- Chronicle: Elli Kipchoge breaks the two-hour barrier in a custom marathon
Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour marathon barrier on Saturday, a feat of historical reach, another hard work of a gifted man, but he did it with numerous advantages outside the regulations of the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) so his mark (1:59:40) will not be approved as a world distance record. "This shows that no human being has limits", the Kenyan celebrated in goal already in the middle of the marketing campaign, which will be launched by the Nike organizer in the next few days, while athletics debated whether what was lived in the Vienna Prater Park was a blessing , a curse or something else.
«It was wonderful, I really enjoyed it. I would have liked it to be in an official competition, but a man running a marathon in less than two hours can only be a milestone, ”reasoned Jesus Spain , one of the best Spanish fondistas.
“It has a lot of merit, but we already knew who Eliud Kipchoge is, the record holder and Olympic marathon champion. It was a dangerous show. The regulation is to universalize athletics, that everyone competes in equality, and without it it is difficult to measure, ”said Ramón Cid , former Spanish coach.
«This sport is not just doing something, it is also knowing how to tell it. Athletics needed a milestone like Kipchoge's for everything the organization invested in communication. The reach was incredible, ”said sprinter Ángel David Rodríguez , captain of the team in recent appointments.
Among all those surrounding the tartan there was not a single equal opinion, but the controversy centered on four advantages of Kipchoge. Beyond issues known as the absence of technicians from the World Anti-Doping Agency (AMA) in the goal, an indispensable requirement to standardize any record, but that could be saved with a surprise control this Sunday, there were some aspects of the challenge in which It was difficult to find a common argument.
No rivals
According to the rules of the IAAF, to homologate a brand must participate at least three riders in order to win the test and this time Kipchoge was alone. «And that is worrisome. Do we want sport or something else? If everything is to reduce brands in beneficial conditions, without competing, let's put a sprinter with a fan behind on a sloping track. I could run 100 meters faster than Usain Bolt. Is that what we want? If next year Kipchoge himself breaks the official world record and leaves it at 2:01:00, it will not matter, ”said Ramón Cid while Ángel David Rodríguez replied:“ The problem is that: that the competition is not always attractive. Athletics need milestones like this to capture outside fans. There was no competition, okay, but it ground a lot ».
41 hares and a car
"For me, the great advantage for Kipchoge was the hares", contributed Jesus Spain, former champion of Spain and Olympic in Rio 2016 in marathon, which added: "I would have liked to have had hares until kilometer 30 and from there they would have left him alone. I think I would have done the same, but the challenge would have been more exciting. The exit and entry of up to 41 hares in turns of seven - five in front of Kipchoge and two behind - was another controversial aspect of its registration, for being outside the IAAF rules and for the gain obtained. Also the proximity of the car that set the pace, although this time, unlike in the previous attempt two years ago in Monza, the vehicle maintained the distances and did not cause so much rebufo effect.
The measurement
But were not the only ones. In fact, there was one aspect of Kipchoge's challenge in which faith was demanded: distance. Without the control of any official agency, the 9.6-kilometer circuit in Prater Park was only measured by the organization itself. Did he really run 42 kilometers and 195 meters? «I do not like to be malpensado, but with so much money in between ... For these things are the Federations, so that there are no doubts», said Ramón Cid, who, again, found a replica in Ángel David Rodríguez: «No They approved judges, but the organization used its method. There was no intention to cut, you just had to see how in the Kipchoge curves you did not look for the shortest path, you always stayed between the two marked lines ».
Sneakers
And at the close of the controversy, the big advantage: Nike's Vaporfly shoes. Since the appearance of the first version in 2017, thanks to the rebound they cause, many background records have been lowered, but the latest version, the Next% used this Saturday by Kipchoge, is very exaggerated. Air chambers are added to the known carbon fiber plate to make footwear a remarkable technological aid. The IAAF has not yet dared to legislate on it, although in the past World Cup in Doha promised to do so. "What limits you in the marathon is the impact with the ground and this shoe helps you get much more complete at the end," Spain concluded about the controversy of the day, month and year.
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