Alex Hutchinson writes at Runner's World that runners have cut the distance to the sub-two-hour marathon in half since 1998, but it will get progressively harder to trim the remaining seconds. Still, the physiologists tell us that it’s not impossible, meaning it is possible. Hutchinson says it will take several things: a cold day in March or November; a straight, flat course that is mind-numbingly boring; pacemakers who will shepherd leaders around the course cutting the wind and setting the pace; and a runner with a frame of about 5'6", weight of about 120 pounds, and towering self-confidence.
The road is so flat and straight, you can see them coming from a mile away. Six runners flow in arrowhead formation around the Canadian city of Saskatoon. The early November air is still and dry, the sky overcast, and the temperature hovers a bit above freezing, just as predicted. All in their early 20s, they’ve been training together for this moment for years; only in the last month did their coach select which three will go for the record. The remaining three form the front of the arrowhead, blocking the wind and enduring the mental effort of controlling the pace. Should one of them cross the finish line in two hours—or faster—all six will share equally in the $50 million jackpot promised by the heirs to the Hoka One One fortune. The pot of money is up for grabs, for any runner, anywhere in the world. The chase is on. So, will they make it? And what year is this?
I’m saying the year is...2075—and they make it.
(Score: 2) by cafebabe on Monday October 13 2014, @01:46PM
I'll take your four and I'll raise it. I'd be happy with a six hour marathon. I'm fit and healthy but I've previously walked five miles, arrived with an injured ankle and I had no idea how it occurred. If that happened at the beginning of a 26 mile walk, I'd be screwed.
Working backwards, a six hour marathon requires an average speed of 4.3MPH. A four hour marathon requires an average speed of 6.5MPH. But a two hour marathon requires an average speed of 13MPH. That's insane! I'm certainly not at the level where one thinks nothing of a four mile run [bash.org] but I jog slower than that! And I stop after 10 minutes!
1702845791×2
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 13 2014, @02:11PM
That link says it's at bash.org. Is that site safe to visit? Will my computer get a shellshock if I click on that link?
(Score: 2) by strattitarius on Monday October 13 2014, @04:20PM
Unfortunately, I have seen comments like that floating around the web and a few idiots that claim to be in IT helping spread the FUD.
Slashdot Beta Sucks. Soylent Alpha Rules. News at 11.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 13 2014, @04:25PM
It's no wonder normal people hate you sysadmins.
First you tell your users that Linux and GNU software and bash are all really secure. Then a very serious bug is found in bash that makes it obvious that it's not secure at all.
Then you tell your users to be cautious, and to ask you first before using any software that might be risky. So they do just that, asking you about something suspicious (the name "bash" is now forever linked with the concepts of bugs and insecurity), and you berate them for asking!
Make up your mind, please! Don't tell users contradictory info!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 13 2014, @07:54PM
Jesus christ. How dumb are you? He was addressing the question that the AC poster above asked which is clearly poking fun at bash.org. Oh, right you are a fucking troll too. Go die under a rock, troll.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 13 2014, @10:19PM
I see your one-week vacation didn't do you any good, Tork. You're still such an angry soul.
(Score: 2) by cafebabe on Monday October 13 2014, @06:54PM
bash.org has humorous exchanges from chatlogs upvoted in the style of Reddit.
The first joke, related to running, is as follows [bash.org]:-
And the bonus joke is as follows [bash.org]:-
(Score: 1) by number6x on Monday October 13 2014, @10:23PM
Don't think of it as 26.1 miles at 13 mph, think of it as 26 consecutive sub-5 minute miles!
I think about a 4:35 minute:second pace for 2 hours straight should get you under 2 hours. That is comparable to sprinting, but for 2 hours. It boggles my mind to run that fast for 2 hours. I am beat after running 45 minutes at a relatively sedate 6.5 mph on a treadmill!
Usain Bolt was clocked at 27.79 mph [bleacherreport.com] for 20 meters of a 100 meter run. If he could accelerate to that speed instantaneously, and maintain that speed for 56 minutes and 21 seconds, he would be able to run a sub-1 hour marathon!