After Sunday’s mind-blowing women’s new world record at the Chicago Marathon set by Kenyan athlete Ruth Chepngetich when crossing the finish line in 2:09:56, I, along with just about everyone else, was left somewhat speechless.
However, in my EDP column on October 18, 2019, I said that within 25 years a woman will break the two-hour barrier. This was after Brigid Kosgei had run 2:14:04, also in Chicago. I then repeated this statement in my September 29 column last year after Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa’s smashed Kosgei’s world best when running 2:11:53 in Berlin.
After both statements, several people said no way, but now after last Sunday’s performance in the Windy City by Chepngetich and with 20 years still to go, my prediction is getting ever closer. At the same time does this mean that men will be running low 1:50 or even under that unthinkable barrier?
The way rapid advances have gone across all distances these last few years we have to look at just what a difference shoe technology and ‘science’ has brought to the table to enable all these records to happen.
Ironically, I picked up a couple of old Athletics Weekly magazines this week dated October 6 and October 13, 1973. Yes, exactly 51 years ago.
1973 was also my last full year as a schoolboy athlete having won area and county titles for cross country and track.
Looking through each of the magazines, it really was so very nostalgic seeing names of athletes who I remember well, especially some of the younger athletes at the time. Some went on to achieve greatness at senior level whilst others just disappeared from the sport.
There was also a report on Cavin Woodwards’ London Marathon win which started at the Copthall Stadium in Barnet. It said the temperature was 74F and after the first half mile timed on the track at 2 mins 22 secs, Cavan proceeded to lead from the front once out on the road all the way to the finish in the park and on the track which I assume was also at Copthall. Cavin’s winning time was 2:34:19 and whilst he did run much quicker (2:19:50) during his career as a leading British distance runner as well as being regarded as the world’s number one ultra distance runner in 1975, his time/s are still a long way from Ruth Chepngetich’s performance last weekend.
I wonder how many people realise that there was a London marathon before 1981? Apart from the old classic Windsor to Chiswick marathon, I, for one, did not know.
Other reports featured the Rotherham marathon won by Doug Watson from the Wirral in 2:25:54 and a small article about this new sports drink made for athletes which replaced fluids and energy lost through ‘rigorous exercise’ as well as ‘chemicals’ lost through perspiration. In other words an energy and electrolyte drink. A jar of powder when mixed with water would make up to a gallon at a cost of 60p.
Regarding shoe technology, looking at the very few adverts with very little shoe choices, the most popular road running shoes back in 1973 seemed to be the Adidas SL 72 and Tiger (now Asics) Cubs and Marathon retailing between £7 down to £3.
For cross country a studded shoe from Adidas, described as waterproof, and the Lawrence Ripple retailing at £3. Whilst all the shoes are described as having some technical features, the truth be told is that they were all so very basic and a million miles away from the array of footwear on offer today. As it happens I still have a pair of old Tiger Marathons and Lawrence Ripple dating back to that era.
In October 1973, the men's world marathon record was held by Australian Derek Clayton having ran 2:08:33 in Antwerp Belgium in 1969 – previous best 2:09:36. However, many disregarded this performance saying it had been done on a short course for which Ron Hill’s Commonwealth Games marathon win in Edinburgh in 1970 in a time of 2:09:28 was considered the world best in most quarters. This of course being just 28 seconds quicker than what is now the ladies’ world best.
The October 6 edition of the Athletics Weekly also featured the Commonwealth rankings for 1973. The ladies did not go beyond 1,500 metres as at the time as that was basically the longest distance permissible for women to compete in when it came to track and field. Certainly, a long way from women being able to officially run in a marathon. Incidentally, the leading man was John Farrington from Australia with a time of 2:11:12 which of course is 1 min and 16 secs slower than Ruth Chepngetich’s new ladies’ world record.
This was just over a half century ago, and whilst I am predicting a sub two-hour marathon by a lady no later than 2044, I hardly doubt too many people would have predicted back in 1973 that not only would ladies be racing marathons in major cities and championships, but certainly not in a time of 2:09:56.
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