The Berlin and Chicago Marathons: the world’s fastest streets?
Over the past two weeks Berlin and Chigago have been the venue for two Marathon world records.
This article will compare these stunning performances in the context of the Paris Olympics 2024.
Tigist Assefa runs a world record of 2:11:53 whilst Eliud Kipchoge wins the Berlin Marathon for a fifth time. Last year at the Berlin Marathon Kipchoge broke his own world record setting a time of 2:01:09, recently been broken by Kelvin Kiptum at the Bank of America Chicago marathon with a time of 2:00:35.
The Berlin Marathon is one of the World Marathon Majors, alongside London, Chicago, New York, Boston and Tokyo. It is therefore no surprise that over one million people lined the streets of Berlin. Due to Kipchoge being regarded as the GOAT of marathon running, street art crew Kamp Seedorf painted a mural in Kipchoge’s honour.
The 2023 season for Kipchoge has been difficult, earlier this year he struggled in the Boston Marathon, finishing sixth place, even though he was touted as favourite to win. Therefore, Kipchoge decided to return to his so-called “special place”, Berlin, to attempt to redeem himself. Hopes were high as fans eagerly awaited to see Kipchoge grace the streets of Berlin. The question was, would he break the marathon record again?
As the crowds lined the streets they cheered, chanted and sung as Kipchoge soaked up the atmosphere on the way to the finish line. The streets are his playground where he finds sanctuary and feels at home.
At 31 kilometres, Kipchoge takes the lead, looking like he is going to break the world record again. However, slowing down quite significantly in the final 10 kilometres, he wins his fifth marathon title with a time of 2:02:42, over a minute shy of his world record.
Last weekend, Kelvin Kiptum was crowned the new world record holder at the Chicago marathon. With Kipchoge being the former world holder, seeing both athletes compete at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 will be the ultimate showdown. Kipchoge being 15 years older than Kiptum, it could possibly be Kipchoge’s last chance to walk away with a gold medal.
Meanwhile in Berlin in the women’s race, Tigist Assefa runs a new world record of 2:11:53, in her second ever marathon. Originally a 800 metre specialist, representing Ethiopia at the Olympic Games in 2016, Assefa has made an impressive jump up to the marathon distance.
Her fellow competitor Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, this weekend at the Chicago marathon stunned the world by setting a new European record, achieving a time of 2:13:44 which was also in her second ever marathon.
It is questionable whether Hassan will compete in the marathon at the Olympics in 2024 due to her track pedigree, as she is the European record holder over 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m. If Hassan lines up against Assefa in the marathon at the Paris Olympics in 2024, it will be the showdown of the century.
The main reason for the marathon records falling this year, is due to the new technology used to design so-called “super shoes.” Super shoes give marathoners the competitive edge, the new shoes are much lighter and include designs which help to propel you forwards, making them easier to run in.
This year’s instalment of the Berlin Marathon was a spectacle. A women’s world record was broken, and Kipchoge’s crown was restored. Leading into the Olympic year, the question remains, who will be crowned greatest of all time?
