They help with shifting merch 
3 Likes
Yes… suprisingly so…
Behind… They actually do… very close in the gains between correctly position behind to badly positioned in front.
I read the research into breaking 2hr.. interesting
It is why the UCI rules where changed in cycling TTs (safety yes, but if you have no follow car its a massive disadvantage… hence they increased the distance of the following car for those that had them, generally the GC team leader and possible stage winners, pure TTers.
.Still an advantage with the new rules.
3 Likes
Those female ‘pacers’ were a token gesture!
It felt like the commentators were watching a different last 100m to the rest of us.
5 Likes
Didn’t she do a prep 400 or 800m for this several months ago and could only go ~4:07 mile pace for that too? Never really seemed on to make that much difference with just some drafting
3 Likes
Yeah. I was mad disappointed with that attempt 
1s quicker than her proper PB, with all of that pomp and ceremony 
4 Likes
it took years of steady progressions in a fiercely competitive arena for the men to go under 4…
3 Likes
I saw this earlier - https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00074.2025
To our knowledge, there is no female athlete presently displaying the endurance parameter ratio, or other physiological characteristics, required to run a sub-4 min mile. Moreover, 800 m performance among the world’s best women presently appears insufficient to suggest that a sub-4 min mile is imminent.
Oh, and at the end, the authors are employed or funded by Nike. This was published a month ago (and I think submitted earlier this year).
6 Likes
Interesting article on it here from Steve Magness
4 Likes
Maybe for the PED’s thread 
Guessing it’ll get upheld.
1 Like
often used as a masking agent for other drugs
3 Likes
Yeah, that’s just off screen.
Colour me shocked 
8 Likes
Same
2 Likes
Article from a few yrs ago:
‘More than 40 Kenyan athletes have failed drugs tests since 2011.
As of January 2016, 18 Kenyan athletes were suspended for doping. The best known is Rita Jeptoo, who won the Boston and Chicago marathons.’
Last November, former World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound said it was “pretty clear that there are a lot of performance-enhancing drugs being used” in Kenya.
Meanwhile, British Athletics has said it is reviewing its policy of holding winter training camps in Kenya due to allegations of widespread doping in the country.’
Oh dear. How disappointing- 2:08 is pretty phenomenal for a female marathoner doping or no doping tbh. Albeit it’s quite a jump looking at the progression through the years. I reckon if Paula Radcliffe was a bloke she’d have broken 3 - she was a phenomenal runner
Kenyan govt response - “In any case, many world records were broken this year and to single her out is utterly unfair,” it added. “It is therefore disheartening to hear some sections of the media casting unwarranted doubts on her achievements.”
However…
The head of the AIU, Brett Clothier, said that Chepngetich was “notified and interviewed in person by the AIU in Kenya on 16 April and complied with requests regarding our investigation”.
“When there is a positive test for diuretics and masking agents, a provisional suspension is not mandatory under the World Anti-Doping Code,” he said. “Chepngetich was not provisionally suspended by the AIU at the time of notification. However, on 19 April, she opted for a voluntary provisional suspension while the AIU’s investigation was ongoing.
“In the intervening months, the AIU continued its investigation and today issued a notice of charge and imposed its own provisional suspension.”
Chepngetich, who has the right for her case to be heard before a disciplinary tribunal, has been approached for comment via her agent, Frederico Rosa.“
Rosa’s track record is not a good one:
Enjoying the comments
Think that’s enough for an A level essay on why the sport is @@@@ed at least
6 Likes
Maybe athletics should take the approach tennis has? “Must have been an accident, carry on.”
3 Likes
Here’s my breakdown: she didn’t manage sub 60s for any of the laps 
3 Likes
Nothing for 17 years, then 3 come along and beat PR’s record easily…
2 Likes
At least we can relax in the knowledge Bolt’s superlative efforts are not in question.
4 Likes
