Big day for Canada in London: Tristan Woodfine qualifies for the Olympics, Brent Lakatos wins men's wheelchair race!
The London marathon was one to remember, and not just because of COVID
Hello!
I hope you’re all hanging in there, staying safe and doing what you can to take care of yourself and your loved ones.
There was a race this week! A big one! It was so nice to spend my Sunday reading articles and analysis about the London marathon results, which were truly remarkable. I don’t know if the lack of racing just has made me extra grateful to have a race to follow of if this race was as truly epic as it is in my brain, but it doesn’t matter. I am here for it.
After the London recap — Canada had three racers compete and two of them did GREAT! — there’s a bit of news to check out below. Congratulations to Around the Bay for their World Athletics honour! You can find out what I’m talking about below.
It’s lighter than usual because of the pandemic and because I ran a solo, virtual marathon on Sunday morning and am a little fried while writing this.
Thanks for being here and spending your Monday morning with Run the North. I appreciate it.
Let’s get to it!
— Erin @ Run the North
The London marathon was one to remember, and not just because of COVID
The 2020 London marathon took place on Sunday, Oct. 4. It was a race like no other in the London marathon’s40-year history. There was no mass participation event, instead 45,000 runners around the world participated virtually and less than 100 elite runners took part.
Instead of running through downtown London, seeing iconic landmarks, the elites did 20 laps around St. James Park.
Instead of thousands of screaming spectators, the race course was blocked off from anyone cheering the runners on — but there were cardboard cutouts along the way.
And yet, in these uncertain times, when so many races were getting cancelled, it was a chance for elites to race, and for the running community to watch and cheer them on (virtually, of course).
I broke down all the weirdness in last week’s issue. If you missed it, check it out here.
Shura Kitata wins men’s race, Eliud Kipchoge finishes eighth
The London marathon men’s race was being framed as the showdown we’ve all been dreaming of since Kenenisa Bekele ran 2:01:41 in Berlin in 2019: 35-year-old Eliud Kipchoge, the world record holder and owner of an unofficial 1:59:40 marathon time, versus the only man who has come close to him since 2013: 38-year-old Bekele who is one of the greatest long distance runners of all time but hadn’t shown his potential in the marathon distance until Berlin.
But it was not to be.
Bekele dropped out of the race the day before, citing a calf injury. He said he felt good in training, but had two tough workouts too close together in his final training weeks, and that was enough to keep him off the London start line.
Then, on race day, in cold and wet conditions, Kipchoge wasn’t even a factor. The pace was on the slow side (for Kipchoge) but he didn’t make any moves. Instead, he hung with the lead pack until about 40K, and then ultimately faded to eighth place.
Instead, the men’s race ended in a three-way sprint to the finish between Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata and Sisay Lemma and Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba.
Shura, who is 24, came out on top, crossing the finish line in 2:05:41, one second ahead of 30-year-old Vincent.
After the race, Eliud said he had an ear issue during the race he couldn’t shake off.
His 2:06:49 time is his second slowest marathon ever, behind his 2016 Olympic gold medal performance in Rio. He ran 2:08:44 in Rio in hot conditions, but finished more than a minute ahead of the silver medallist.
London 2020 is also the second marathon in Eliud’s career he did not win. Since 2013, he has run 15 marathons (including his two sub 2:00 attempts). He’s won every one, except Berlin in 2013 (he placed second to a world record setting run by Wilson Kipsang) and now London 2020.
2018 Toronto Waterfront Marathon champion Benson Kipruto finished seventh in 2:06:42.
The full men’s top 10 is:
Shura Kitata (Ethiopia): 2:05:41
Vincent Kipchumba (Kenya): 2:05:42
Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia): 2:05:45
Mosinet Geremew (Ethiopia): 2:06:04
Mule Wasihun (Ethiopia): 2:06:08
Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia): 2:06:41
Benson Kipruto (Kenya): 2:06:42
Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya): 2:06:49
Sondre Norstad Moen (Norway): 2:09:01
Marius Kipserem (Kenya): 2:09:25
Tristan Woodfine runs 2:10:51 to qualify for Olympics, Cam Levins DNFs
The men’s race had two Canadian men toeing the line, with the Olympic standard in mind (top 10 or sub 2:11:30): Tristan Woodfine and Cam Levins.
Tristan ran a huge PB, crossing the finish line in 2:10:51, to finish in 14th place and well under the Olympic standard.
"Having the opportunity [to race] was awesome. And then being able to capitalize on that opportunity just feels great," Woodfine told The Canadian Press. "Right now, there's really no guarantee that there would be another opportunity, so it feels good to come here and deliver even when the conditions weren't optimal."
This makes Tristan the second Canadian man to achieve the 2020(1) Olympic standard, behind 2019 national marathon champ Trevor Hofbauer. The team will be selected by Athletics Canada in the spring. Only Trevor gets automatically named to the team, as the national champion. The other two spots are up to Athletics Canada’s discretion out of everyone who has achieved the standard.
Tristan’s made remarkable progress in the marathon since debuting in Ottawa in 2018. His first marathon was 2:18:55, and he’s dropped several minutes off each consecutive performance. London was his fourth marathon, and his PB heading into the race was 2:13.16.
His London time is the sixth fastest in Canadian history:
Cam Levins: 2:09:25 (Toronto 2018)
Trevor Hofbauer: 2:09:51 (Toronto 2019)
Jerome Drayton: 2:10:09 (Fukuoka 1975)
Reid Coolsaet: 2:10:29 (Berlin 2015)
Dylan Wykes: 2:10:47 (Rotterdam 2012)
Tristan Woodfine: 2:1051 (London 2020)
Reid Coolsaet: 2:10:55 (Toronto Waterfront 2011)
Reid Coolsaet: 2:10:55 (Fukuoka 2016)
Peter Butler: 2:10:56 (CIM 1985)
David Edge: 2:11:03 (Boston 1983)
Cam Levins started off quick, and was on sub-national record pace until about 30K. But he faded in the final miles, was walking at 35K and dropped out before the 40K mark. On Twitter, he said that the conditions got to him:
There are a couple more chances for Cam to tackle 42.2. The Marathon Project in Arizona on Dec. 20 might be an option, if they can secure status as an Olympic qualifying race. The elite-only Valencia marathon is on Dec. 6.
And there’s always the spring, depending on how the pandemic goes and how races adjust.
The qualifying window for the 2020(1) Olympics goes until May 31, 2021.
Canadian Brent Lakatos wins men’s wheelchair race
I don’t cover wheelchair racing as often as I should.
London’s men’s race is one for the books. Canadian Brent Lakatos took home the 2020 title, crossing the finish line in 1:46:04.
The race was a sprint to the finish, with six racers in content with 200m to go. Brent took the lead, fending off British racer — and eight-time London marathon champion — David Weir in the final metres.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland was third.
Brent is one of the best wheelchair racers of all time. The 40-year-old competes in every distance from the 100m to the marathon, and has won 11 world championships and seven Paralympic medals ( 1 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze). London 2020 is his second world marathon major victory, he also won the Berlin marathon in 2018.
Brent is originally from Quebec but now lives in the UK. He’s married to British Para athlete Stefanie Reid.
According to Doug Harrison at CBC Sports, Brent had designed a new racing wheelchair earlier this year, which he put to use in London.
Brent’s next goal is to qualify for the 2020(1) Paralympics. If he makes it, it will be his fifth trip to the Paralympics. He preciously represented Canada in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
The women’s wheelchair race was won by Netherlands’ Nikita Den Boer, with Switzerland’s Manuela Schär placing second and USA’s Jenna Fesemyer placing third.
Brigid Kosgei takes women’s title, American Sara Hall lays down an amazing kick to take second
There were no Canadian women running London in 2020.
Defending champion and world record holder Brigid Kosgei ran 2:18:58 to finish well away from the field. She made her move at 20 miles, dropping Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich, and never looked back.
Brigid, who is 26 years old, now owns back-to-back London victories (2019, 2020) to go with her back-to-back Chicago victories (2018, 2019). The time was well off Brigid’s personal best of 2:14:04 — which she ran in Chicago last year, setting the world record in the process.
If Brigid keeps this up, she could enter Kipchoge territory.
The story of the women’s race was American Sara Hall, who unleashed a killer kick to overtake Ruth Chepngetich in the final two km to take second. Her sprint to the finish is one to watch.
Sara, who is 37, is the first American to make the London podium since 2006, when legend Deena Kastor won the race. Deena’s 2006 performance was an American record, which stands to this day.
After the race, Sara called her London performance “redemption” for not making the U.S. Olympic marathon team in February — she DNFed the race in Atlanta, dropping out at mile 22.
Ruth Chepngetich, the 26-year-old reigning world champion, finished third in 2:22:05.
Another American, Molly Seidel, also had a stellar performance. London was Molly’s second marathon ever — she placed second at the U.S. trials in her debut — and ran 2:25:13 to place sixth.
The full top 10 is:
Brigid Kosgei (Kenya): 2:18:58
Sara Hall (USA): 2:22:01
Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya): 2:22:05
Ashete Bekere (Ethiopia): 2:22:51
Alemu Megertu (Ethiopia): 2:24:23
Molly Seidel (USA): 2:25:13
Gerda Steyn (Russia): 2:26:51
Sinead Diver (Australia): 2:27:07
Darya Mykhaylova (Ukraine): 2:27:29
Valary Jemeli (Kenya): 2:28:18
Around the Bay 30K receives award from World Athletics for its historical significance and contribution to athletics
Around the Bay 30K in Hamilton is cancelled for 2020, but the race shared some good news this week.
It received the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in September, for its “an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track & field athletics and of out of stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail and ultra-running, and race walking.”
Around the Bay was founded in 1894, making it the oldest road race in North America. It’s older than Boston, and proud of it. It’s also a spring race staple for runners in southern Ontario training for a marathon.
“We are ecstatic to be awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque this year! The Around the Bay has such wonderful history and tradition in our local running community but to have it recognized by World Athletics illustrates its far reaching influence,” race director Anna Lewis said in an Athletics Canada press statement. “It is our loyal participants, committed volunteers, dedicated organizing committee, long standing partners and sponsors who have allowed this race to stand the test of time.”
Five other races around the world received this honour this year: the YMCA Turkey Trot in Buffalo, New York, the Běchovice 10K in Prague, the Giro Podistico di Castelbuono, Castelbuono in Italy, the Kosice Peace Marathon in Slovakia and Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship in Japan.
All six races are among the oldest in the world.
“Together these races ooze athletics history. They represent what running is truly about: the record-breaking feats of the many great champions and the personal triumphs of the countless recreational and charity runners. We should also not forget the dedication and hard work of the officials and volunteers of the local clubs and organising committees which have kept these historic events on the roads for decades,” World Athletics director Sebastian Coe said in a press statement.
Strides: Stuff to listen to and know about
🎽The Athletics Canada marathon relay has secured some of Canada’s top talent. The race, which is a virtual, relay is set to take place the Oct. 18-19 weekend. That is when the Toronto Waterfront Marathon is traditionally held. Teams of four can cover the marathon distance together from anywhere in the world. The 42.2K distance can be divided up any way the team would like, as long each runner runs a minimum of 5K. “The Quarantine Queens” — a team comprised of Kinsey Middleton, Natasha Wodak, Malindi Elmore and Emily Setlack — want to win it all. Athletics Canada has a profile up about the team, how Kinsey put it together and how everyone is looking forward to racing, even if it’s virtual and just for fun.
🎧 Emily Setlack was on the Women Run Canada podcast. She talked about how she got into running, how she struggled running NCAA D1 in college, how she found her love of racing again and achieving her big breakthrough in Toronto last year. Her 2:29:48 performance at the 2019 race was 18 seconds off the Olympic standard, and good for second Canadian, behind Dayna Pidhoresky.
🎧Women Run Canada also had Lynn Kanuka-Williams on recently. Lynn was Canada’s best middle-distance runner in the 1980s. She won bronze at the 1984 Olympics in the 3,000m. She also represented Canada in the 1988 Olympics. Between 1983 and 1989, she set 11 Canadian records in distances from the 1,500m to the 10K road race. Lynn is now a coach, and currently coaches Natasha Wodak. Lynn talked about her running career, what it’s like to be a footnote in one of the most famous races in history, her transition in coaching, and more.
🌟In Waterloo, a small invitational marathon was held by Fast is Fun coaching. Runners ran 25 loops to get the full distance. The course was sanctioned and certified by Athletics Canada. It was rainy and humid. Melanie Myrand, who signed up with the Olympic standard in mind, ran 2:38:14. The overall winner was Chris Balestrini, who ran 2:17:05, which is a two-minute PB. Ten runners in total finished the race. You can see the full results here.
🎧I discovered a new podcast this week! The Inner Olympian, hosted by Segun Makinde, focuses on the Canadian athlete’s inner mind. It’s not running specific, but in the 23 episodes that have dropped so far, several runners have been featured: sprinters Akeem Haynes, Micha Powell, Bismark Boateng and Khamica Bingham, 400m runner Vernon Norwood, Paralympic middle-distance runner Nathan Riech, and hurdlers Tia Thevenin and Devyani Biswal. Segun Makinde was named to Canada’s Olympic team in 2012 and 2016 as a 4x100m alternate, but didn’t compete in either Games.
👟This piece by Rio Lakeshore (as told to Knox Robinson) for the Tracksmith blog about running with his son, Ezrah, and being a Black runner is worth your time:
It’s not just one foot in front of the other. I wish people would stop saying that. It’s a process, man. I didn’t just get up and say, Oh, I’m gonna run today! This has been an ongoing process for me full of ups and downs since I was a child. I didn’t just start running; it’s always been a process: a means of getting into a steady flow and discipline and dedicate yourself. It’s something this country doesn’t believe that the Black man has: discipline, if you will, or the ability to get up and go and do something every day. So I’m trying to smash all those stereotypes... Not only [stereotypes] America puts on us, but those within the Black community to show that this is an option as well. This is an everyday mindful, healthy, spiritual option you can take. Look: my son’s doing it too – you can do it with your son or your daughter. It’s another way.
Running with my son is power. It’s a symbol. The broader audience doesn’t expect to see a Black father with a Black son; it’s already a power statement for me to be running, but for me to have my youth with me crushes all Babylon’s belief and views of the Black man.
That’s it for this week!
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Next week, I’ll have a preview of the world half-marathon championships!
Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone.
Stay safe, keep on running and I’ll see you next week.