Since Australia’s Derek Clayton ran history’s first sub—2:10 marathon in Fukuoka, Japan, on 3 December 1967, there have been a total of 4538 sub—2:10 marathons (as of… Read more “MARATHON GROUNDBREAKERS”
Category: Commentary
EXPANDING ACCOUNTABILITY IN CONTROLLING PEDs
ADDENDUM: 17 July 2025 Today, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich due to a doping violation. Ms. Chepngetich tested positive… Read more “EXPANDING ACCOUNTABILITY IN CONTROLLING PEDs”
DEEP DIVE – MEN’S MARATHON
As we continue to stand in awe (or doubt) of Ruth Chepngetich’s spanking new women’s marathon world record in Chicago a week ago Sunday (2:09:56), people have… Read more “DEEP DIVE – MEN’S MARATHON”
WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY (ABOUT WOMEN’S MARATHOING)
I am a numbers’ guy. I’ve always been a numbers’ guy. I always want to see what the numbers tell me before I opine from an emotional… Read more “WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY (ABOUT WOMEN’S MARATHOING)”
SKEPTICISM RATHER THAN CELEBRATION FOLLOWS WOMEN’S WORLD RECORD IN CHICAGO
The hue and cry about Ruth Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 women’s world marathon record in last Sunday’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon is not toning down. Poor John Korir,… Read more “SKEPTICISM RATHER THAN CELEBRATION FOLLOWS WOMEN’S WORLD RECORD IN CHICAGO”
ANOTHER WORLD RECORD FALLS IN CHICAGO
30-year-old Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich destroyed the women’s marathon world record today (13 Oct. 2024) at the 46th Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Her time of 2:09:56 ripped… Read more “ANOTHER WORLD RECORD FALLS IN CHICAGO”
TRYING ON THE NEW
Increasingly, the world of athletics (track & field) has realized that in order to make an impression in this glutted media and sponsorship universe, they have to… Read more “TRYING ON THE NEW”
EXPERIMENTS IN TRACK & FIELD
I received the following in my email yesterday. Dear Antoni, Do you want to have a say in the future of athletics?We’re excited to invite you to… Read more “EXPERIMENTS IN TRACK & FIELD”
THE MARATHON: ENDURING BUT NO LONGER ENDURANCE
As a practical matter, conditions will either expand or retract distance in any race, but especially an endurance race. Heat, headwinds, uphills, and humidity are expanders. Cool,… Read more “THE MARATHON: ENDURING BUT NO LONGER ENDURANCE”
PRIDE BEFORE THE FOURTH
Didn’t he watch the men’s 10,000m final? Didn’t he see the three Ethiopians exchange the lead throughout the race? Didn’t he see them set a wicked fast… Read more “PRIDE BEFORE THE FOURTH”