A new world record yesterday in the men's marathon, by Patrick Makau. The NY Times report I read describes pace-setting up to Mile 20, with pacers actually forming a migrating-bird-style echelon blocking the wind. (At a 4:43 pace, wind drag presumably is real. I wouldn't know.) One pacer managed to hold on for second place, somewhere in the 2:07s. Former world record holder Haile Gebraselassie was on pace until he blew up somewhere after mile 20 and dropped out.
A question: I noted a few days ago this article which says women-only races are required for a women's road racing record to count. The rationale is that Paula Radcliffe, among others, gained pacing benefits in some races, helping her to run faster than she otherwise could have run. (Giving the lie to the proposition that it's somehow an unfair advantage, Radcliffe still holds the IAAF marathon world record -- after having her two fastest marathon finishes retroactively disqualified -- and finished third in Berlin yesterday at age 37.) Is it any better to hire a ~2:07 marathoner to establish a record pace and hold it until he can't any more, just so the favorite can break a record?
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