You know that it's a different world when 2:06 no longer cuts it. Amazing.

Rotterdam Marathon 2009

MEN -

1. Duncan Kibet, Ken       2:04:27 PB, course record old 2.05.49 William Kipsang 2008)

splits: 14:41-29:18-44:16-59:05-1:02:35-1:14:06-1:28:51-1:43:15-1:57:54

2. James Kwambai, Ken      2:04:27 PB (correct)

splits: 14:41-29:18-44:15-59:05-1:02:36-1:14:06-1:28:51-1:43:15-1:57:53

3. Abel Kirui, Ken         2:05:04 PB

4. Patrick Makau, Ken      2:06:14 PB debut

5. Jackson Kipkoech, Ken   2:08:54

6. Alfred Kering, Ken      2:09:19 PB

7. Mesfin Ademasu, Eth     2:09:32 PB

8. Robert Kipcumba, Ken    2:09:54 PB debut

9. Richard Limo, Ken       2:10:09

Canova on letsrun:

"After the historical
Sunday that changed the Marathon in the World, I like to speak about
the young Italian coach of both the athletes at 2:04:27 (Duncan Kibet
and James Kwambai). Claudio Berardelli is a very young (27 years),
motivated and humble person. He's doctor in Science of the Movement,
and from about 3 years works in Kenya.
Looking at the results of his
athletes, at the moment he can be considered the coach number 1 in the
World in Middle and long distances.

His Marathon runners are,
apart Kibet and Kwambai, Martin Lel, Robert Cheruiyot, Evans Cheruiyot,
the number 3 in Paris yesterday, the winner of Rome in 2:07:17 and many
others about 2:08.

On track,he's the coach of the Olympic
Champion of 1500m W (Nancy Lagat), of the World Champions of 800m M-W
(Alfred Kirwa and Janet Jepkosgei), and of the new Matthew Kisorio,
second behind Mosop in Kenyan CC Trials.

We share without any
stupid secret our experiences in training. If I teached something to
him, I learnt a lot from his new experiences. We have to learn from the
athletes, discovering every time new possibilities in training, due to
the different talent and the different physiology of everybody.

So,
we are now trying to better understand the connection between volume
and intensity, because Kibet and Kwambai have a training of high
quality with little volume (130-140 km per week), many times running
only once per day. But, at the same time, Martin Lel and Robert
Cheruiyot have a training of high volume.

I will explain, step by step, what we are trying to understand and to analyse."

The innovator - Claudio Berardelli

http://dailynews.runnersworld.com/2008/03/a-brief-chat-13.html

"

Describe your last long run.

ML:

It is a route we always use. Thirty-eight kilometers and my best time

for this course (at altitude of over 2400m and on an undulating dirt

road) was 2:08:33. I ran 2:07 for the last hard long run.

Do you usually end your runs very fast, every training run?

ML:

Most of my training is progressive. Claudio has it as such, and this

way it helps me win races. You see a lot happens in the marathon, so I

try to reduce the risk by practicing my tactic.

Tell me about your relationship with your coach.

ML:

Claudio Berardelli is amazing; he has more than 100 percent

concentration for me. Throughout the whole time he has coached me,

since I started running like a champion, he has always given much more

than he had to and, through this, he has given me my success. I am

extremely grateful to be coached by him."

So 23 miles @ 5:22 a mile @ altitude for a training run? ( Would that be equivalent to

5:05 to 5:12 pace at sea level ?) and Lel is a 2:05 marathoner.