Suk, PRK 2:33:12 10. Kim Kum Ok, PRK 2:33:58 China also held the World Junior Championships in August 2006. The times were slow, but no slower than they would be in any other hot, humid location.

As long as we're sharing anecdotes, here are the results from the Beijing Marathon last October, which is, you know, an actual athletic competition in Beijing. On the men's side at least, that makes Beijing faster than any American marathon last year. Men - 1. Nephat Kinyanjui, KEN 2:08:09 2. Ren Longyun, CHN 2:08:15 3. Han Gang, CHN 2:08:56 4. David Kipkorir Mandago, KEN 2:09:59 5. Luka Chelimo, KEN 2:10:47 6. Kataoka Yusuke, JPN 2:12:28 7. Kiprotich Kenei, KEN 2:14:30 8. Chen Guoqiang, CHN 2:14:39 9. John Maluni, KEN 2:14:51 10. Su Wei, CHN 2:14:53 Women - 1. Chen Rong, CHN 2:27:05 2. Zhang Yingying, CHN 2:27:20 3. Bai Xue, CHN 2:27:46 4. Zhu Yingying, CHN 2:28:47 5. Jo Pun Hui, PRK 2:29:16 6. Zhang Xin, CHN 2:31:29 7. Jong Yong Ok, PRK 2:32:28 8. Yang Fengxia, CHN 2:33:11 9. An Un Suk, PRK 2:33:12 10. Kim Kum Ok, PRK 2:33:58 China also held the World Junior Championships in August 2006. The times were slow, but no slower than they would be in any other hot, humid location.

Is it true that every single runner in the top 10 of the men's and women's division now has lung cancer and/or emphysema as a result of running in Beijing?

The Chinese women might medal, but I'd be shocked if China got a medal in the men's race. A couple of 2:08 guys are nothing special. You want to look out for the Kenyans and Ethiopians as always, but also the Japanese, Moroccans, Brazilians and a single American.

Ryan Hall is very impressive but he's a 2:08 and change guy - "nothing special"? China, in this race, had two guys there. I wonder if they've gotten any faster or slower?

I saw these results and posted them last year on Cool Running because I couln't hardly believe, not so much how fast a marathon run in Beijing was, but how fast the Chinese runners were! China will pull a medal(s) from the upcoming Olympic marathon. The 'Home Team' will take the overall medal count, Team USA will be #2.

There is next to zero chance that the "Home Team " will win the overall medal count. If you look at the last four Olympics the US has gotten 106 (1992), 101 (1996), 95 (2000), and 103 (2004) total medals. China has gotten 52 (1992), 49 (1996), 58 (2000), and 63 (2004). Even if China gets a bump from being the home team, which is common, they will get 70-75 medals tops. The U.S. has not gotten less than 94 medals at any games we have competed in since 1960, and even then we got 90. I'm not saying the U.S will win the medal count, but the only country that has ever beaten us is the Soviet Union (Unified team in 1992), which no longer exists, although Russia was a close second in '00 and '04.

Calling him a 2:08 and change guy is silly. On a hilly course, he split 1:02:45 for the second half marathon. The opening 5k of the trials was an easy jog. He'll probably run 2:06 and change in London. In his career, he may run under Haile's record. Unfortunately, Wanjiru will probably run faster still.