Agree, but if the main contributing factor is pacers then they could create a race like you said above, on same course, have all pacers “start” the race together, and stand still getting lapped for an hour waiting for their turn?
Similar to the difference in % said above about cycling records. If Ineos had created a set of conditions where some average Joe could run sub 2 I’d agree completely artifical. But the fact they got Kipchoge who appears to be one of greatest ever, ahead of his peers, and he needed two attempts then I’m more of the mind that their conditions maximised greatness rather than artifically created it.
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I think they considered having someone get lapped, and may have tried it once, but i think that was made illegal. They even had a rule that the pacers had to finish - kind of like the swim and bike leg record holders have to complete the triathlon for a record to count.
In an earlier attempt they did have one of the competitors hang back to get lapped and then he paced but they didn’t get sub 4 and if they had it wouldn’t have been official.
I guess also similar to the women’s record, where there is the official WR but then also a women’s only race best. The one that went at Chicago was the official WR, but in some ways that’s contrived too, as she used male pace makers. You could argue that’s not much different to instead using rotating female pacemakers.
The pacing for Bannister was legit, Brasher and Chataway ran the whole thing - Brasher started then Chataway took over until somewhere on the last lap. I guess the key thing is that Brasher and Chataway were world class in their own right so using pace makers of that standard was probably new (and the fact it was only those 3 in the ‘race’ I think).
Wasn’t quite right - but here’s the race 
After writing quite strongly for the sub 2hr above, I then thought about the swim suits later on and you’re right, the weekend’s events are making the chorus of reservation about the shoe tech louder, and if they do change the rules it defo would make the asterisk against Kipchoge bigger and presumably the first person to do it in normal shoes should get more coverage. I guess we need to wait 50 years to see how the prism of time views it!
Genuine question, on what grounds could they ban the shoes? Ban any kind of carbon plate, structure can only be foam? Don’t stability shoes often have some kind of rigid structure within them?
On the flip side, if a carbon plate is ok within the shoe, what about on the outside?
Banning swim skins was probably a bit easier, in that I think they went for coverage rather than material, or was it both?
For men I think it’s essentially jammers, for women can they cover their thighs? It’s a while since I paid much attention. Fairly sure any arm coverage is banned.
Not totally sure how they’d apply it to trainers, there was always complaints that Pistorius’ blades helped him.
I’m fairly sure Adidas originally touted their boost technology in a similar way.
I’d probably go more down the lines that they have to be ‘mass’ produced and available to all and punters, anyone with a shoe deal to another brand needs to change their management 
Jeff
It’s been mentioned before on the VF thread, that carbon plates have been around for years. it seems that Nike have just, apparently, found the real key to the lock. Who would even ratify the ruling? IAAF? Someone else. Does it cover all road races, certain distances? What about track? What about off road etc etc? Lots more variation and races to police than swimming!
We could just have bare feet records and that would be the true one 
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And the funny thing about the alphafly is they’ve gone even more old school. They’re now just using air filled discs, so have effectively gone back decades to the concept of Nike Air, and just utilising that tech in a different way.
Has it been confirmed if the women’s record in Chicago were used using alphafly? They certainly were a different colour if they were, but I’ve not been able to see a close enough shot to tell. I’ve just seen the speculation.
The breakdown of the Alphafly reminded me of Nike Shox TL or R4.
Shamelessly nicked but funny
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No-one’s mentioned the Hour Record, but they went through that whole process too, after the Boardman/Obree years when they banned various positions/geometry. They appear to be back at a sort of ‘halfway house’ again now.
I definitely have, in two different threads! 
Maybe Company x should make 5 sizes of a particular design with a few different stem lengths etc which are all UCI approved and they stay at UCI HQ until someone wants to attempt the record, they ship the appropriate bike out to an approved track and away they go
Do you bother reading me?
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What was that? I think you answered your own question. Maybe stick to those flapjack recipes 
Looks like Kipchoge is an honorary graduate at my work this weekend. Wonder if he’ll be there in person (I doubt it).
Might see if he fancies a few Fletcher hill reps around campus whilst he’s there! Shame I can’t run right now or he’d be in proper trouble!