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[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

in about 1980 I read that the Marathon would likely have a women's WR faster than the men's soon, since women have a higher body fat content and thus would be able to deal with the distance better. in 1980 the men's record was 2:09 and the women's 2:30 (21 minutes difference). today the men's is 2:03 and the women's is 2:15, a closing of almost 50% in the thirty years.

this is Paula Radcliffe, the current record holder:


i don't see much body fat explaining the closing though.

She set the record in 2003- the men's has been broken 3 or 4 times since. Is there anyone close to that time running today so we might see a record this weekend?

Yeah, but she was a buck ninety when she set the record in 1980. You're correct, however, that the whole "more body fat to lose" argument may have reached its final chapter. It's hard to believe that the record dropped 15 minutes in 23 years.

eta:

In the women’s race, Kenya’s defending London champion, Mary Keitany, faces Olympic competition from world champion Edna Kiplagat, Berlin Marathon winner Florence Kiplagat and world silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo, though it is the little known Lucy Kabuu who could well spring a surprise.

Kabuu is not even short-listed for Olympic selection, despite running 2hr 19min 30sec on her marathon debut in Dubai in January, but could force herself into the reckoning if she can produce something special.

“Lucy’s got to win it but she can’t win in it in 2hr 20min and expect to get selected,” said Bedford. “She’s got to win it in 2hr 16min or 2hr 17min, which is why we could be in for such an amazing race.”