6 Lessons Learned From the 2017 Spring Marathon Season

Paula Radcliffe’s world record is touchable.

Mary Keitany, 35, of Kenya, set the world record of 2:17:01 for a women’s-only race at the London Marathon. Her time is extraordinary, but how she clocked it was even more so. Keitany’s first half was a 1:06:54—a time no American woman has ever run in a half marathon by itself. She went through 30K two minutes faster than the world record for that distance and, running by herself, slowed considerably on her way to the finish, but not so much that the record wasn’t obviously hers. In other words, clocking the first 5K in 15:31 (which, if sustained for 26.2 miles, equals a 2:11 marathon) didn’t ruin her later like it would for most mere mortals.

What would her time be if she opted for more even splits, as suggested by coaches and runners around the world? Some experts pontificate that Paula Radcliffe’s world record (for a mixed-gender race, paced by men) of 2:15:25, set in 2003, could finally be threatened. Keitany didn’t fall off that 2:15 record pace until mile 21.

Another 2:17 was overshadowed.

In the midst of Keitany’s record day, the 2:17:56 by London’s runner-up, Tirunesh Dibaba, was overshadowed. It’s quite a day when two women finish in under 2:18 and Dibaba did so while experiencing stomach problems throughout the later stages of the race—even stopping to vomit several times. Dibaba, 31, of Ethiopia, became the third-fastest woman in history in only her second attempt at the marathon distance. Keitany’s torrid start surely influenced Dibaba’s race strategy (and that of the rest of the women’s field), so again, it would be interesting to see what she can do under different circumstances and perhaps a more conservative start.

America’s got talent.

The American men and women displayed promise and depth that should excite fans this season. Oregon Project teammates Galen Rupp, 30, and Jordan Hasay, 25, were second and third in the men’s and women’s races respectively in Boston. It was Hasay’s first marathon and she achieved the fastest U.S. women’s debut in history with a 2:23:00. Two-time Olympian Desiree Linden, 33, was fourth after leading much of the first half of the Boston race, saying afterward it was only a matter of time before an American woman would break the tape on Boylston Street.

Meanwhile, six of the top 10 men in Boston were Americans.

“It’s a real exciting time,” Rupp said. “And it’s awesome to see American distance running on the upswing and being competitive in these races.”

In London, Laura Thweatt, 28, also put herself in the mix of top U.S. marathoners by running a personal best of 2:25:38 for sixth place in London. It was her second 26.2-mile race.

A few good men were missed.

Eliud Kipchoge, 32, of Kenya, didn’t return to defend his London Marathon title because he’s involved in the Breaking2 project, an attempt by Nike to break two hours in the marathon, which will be run sometime between May 6–8 on the Formula One circuit in Monza, Italy. The absence of the 2016 Olympic gold medalist was lamented by many fans who wanted to see him compete in London against Kenenisa Bekele, of Ethiopia, who has been attempting to break the world record in the marathon. (Kipchoge came up eight seconds short of the world record of 2:02:57 last year.)

Also lost this season to the Nike project were Lelisa Desisa, the two-time Boston Marathon champion from Ethiopia, and Zersenay Tadese, the 35-year-old half marathon world recorder holder (58:23) from Eritrea.

Taking some of the best runners out of World Marathon Majors competition for the spring meant that a bit of the thrill of head-to-head racing was dampened. But for many running enthusiasts, it will be just as entertaining to see if that two-hour barrier is broken.

Bekele is human after all.

The 34-year-old Ethiopian is the world record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and the second-fastest marathoner of all time (2:03:03), but he still suffers some of the same mishaps as those finishing marathons hours slower than him. After he crossed the finish line in second, behind Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru, he told reporters that he had blisters on his feet from his shoes. Nike confirmed to Reuters he was wearing the Zoom VaporFly 4%. He also appeared to have a spot of blood on his shirt, possibly from chafing.

Despite his troubles, Bekele showed the resolve that sets the pros apart. After dropping back to sixth place and 17 seconds behind the leader at 30K, he stormed to second place and finished in 2:05:57, nine seconds from the win.

World Marathon Majors drug testing works.

The week before the Boston Marathon, officials announced that Jemima Sumgong, the 32-year-old Kenyan gold medalist in the marathon at the 2016 Olympics, had tested positive for the banned substance EPO. The out-of-competition test was conducted by the International Association of Athletics Federations as part of a program financially supported by the World Marathon Majors organization, which is the coalition of race organizations that put on the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City marathons.

Sumgong, who was third at the 2014 Boston Marathon and first at the 2016 London Marathon, will have a “B” sample tested and the opportunity to appeal any disciplinary measures taken.

The WMM’s commitment to drug testing athletes competing at its events provides more reassurances for a level playing field. It allows a better shot at catching runners who live in countries whose federations do not test them out-of-competition as often as others. Had Sumgong not been subjected to such a program, she would have been competing at the 2017 London Marathon to defend her title.