2:03:23

There is a new world record for the men’s marathon set yet again at the BMW Berlin Marathon last Sunday. Wilson Kipsang of Kenya smashed the world men’s marathon record after clocking 2:03:23. The new record is 15 seconds faster than the previous mark set also in Berlin in 2011 by Kipsang’s compatriot Patrick MaKau.

The 31-year-old Kipsang was the winner at the London Marathon in 2012 and took the men’s marathon bronze medal at the London Olympic games.

“This is a dream come true; 10 years ago, I watched Paul Tergat break the world record in Berlin, and now I have achieved the dream. I felt strong, so I attacked at 35k, because the pace had become a little too slow,” said Kipsang at a post-race press conference.

This new world marathon record brings us much closer to 1:59:59 or the sub -two-hour marathon, which athletics and marathon experts believe possible in the next 25 years.

Former world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie thinks a sub 2-hour marathon is possible in the next 25 years, but the conditions have to be perfect. In a 2011 BBC report, Haile enumerates the factors that could help break the 2-hour barrier.

“If on the day of competition you miss one thing, you miss everything, says Gebrselassie.

First, it will need an elite athlete in tip-top condition, probably one from east Africa.

Second, it will need to be on a fast, flat course such as Berlin, London or Rotterdam. Berlin is known as one of the quickest and has produced four world records in the last 10 years.

Third, perfect weather conditions. No wind and temperatures of around 10-15C.

Fourth, decent pace-makers to lead the race and take the elite round at the right speed.

Finally, money. As the marathon gets closer to the magic mark, race directors will dangle huge financial carrots to incentivise runners to break it. The first person to dip under two hours will run into the record books a very rich person.”

Even before Kipsang could recover from his record-setting run, he already has his sights on breaking yet another world record. If I prepare very well, and with the same shape (I can go faster). Today there was a lot of wind, I was really fighting. Looking at my Marathon progress and career so far, I still think I have the potential to run faster. Anything under 2:03:23 would do,” Kipsang added.

2014 Cobra Ironman 70.3

The registration for next year’s Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines starts tomorrow, October 2. In the past five staging of the Ironman 70.3, the call out for participants happened on December. Tomorrow’s registration for the 2014 Ironman 70.3 forces triathletes who dream of racing in the half-Ironman for the first time to decide and commit much earlier.

If you’re a relatively new triathlete, how do you know if you’re ready to move up to the half-Ironman distance?

Coach Jonathan Cane, writing for the “Dear Coach” column published on July 11, 2013 in www.competitor.com, shares this piece of advice:

“Ask yourself this: What’s driving my urge to do an Ironman? I’m always a little concerned when an athlete tells me what they feel they “should” do. If you’re thinking about it because you like going long and are willing to put in the requisite hours of training, then by all means go for it. But if you’re considering it because you think it validates you as a triathlete, please reconsider. Consider some of the advantages of shorter races. Instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, you get to compete far more often. (If you love racing more than you love training, this is a big plus.) If your sprint race is derailed by illness, injury or a mechanical, you can bounce back and do another one a few weeks later. (Good luck getting into an Ironman in a few weeks’ notice.) And don’t underestimate the value of doing well in sprints, or the challenges they present. Sprints allow for less of a margin for error than longer races since even a small lapse of concentration and effort can make the difference between earning hardware or watching the awards ceremony from the sidelines.”