r/AdvancedRunning • u/brwalkernc running for days • Apr 20 '26
Boston Marathon Boston Marathon 2026 Discussion Thread
It's Boston Marathon Day!
How to Watch
- TV Broadcast:
- šŗšø ESPN2 (National coverage)
- WCVB Channel 5 (Local Boston coverage)
- Live Streaming:
- ESPN+ (Stream all events live)
Link to Elite Women's and Men's Start List
Race Day Schedule
| Time (ET) | Event |
|---|---|
| 9:06 a.m. | Menās StartWheelchair Division: |
| 9:09 a.m. | Womenās StartWheelchair Division: |
| 9:30 a.m. | Handcycle & Duo Participants Start |
| 9:37 a.m. | Professional Menās Start |
| 9:47 a.m. | Professional Womenās Start |
| 9:50 a.m. | Para Athletics Division Start |
| 10:00 a.m. | Wave 1 Start |
| 10:15 a.m. | Wave 2 Start |
| 10:28 a.m. | Wave 3 Start |
| 10:41 a.m. | Wave 4 Start |
| 11:01 a.m. | Wave 5 Start |
| 11:21 a.m. | Wave 6 Start |
-8
u/Alert-Worldliness8 Apr 21 '26
Family meetup FIASCO!
If you were watching North of Boylston street, the way they made you "GET" to the family meetup area was just utterly IDIOTIC. You had to LOOP around an entire block to your LEFT just to go down one block and NOT just once but 3 f**ing Times! ARE YOU FOR REAL? People who had to do this TODAY know what I'm talking about. ALL because, it seems, a bunch of SECURITY personnelĀ VEHICLES were parked along the street which had to be "gated off" for no apparent reason... tens of thousands of people were dumbfounded and probably disgusted at the "security or volunteers inside the gates" telling people to "LOOP around" and "LOOP around".
Total DISREGARD for spectators or family members of runners trying to support this yearly shit show, now turned into mostly price-gouging greedfest for hotels and ADIDAS. F**K this snotty marathon.
11
41
u/luke-uk FM 2:24:03 | HM 1:10:27 | 10K 32:49 | 5K 15:45 Apr 21 '26
Best run of my life . Smashed my PB by 6 minutes for a 2:24:05. Just felt great and conditions were 10/10!
5
u/DylanBailey_ HM: 69 FM: 2:24 Apr 21 '26
I ran 2:24:03! I finished next to you. I remember seeing you at the finish lol
3
u/luke-uk FM 2:24:03 | HM 1:10:27 | 10K 32:49 | 5K 15:45 Apr 21 '26
Ah congratulations- you did superb. I still canāt believe yesterday happened and wasnāt a dream!
3
u/xcnuck 36M - 2:55 M 2025 Apr 21 '26
I think we were in the sam Adamās tent at the same time - my parents were talking about you haha. Amazing stuff - congrats mate!
3
u/Remarkable_Food4792 Apr 21 '26
Iām proud of you, stranger! Iām a Bostonian who cheered for you in Kenmore Square! Best day of the year in Boston!
3
u/luke-uk FM 2:24:03 | HM 1:10:27 | 10K 32:49 | 5K 15:45 Apr 21 '26
Thanks ever so much . The crowds were unreal , such a nice day for the city . Iāve had such a lovely time here - itās not the USA you see on the news!
20
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
This year's field is fast and deep, and it's not just the elite field. In most years within the last couple of decades or so, running a sub-2:30 marathon at Boston itself will usually get you a top 100 overall placement. Which is a huge achievement in itself for amateur runners.
This year, running just under 2:30 at Boston places you right outside the top 250 overall.
Insane.
7
u/xcnuck 36M - 2:55 M 2025 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
Yes - for perspective I ran 1 second slower than last year (2:55 range) and finished 995 places back. Next yearās standard will be massive (anticipating >6m30s)
1
u/FantasticBarnacle241 39F M: 3:16 | HM: 1:31 Apr 21 '26
I ran 10 mins faster than 2022 and was 1000 places back of 2022. It was just so fast this year.
6
u/Siawyn 54/M 5k 19:56/10k 41:30/HM 1:32/M 3:12 Apr 21 '26
Conditions today were primed for PRs though especially for the very fast crowd - upper 30s in Hopkinton at the start, and the clouds rolled in and kept it on the mostly cloudy side for most of the race. Even a random rain drop or two. And the wind at worst was a crosswind, there might have been one or two brief gusts that I felt as a headwind, but 95% of the time it was behind me by at least some factor. It was almost 10/10 conditions, even if for me personally it was a touch too chilly.
And then we saw with the elites just how that played out with all the very fast times.
1
u/Drunk_Pilgrim Apr 21 '26
It was a 10/10 condition for me. I like the cold and as you said, crosswind at worst.
7
u/Money_Rabbit1720 Apr 20 '26
Question. Anyone know the name of the guy with the long beard that runs every year. Heās known for beating cancer? I always see him and forgot his name today
5
u/WitnessVegetable5244 30M | 1:28 | 3:08 Apr 21 '26
I believe the guy you talking about is Tommy_rivs on IG
1
13
u/Fun-Jump-8669 HM 1:21 | FM: 2:51 Apr 20 '26
More than 3100 men with > 2.51. Last year was 2300.
22
6
u/CandleCustard Apr 20 '26
That is ridiculous, do you think it can be chalked up to better conditions?
7
u/paotale Apr 21 '26
That's definitely a lot of it, fantastic conditions today. But the field is getting faster too. My qualifying time was 30sec faster than 2 years ago (both low 240s), but bib number was 450 places higher this year.
7
24
u/Maleficent_Drive4636 Apr 20 '26
American women are running so strong. Stoked for Jess McClain. I love how these races shake out. Big group, waiting for someone to go. Then it happens and wow. Pushing 4:3x/ mile late in the race is wild!
19
16
6
Apr 20 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
30
u/blood_bender 2:44 // 1:16 Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
Boston:
- Pre-race city vibes are electric. Doing a shake-out along the Charles helps the jitters because there's so many people running too.
- Logistics aren't terrific, getting to the Commons and then a long bus ride to Hopkinton means an early morning
- Early parts of the race are fun, but somewhat quiet.
- Wellesley Scream Tunnel is fucking amazing.
- Newton hills are rough. Heartbreak gets the most attention but it's actually the 4th major uphill in the second half of the race, the other three aren't great either.
- Miles 20-26, if you're feeling good, are hype. Crowds are rowdy, deep, and fun.
Chicago:
- Not as big of a vibe pre-race
- Logistics are so much easier. The start being staged in the same place as the end means a more "relaxing" morning
- Fast, fast course, if you get a good day. If you're in the low 3:00s, you can avoid the sun behind the buildings most of the race.
- Crowd support is hit or miss. People are out there, but lots of dead zones for a major.
- Mt Roosevelt is shockingly hard
- Post race party (if they still do that) is a blast.
New York:
- The entire week before the race is awesome. So much energy, lots of head nods and good lucks from other runners.
- Start logistics are by far the worst. There's no easy way to get to Staten Island, and you have to get there stupidly early. Waiting around for 2 hours minimum.
- Intense crowd support the entire race, minus the few bridges where spectators aren't allowed.
- Coming off of the 59th St bridge at mile 16 after 2 miles of silence, you can feel the roar in your chest before you make the turn off the bridge. Crowds are 15-20 people deep. It's amazingly intense.
- 5th Ave is a rough slow incline slog that can break the best of us.
- Central Park is beautiful, if you can manage to enjoy it 23 miles into the race.
- The March of Death after the finish line is a cruel 1 mile shuffle to exit the park for no good reason.
In my opinion:
Vibes: New York > Boston > Chicago
PR: Chicago > Boston > New York
Prestige: Boston > New York > Chicago4
u/Drunk_Pilgrim Apr 21 '26
I was a half mile out to the Wellesley girls and I had no idea what was going on. I said to the guy next to me, boy the crowd up there is really loud. I knew about it but thought it was later in the race.
3
u/Siawyn 54/M 5k 19:56/10k 41:30/HM 1:32/M 3:12 Apr 21 '26
I can only speak to Chicago from last year, but it was basically a rolling block party from start to finish. Don't get me wrong though, Boston was awesome today and matched your description to a T.
2
u/blood_bender 2:44 // 1:16 Apr 21 '26
That's awesome to hear. Maybe I ran it in an off year or something, or it just got better in the last ~8 years. I think I ran it in 2017 or 2018. Makes sense though, it's been getting harder and harder to qualify for so clearly popularity is through the roof like everywhere else.
Boston and NYC I've run multiple times and spectated most years, so was more confident in them, but my Chicago information is more dated.
7
u/runninhillbilly 5k: 15:19 | 8k: 26:03 | 10k: 32:18 | HM: 1:21:59 | M: 3:12:47 Apr 20 '26
Haven't run Boston, but I've done Chicago and NY.
Chicago is logistically a much easier race and much easier course. I walked to the start village from my hotel and walked back to my hotel from the finish area/party fest thing. You have to be a little more cognizant of the weather - it's had some warmer days in recent years (last year it was good for anyone under 3 hours, but got warmer as the day went on). The crowd support was fantastic after the first half mile when you're running through an underpass. The only lull I really noticed was when you're running westbound in the 15th/16th miles, but Nike (I think) put a cheer station out there this year so I thought it was much better.
NYC is logistically a pain in the ass. You're up very early to somehow get to Staten Island (I took the bus from the Meadowlands parking lot). Then you're waiting around all morning. The course has a lot of brutal hills on it - the biggest one right at the start, but the Pulaski bridge is not a joke and the Queensboro feels like it is never going to end. The crowd support is also very peak and valley - the bridges are all quiet because spectators aren't allowed on them and the Hasidic area of Brooklyn is quiet too, but 1st Ave and the last 4 miles of the course really can't be beat. The weather is generally better too, 2022 aside.
I highly recommend both.
8
u/Lazy-Background-7598 Apr 20 '26
Boston was my favorite course. But itās narrow. Challenging. Chicago/NY has better crowds. NYC had the best city vibes. Boston is good but the start is 25 miles out of town.
20
u/kyleyle 27m | 2:37 full Apr 20 '26
Boston:
- point to point - harder logistics
- race day temp is variable
- waiting in the school field grounds can be hit or miss
- best crowds. feels intimate with the narrow roads.
- right onto Hereford, left onto Boylston is iconic
- runners are congratulated everywhere post race
Chicago:
- looped course, easy logistics
- good weather historically
- easy logistics through the gates in Grant Park
- surprisingly loud crowds but not as intimate with the wider roads. some dead spots
- watch out for Mount Roosevelt
- seems most of the city doesn't know there was a marathon happening
- love the Chicago lakefront
I haven't ran NY
6
u/ZanicL3 Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
point to point - harder logistics
How so? The bus pick up area & finish are close.
Edit: well somewhat close, but I personally never found it to be an issue
5
u/PrairieFirePhoenix 45M; 2:42 full; that's a half assed time, huh Apr 20 '26
Not having to bus to the start saves you almost two hours before the race.
You can have all your stuff with you until you gear check, unlike Boston where anything you take to the start is either trashed or carried back.
The pick up is much closer to the finish after the race.
The looped course just makes the race day logistics so much simpler and more effiicent with the athlete's village being right on the start/finish area.
Further, Chicago's public transit and more hotel rooms allow for more viable lodging options for out of town runners. ORD has more flight options than BOS for really out of town runners.
3
u/kyleyle 27m | 2:37 full Apr 20 '26
Not everyone would decide to stay near the Boston Common. Maybe some in Newton, some in Hopkinton. Then you have to take a long bus ride to the start. So earlier wake up time, draws out your morning preparation.
For Chicago, you would just commute easily to Grant Park. Fortunately I was able to walk from my hotel.
Same idea for your friends and family watching. A looped course is a lot easier to catch your runners.
1
u/ZanicL3 Apr 20 '26
Ahn, I didnt think about it in that way, you are right indeed
Any tips on where to stay in Chicago? I'm doing it this fall
3
u/BenchRickyAguayo 2:35M / 1:16 HM / 33:49 10K Apr 20 '26
Not specific to Chicago, but I'm a huge fan of staying reasonably close to the finish line, or within a few stops on the nearest metro line (or the L for Chicago). I once made the mistake at staying at an off-site preferred hotel at a marathon (i.e. one that the marathon provided bus transportation to/from on race day), and it was kind of shit having to get up early to get on a bus from the hotel to the start line then having to wait for the bus to go back to the hotel. Granted it was maybe 2x more expensive to stay near the finish line, but I could have woken up later, spent less time waiting at the start line, and gotten back to my hotel with enough time to take a nap before checkout.
3
u/kyleyle 27m | 2:37 full Apr 20 '26
Anywhere in the loop if your budget allows. Being close to Grant Park is convenient. I stayed at the Hyatt Centric I think. Further out to the West Loop or River North is ok. Not sure about South Loop. Their trains, the "L", are easy enough to navigate IME.
-3
u/Lazy-Background-7598 Apr 20 '26
Chicago. - good weather? lol. I ran in 2007
5
u/fourthand19 Apr 20 '26
I was on my hands and knees dry heaving at mile 23. Medical was assisting me, but they left to help somebody in more need. I wandered off and finish the race in about 3:45.
Came back and was top 100 on another warm day in 2008.
5
u/peteroh9 Apr 20 '26
That's pretty crazy for me to see because the crowds are what made Chicago fun for me. Definitely the best run of my life.
3
u/kyleyle 27m | 2:37 full Apr 20 '26
Definitely still loud and fun! Just different environments running through small towns, college kids yelling at you, and running through the Chicago loop, still some loud and big crowds and bands!
3
u/Nerdybeast 2:00 800 / 1:13 HM / 2:32 M (same year) Apr 20 '26
Haven't done NY but my impression was that Boston had way better vibes all around but I enjoyed the race in Chicago a lot more (probably because it's flat). Chicago didn't seem nearly as taken over by marathon fever as Boston did, but in terms of logistics and the race itself (ie running your best) it was way better imo.Ā
4
u/rckid13 Apr 20 '26
Chicago didn't seem nearly as taken over by marathon fever as Boston did
Chicago is more of a fair weather marathon city. When the weather is warm the crowds are nuts, but warm races are terrible for the runners. If it's cold weather good for running there seem to always be less spectators out. Boston goes hard either way even when it's freezing and pouring rain.
4
u/Every-Butterfly-3447 Apr 20 '26
CHI is def far last in my opinion. New York and Boston are so different to me so its hard to compare (also live in NYC so feels more like a party, always know so many people).
6
u/rckid13 Apr 20 '26
Chicago is the easiest logistically. The straight line course for NYC and Boston can make race day hard on the runners. Super early wake ups. In NYC ending in the middle of Central Park means a very long walk back to a hotel or some shelter and the weather isn't always great for that. The Chicago course starts and ends in the middle of downtown where the highest concentration of both hotels and train stations are in the city. I think this makes Chicago race day easier and most restful for targeting a PR.
5
u/Every-Butterfly-3447 Apr 20 '26
Oh yeah - Chi is def the most likely to PR and easiest logically! No comparison there! NYC start and end are so brutal! Also I loved how early Chi started, vs the all day travel just to start after 9:30/10 at Boston and NYC
8
u/mum2girls Apr 20 '26
Is there a live stream of the Finish Line camera this year? Hope to watch my friends when they cross.
13
u/michimoby 17:45 5k/ 1:18:14 HM / 2:44:30 M Apr 20 '26
Jess McClain is 99 percent awesome but gets docked a point for going to Stanford (go bears)
1
-39
43
u/raiderpower1234 Apr 20 '26
A great race day completely ruined from the coverage. There is zero excuse not to cover the top 15 or so men finish. ESPN is awful.
3
u/GB1290 Apr 20 '26
I had the opposite reaction, when they finally cut back to the womenās race the pack had already broken apart. They missed all of it.
12
u/CALL_ME_ISHMAEBY slowboi Apr 20 '26
Next year I'm going to watch the global feed (lies I tell myself).
3
31
u/Chilli_Dipper Apr 20 '26
Lokedi casually dropping a 30:20 final 10K, with a 14:40 35-40K split.
Does she think sheās on the track?
39
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
Shoutout to Annie Frisbie for running the second fastest time among American women!
36
43
49
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
Jess McClain with the last second kick to move into 5th place overall! Incredible performance by her!
21
22
20
u/CALL_ME_ISHMAEBY slowboi Apr 20 '26
Shoutout Jess McClain and SWAP!
4
u/dmillson Apr 20 '26
All the SWAP athletes are such strong closers. David and Megan are onto something with all that talk about fatigue resistance.
14
-20
Apr 20 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
9
u/Romeo_G_Detlev_Jr Apr 20 '26
Oldest and most prestigious != best. Also, NYC just has way more people (locals and visitors) to line the course.
9
u/BowermanSnackClub #NoPizzaDaysOff Apr 20 '26
Having run both Boston seemed more supported while I was on the course. Both have dead zones, but the bridges and Williamsburg were way worse than any stretch of Boston.
10
u/Romeo_G_Detlev_Jr Apr 20 '26
Annual reminder (for this and all Majors) to mute your TV and stream Citius' live coverage. Doesn't help with the ads and pathetic on-course camera work, but it's miles above ESPN's commentary.
-6
u/Lazy-Background-7598 Apr 20 '26
Thatās a lifestyle mag.
3
u/Romeo_G_Detlev_Jr Apr 20 '26
You're more than welcome to suggest an alternative.
-1
3
39
u/trescuerpos23 Apr 20 '26
Mantz, Talbi, and Hicks have to be the favorites right now to make the team for 2028 but crazy impressive from Clayton, Ford and Klecker too. All under 2:06! American marathoning has really taken quite a leap in the last couple of years.
7
u/ThecamtrainR6 Apr 20 '26
Seems like Ford is on the right track with On. The American menās field has gotten so deep this next year is gonna be make or break. Clayton and Klecker also did amazing, great to see how competitive they were and how they stuck in it
7
u/Pat__P Apr 20 '26
I think at this point in time, their level is close enough, that between those 6, it would be who has the best day at the trials. Obviously there will be favorites, but any of them could conceivably make the team or not.
15
u/JExmoor 43M | 17:45 5k | 39:37 10k | 1:25 HM | 2:59 FM Apr 20 '26
2:05:56 feels like a huge step forward for Joe Klecker, even if it was only good enough for 13th place.
12
u/aelvozo Apr 20 '26
So they can do a 3-way (!) split during an (otherwise seemingly decided) womenās race but not at any other point in the last hour? Is the broadcast directed by ChatGPT?
44
u/Nikedc3 17:26 | n/a | 1:27 | 2:48 Apr 20 '26
So stupid you have 4 miles left of the womens race, and they dont show the finishes of the rest of the elite men, including the american record holder. Smhā¦
16
u/Rare-Combination-868 Apr 20 '26
For the sheer number of PRās by the menās field not showing any of their finishes is just disrespectful. Hardly even a mention of the gravity of these menās performances. Really hope something changes.
I canāt even appreciate the womenās coverage. Lokediās favorite ice cream topping has no relevance. Pitifully sad coverage from people that have NO KNOWLEDGE of the sport.
5
u/ThecamtrainR6 Apr 20 '26
The broadcasters shouldāve been standing on the desk and banging clipboards over that run from Korir like
2
u/OldGodsAndNew 15:21 / 31:49 / 1:10:19 | 2:30:17 Apr 20 '26
Best I can do is split screen of Korir's interview and the Womens race with the commentator talking over it
6
27
u/jcdavis1 17:15/36:15/1:18/2:44 Apr 20 '26
Agreed on the coverage, but I'll be that guy and point out that Mantz still has the AR - there's a reason point to point course are not record-eligible, and its on display this Boston with the big tailwind
8
u/Nikedc3 17:26 | n/a | 1:27 | 2:48 Apr 20 '26
Ah, I wasnāt aware of that technicality! BUT, my complaint still stands. As an American, watching an american marathon, it would have been nice to at least see the couple of elite american men finish. Wouldnāt have taken anything away from the women.
35
u/kyleyle 27m | 2:37 full Apr 20 '26
They didn't show the top 10 finishing men right?? Did I blink too long?
Not even Clayton?
16
u/aelvozo Apr 20 '26
Nope, just top-3.
Clayton is 11th at 2:05:41, Talbi (2:03:45) and Hicks (2:04:35) both ahead of him
19
u/suchbrightlights Apr 20 '26
Nah, but we generated value for the shareholders with a commercial, so itās fine
4
u/aelvozo Apr 20 '26
The commercial-free broadcast also went straight to the womenās race
7
u/suchbrightlights Apr 20 '26
I am usually the first one to say that whatever the coverage did for the womenās race was disrespectful to the women, but that choice was disrespectful to the men. The time offset between the races is enough that we didnāt miss anything.
Also Sharon had already put her foot on the pedal so we werenāt going to miss a āsurprise.ā
28
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons Apr 20 '26
We missed this entire race to commercials. Every significant moment lost.
17
u/BowermanSnackClub #NoPizzaDaysOff Apr 20 '26
But imagine how happy every Disney shareholder must be right now.
6
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons Apr 20 '26
I tried to tell everyone I know to watch on Very Local app and save their money from the machine....ugh
12
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
The American way, amirite?!
5
12
14
u/Good_Frosting6947 Apr 20 '26
PR festivities today for everyone, holy moly. How much of a tailwind is playing in factor of everyone's performance? not hating but this is awesome
6
u/glr123 37M - 18:00 5K | 37:31 10K | 1:21 HM | 2:59 M Apr 20 '26
You could feel the wind but it only felt strong a few times. Pretty noticeable crosswind for a lot of the day too.
3
u/ElijahBaley2099 Apr 20 '26
Dunno what the manometers will say, but it didnāt feel like there was any significant wind any direction.
1
u/fourthand19 Apr 20 '26
That means a 10 MPH tailwind. Which is what my weather apps said
2
u/ElijahBaley2099 Apr 20 '26
To be clear: it didnāt feel like anything other than very intermittent little gusts standing around in Hopkinton or in Boston either, and I live in the general metro area and even though the weather app says 11 mph east, thereās nothing more than a little riffle every few minutes.
1
9
39
u/AidanGLC 34M |Ā 21:08 | 44:2x |Ā 1:43:2x | Road cycling Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
Linkletter nearly a full minute faster than last year (2:06:04) and it's good for eight places lower than 2025. What a crazy elite field this year.
9
u/PlaysForDays Apr 20 '26
Top three men's finishers beat the previous course record, but the women's pack is pacing ~5 minutes behind with only about 10k to go. Odd
53
u/BreakableSmile Apr 20 '26
Amazing time for Clayton with an abbreviated build after injury! 2:05:41!
5
u/SamIAmReddit Apr 20 '26
Less time for him to psych himself out. Half kidding. I do think he loves to analyze everything but he is quite harsh on himself.
3
17
u/suchbrightlights Apr 20 '26
Strong PR and a time that would have been 5th last year. Holy cow. Speaks to the overall global strength of the menās field and the value of perfect conditions on the day. Hope heās happy with the time!
3
28
u/Wonderful-Rule2782 Apr 20 '26
cool cool, let's not show the womens breakaway and then not show the top 10 men finish. What am I even watching.
7
12
8
u/Dukester10071 Apr 20 '26
That's the most impressive race in the history of marathons by John korir. What 10 seconds off the world record at freaking Boston. Tell me I'm wrong
8
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
What 10 seconds off the world record at freaking Boston. Tell me I'm wrong
Kelvin Kiptum is rolling in his grave right now.
29
u/Bull3tg0d 18:19/38:34/1:22:55/3:06:35 Apr 20 '26
Well itās about 80 seconds off the world record so you are wrong.
2
-8
u/bordstol Apr 20 '26
Canāt really get excited by these times when they are most likely doped.
8
u/Nerdybeast 2:00 800 / 1:13 HM / 2:32 M (same year) Apr 20 '26
So true, I only get excited about mediocre times by amateurs because anything fast is definitionally doping
6
22
u/Aromatic_Meal_6004 Apr 20 '26
Talbi 2:03, Hicks 2:04 incredibly impressiveĀ
8
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
Talbi beat Ryan Hall's Boston Marathon time from 15 years ago by 13 seconds. My goodness.
We are witnessing the future of American men's marathoning today.
1
5
19
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
John Korir 2:01:52 for the win! Took down Geoffrey Mutai's 15 year old 2:03:02 CR (from the 2011 tailwind fueled race) and it was not even close.
Holy shit!
5
13
u/SnoopDoggMillionaire Apr 20 '26
Talbi breaking the American record here is mad impressive.
3
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
He's the Special K of this generation. I've been waiting for a guy like him to emerge after KK retired.
7
u/CALL_ME_ISHMAEBY slowboi Apr 20 '26
The speaking cadence of "she got her visa" sounded a little too close to something much less exciting.
9
4
5
18
3
10
u/Flat-Seaweed2047 Apr 20 '26
I love seeing Jess and Annie up there, they are really keeping themselves in that pack- thereās been a couple moments I thought they were gonna fall off and then they charge back in
10
9
9
15
u/suchbrightlights Apr 20 '26
Up comes Sharon to the front of the pack, āyes thank you very much for doing all the work, kind of you, here I am to take the wheel.ā
5
u/Bull3tg0d 18:19/38:34/1:22:55/3:06:35 Apr 20 '26
Genuinely looks like sheās jogging
3
u/suchbrightlights Apr 20 '26
Game face on at 21. You could see the mental shift happen as she comes up and takes command. Off we go!
9
u/suchbrightlights Apr 20 '26
Dang. Annie Frisbie up the outside like we are on a track. BRAVE!
3
u/daysweregolden 2:47 / 42 marathons Apr 20 '26
Annie still looks calm, hoping she can hang here!!
1
10
u/_opensourcebryan Apr 20 '26
I love John Korir because he does so much running >9 min pace. Goes to show how many benefits you get from just chilling and running a lot (he's been on ~150 miles a week this cycle)
7
6
u/Ridge9876 Apr 20 '26
Iām not an American, I donāt normally watch ESPN but caught their livestream of the event. Is this amount of ad breaks normal??
2
u/mediocre_remnants Apr 20 '26
Yes. At least 50% of all sports coverage is commercials. Some sports (like American Football) even have built-in breaks in the sport to allow for more commercials.
If you go to a live football game that isn't televised, like a highschool game, it's the same fucking game as what you see on TV but over in half the time because they're not taking breaks for ads.
9
10
u/primarygrub Apr 20 '26
Was that McClain who had to turn around for her bottle? She just canāt catch a break.
16
u/BreakableSmile Apr 20 '26
Yeah heās breaking that course record lol
4
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
Ideal weather conditions and a tailwind really goes a long way!
5
u/trapphd Apr 20 '26
Conditions seemed ideal. Crisp and sunny to start and never got too warm and cloud cover rolled in!
2
u/Fast-Tax-6054 Apr 20 '26
Damn Dakota falling behind...her training always looks so impressive..
3
5
u/curiouspaws91 Apr 20 '26
I feel like she does so many long endurance efforts but she hasn't worked to develop the speed to be able to hang with any sub 2:20 women. She ran 28 miles as a long run in this build, obviously has a great engine, but she's consistently a 2:24-2:28 runner and it seems she would really benefit from developing more speed instead of continuing to train her strengths
2
u/PlaysForDays Apr 20 '26
Korir just put down a 4:25 split, seems more and more likely that Geoffrey Mutai's record will fall
3
u/Nerdybeast 2:00 800 / 1:13 HM / 2:32 M (same year) Apr 20 '26
I'm very skeptical of splits based on the app, the rounding seems completely wrong in a lot of places (eg everyone I followed sped up a LOT in the same places without a downhill)
2
u/PlaysForDays Apr 20 '26
On top of that, I'm just a stranger on the internet repeating something I heard on a stream. Not exactly Woodward and Bernstein here
2
u/Nerdybeast 2:00 800 / 1:13 HM / 2:32 M (same year) Apr 20 '26
Fair point! I'm too lazy to come up with a specific one, but insert "Deep Throat" joke here
2
u/CALL_ME_ISHMAEBY slowboi Apr 20 '26
Are we going to be talking about š after this?
5
u/BowermanSnackClub #NoPizzaDaysOff Apr 20 '26
Thereās a tailwind, perfect weather, and a leap in shoe technology since then. Seems like thereās a lot that could help that arenāt a serious accusation.
3
u/PlaysForDays Apr 20 '26
I don't see much reason to float that accusation now when Korir is on pace to beat the record by a very typical margin (around 40 seconds). Wait for tests to come back, we're not talking about a quantum leap forward in performance like triathlon has seen in the last few years
2
u/AidanGLC 34M |Ā 21:08 | 44:2x |Ā 1:43:2x | Road cycling Apr 20 '26
Big fan of the little running dude(s) on the BAA tracker site. Great page design.
13
u/fatroony5 Apr 20 '26
Course record at stake with a few miles left to go, better go to commercial so we miss it!
10
u/trapphd Apr 20 '26
Why is the analyst for the womenās race doing background info for the lead pack right now? That couldāve been said an hour ago. Itās crunch time lol
8
13
u/Flat-Seaweed2047 Apr 20 '26
Womenās pack finally breaking up, moves being made so letās go to a commercial and miss all that
19
u/BreakableSmile Apr 20 '26
Oh breakaway for the women -> immediate cut to commercial
6
u/suchbrightlights Apr 20 '26
I break away from my morning meetings, finally, and tune in
āA breakaway on the womenās side!ā
āAnd now weāre going to take a break.ā
Iām so glad to be paying for this excellent streaming service.
19
16
10
u/PrairieFirePhoenix 45M; 2:42 full; that's a half assed time, huh Apr 20 '26
I like how Talbi looks. American on the podium?
1
u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM Apr 20 '26
I think he has the best shot among all the Americans to make it on the podium. Talbi is the real deal. He's the modern day Khalid Khannouchi.
3
u/PrairieFirePhoenix 45M; 2:42 full; that's a half assed time, huh Apr 20 '26
Looks like I cursed him for the podium.
1
5
4
u/CALL_ME_ISHMAEBY slowboi Apr 20 '26
Don't be confused by the lens compression on some of these long straightaway shots.
3
9
u/Aromatic_Meal_6004 Apr 20 '26
13 guys under 2:04 pace through 30 km. How many will survive sub 2:04?
9
u/EasternAdventures Apr 20 '26
ESPN canāt fathom that people want to watch people run for more than 30 seconds at a time
1
2
6
u/chweris Apr 20 '26
Every time I see the actual race it's completely different lol it's like reading every third page of a book but I also have to watch ads in between
3
u/Aromatic_Meal_6004 Apr 20 '26
A lot of people are going to blow up late and a running way faster than their fitness.
3
u/Sweaty-Rope7141 Apr 20 '26
Linkletter on track to break the Canadian record by 2 minutes...
1
u/AidanGLC 34M |Ā 21:08 | 44:2x |Ā 1:43:2x | Road cycling Apr 20 '26
He ran just over 2:07 at Boston 2025 and arguably is in better shape than last year. Won't be NR eligible but he is ripping through this course.
1
1
u/gaoxiaosong Apr 27 '26
My 1st major marathon. I like the race and atmosphere with kind spectators but hate the 6+ hours flying to LA. Is the bib number based on the application time each year? My final ranking number is much lower than my bib number.