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Oct 2022
2:05pm, 3 Oct 2022
19,170 posts
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larkim
Maybe the slower non-GFA runners in the earlier waves had actually declared "expected" times that were more consistent with their positions? Even GFA runners are spread in terms of times achieved and predicted for their London runs.
Or maybe that's nonsense.
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Oct 2022
2:42pm, 3 Oct 2022
2,124 posts
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Brunski
Seemed to me that anyone who put over 2:45 but under 3 got put in the red wave 1.
That wasn't the issue, if we had been set off so the red GFA runners merged with others according to finishing times it would've been fine but I ran through 3 sets of sub 3 pacing groups, then a set of 3:15 pacers around mile 8, and what felt like 5-10k other runners in the first 15 or so miles.
I've no idea why they did it as they did but GFA runners off Blue, Yellow and Green got decent runs, whereas Red was a shit show. Not good for the runners as you had no idea of who you were racing so groups didn't really form, and we were picking out way through loads of runners, up onto kerbs and pavements and all sorts just to maintain some sort of rhythm. Can't have been pleasant for others having runners cutting through them either.
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Oct 2022
2:47pm, 3 Oct 2022
19,171 posts
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larkim
Doesn't sound good at all then. I didn't spectate much after the 9:40-9:45am starters were coming through in the 2:50 finish times so what I saw on the bridge all looked very nicely filtered. It did bring it home how many runners the race holds though, the stacks and stacks of sub 90 half way runners was phenomenal. And most of them looked pedestrian in terms of pace, which is amusing given that that sort of pace feels fast to me still!
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Oct 2022
5:24pm, 3 Oct 2022
18,051 posts
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KinkyS
I had a similar experience off red this year, albeit from a slower pace.
I started in red wave 2 just behind where the 3:30 pacers were, and it took me until halfway to pass the 4 hour pacing group from another start. I couldn't work out why so many clearly slower runners were ahead of me. It was hard enough at 8:15-8:30mm pace. Trying to run at 6-7mm must've been horrendous.
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Oct 2022
7:22pm, 3 Oct 2022
23,675 posts
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Bazoaxe
That does sound bad and not in line with previous years. There was once when red was late in starting but only but less than a miniute IIRC
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Oct 2022
4:11pm, 4 Oct 2022
294 posts
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Forrest Jooligan
Congratulations on running decent marathons KS & Allmatthew.
Nice 5K time HG.
I'm with Larks on eschewing the shoes.
It's undeniable they make for faster times: just look at all the new WRs in road racing over recent years. The depth of runners achieving high positions on the AT list at London was also a strong indicator - as were the winners surges going into Blackfriars after a hard fought race.
I've been running for almost 20 years & racing prolifically for 11. Over the last 5(??) years I've seen numerous former rivals posting times which they couldn't get close to in their younger days. It can't all be training benefits.
My main objection though is that they give a different level of benefit to different people: some gain massively whilst others see minimal improvements. This adds another variable to race outcomes on top of training & genes there is now how well you respond to the shoes.
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Oct 2022
4:17pm, 4 Oct 2022
44,131 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
I will try and do a 5K again, without the magic shoes, and see if I can replicate my time. Part of the problem is that there are so many other variables - training had been going quite well (which largely means no injuries, nowadays, in my aging decrepitude), and it was cool, bright, windless, not too busy, dry underfoot, a newly surfaced path and a completely flat parkrun, with 2 chaps ahead to hang onto, both going strongly, whom I never caught (unusual, because I am wont to start slowly and reel people in, but they guys were like perfect pacers for me!)
So a half dozen excuses why I might not replicate the performance. But I'll give it a go to see!
However for this Sunday's half, I will be wearing the cheat shoes and see if I can get a decent time.  G
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Oct 2022
4:49pm, 4 Oct 2022
18,052 posts
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KinkyS
Part of me would like to try the magic shoes just to see how I respond to them and let's face it, I wouldn't complain if I gained back a few of those lost minutes. But the eyewatering price tag is too much of a barrier for those on lower incomes and I still miss the good old days when running was a cheap sport and all you needed was a pair of pumps, a pair of shorts and maybe a pair of hobnailed boots and a string vest for the fells
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Oct 2022
5:16pm, 4 Oct 2022
2,052 posts
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Big_G
String vest for the fellas
Check out Soar running if you want some pricey running kit. £130 for a pair of shorts… Apparently it’s good stuff, but it’s pricey!
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Oct 2022
8:13pm, 4 Oct 2022
2,129 posts
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Brunski
Written a blog on London, bit boring compared to some, no tales of f*ckwittery or epic battles with older looking runners.
Might be of interest to some?
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