Berlin Marathon 2009 – 2:06'08"; Haile won, but no new WR
Just saw the news in the German channel DW-TV, Haile Gebrselassie just finished and won his 4th straight Berlin Marathon in 2:06′08″, so there’s no new World Record. His previous marathon WR was 2:03′59″. Unfortunately, Duncan Kibet wasn’t able to run his pace close enough due to relatively warmer sunny temperature of 16-25′C. Hey if that’s the temperature in Manila, we could have been running a lot faster! Most marathon records like the last 2 Berlin Marathons were run at temperatures around 12′C to 17′C, same temperature as that of a refrigerator. Most marathon temperature in Manila would range from 26′C at the start, and then would reach 30 to 35′C at the end.
Haile Gebrselassie wins the 2009 Berlin Marathon (Victah Sailer)
“My preparation was perfect,” Gebre said later. “That’s why I was on world record pace until 32-33k. But after 33k, with the sun getting warmer, I switched into a different gear. I tried to push, but it didn’t work”.
“What I’ve understood from today is that the temperature has to be under 16-17 degrees (celsius), to break the marathon world record (last year was between 12-16C). People say the marathon begins after 30, 35k, and the weather is important. Perhaps I should have calculated that from the beginning. I’ve learned a lot today. If I become a coach for marathon runners, I’ll be a good coach”.
At halfway point of 21Kms, Ducan Kibet was nowhere to be seen. Haile Gebrselassie was able to run faster than World Record pace at the time, but was slowing down gradually. At 35Kms, his predicted time was 2:03′43″–still at world record pace, but there were no more pacers, no racer to push him through the last 7kms. At 40Kms, the WR was out of reach, and he finished 2:06 that looks as if he’s exhausted due to warmer temperature.
At sportsscientists.com, they predicted the younger Kenyan, Duncan Kibet, who had a Personal Best this year of 2:04:27, to beat the great Haile Gebrselassie. They were wrong at least 50% of the last part of the race. Well they did know that lighter runners run better than heavier runners at higher temperature–like the lightweight Sammy Wanjiru winning the hot and humid 2009 Olympic Marathon. Perhaps that’s the reason why Haile has beaten Duncan–It’s hotter today and Haile’s lighter.
What was Haile saying he’ll be a good coach? I think he’ll be a great coach. Now just imagine 5years from now when Haile’s retired and begins coaching his fellow countryman Kenenisa Bekele, the current World Record Holder for 5,000m and 10,000m. Not only are they gifted physically, but the track and road experience would make them unbeatable. Let’s hope for a possible sub-2hour marathon someday.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IWb_AgfSJY]
