Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 03:53 PM
Good morning everyone, the marathon is about to start and it is 14 degrees
Celsius and fine, so the starting conditions are very good.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 03:55 PM
58 women are running today and it should be a very competitive race.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 03:57 PM
The runners are just coming up to the line for the start now
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:00 PM
The race has just started and the runners are doing the first lap of the
stadium before heading out on to the streets
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:03 PM
Constantina Dita from Romania and Reiko Tosa from Japan are leading the pack
at the start
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:05 PM
Dita is running very strongly in fron followed by two Japanese and the rest
of the field split into a main following pack of around 30 runners with a second
pack and other runners trailing them
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:05 PM
Dita is trying to build up a lead right from the start but I think it is much
too early to run like this
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:10 PM
Dita is still way ahead of the following pack now -maybe a hundred metres or
more. The followers are lead by the Japanese
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:15 PM
Dita is really opening the gap now. She must be 200 metres ahead but I think
she is really using too much energy and we are only 15 minutes into the race
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:17 PM
Dita looks as though she is feeling tired now.. she swings her arms a lot and
looks as though her shoulders are tired already.
Lyubova from Russia is fronting the leaders of the pack.
Dita's pace is under 2:25 - if she can keep it up
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:18 PM
Dita just ran the first 5k in 17:05
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:21 PM
the following group are not so relaxed. They are running closely bunched and
there is a lot of elbow contact
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:22 PM
Tosa is now leading the pack, with Marleen Renders from Belgium just a stride
behind her
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:23 PM
at the 5k mark Dita had a 52 second lead. A good lead but not at all decisive
in a marathon like this
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:24 PM
and now the pack seems to be moving up on Dita. Tosa still leading the pack
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:30 PM
Half an hour into the race and Dita is still looking very strong and appears
to be maintaining her lead. the pack is still very tight around a minute behind
her
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:35 PM
33:28 and Dita has just pulled in for water she has just passed 10k in under
34 minutes and is running a very constant pace. she is still one minute ahead of
the following pack
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:39 PM
38:30 and Tosa is looking very strong at the front of the pack, they are
running through parkland now. renders is still up there with Tosa and the pack
is holding up well
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:42 PM
Tosa runs very economically, but Dita and Renders too seem to swing their
arms too much
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:47 PM
Renders was just helping the other girls to get water and that iss omething
really nice in the marathon. It is not always easy to get to the water
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:51 PM
Nuta Olaru is now running alongside Tosa in the front of the pack. There is a
good crowd by the side of the road and they are giving a lot of support to the
runners. When you are running the marathon you get into almost a sleep like
state and the people cheering you on really wakes you up and gives you energy.
Especially towards the end. When I ran the record in Rotterdam the crowd support
really helped me.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:52 PM
51:11 and Dita has just passed the 15km point.. she is running really well so
far.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:53 PM
I expect the speed to change once they reach the halway point, with the pack
leaders accelerating to bring back Dita
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:54 PM
Tosa went through 15 km 1 minute 47 behind Dita.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 04:57 PM
No-one in the pack wants to takeover from Tosa and this is giving Dita a big
advantage unless Tosa increases her pace. But it looks as though Fatuma Roba is
now starting to move up through the pack and is maybe planning to make a break
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:02 PM
Watching the race I feel almost as nervous as if I was running it. The course
is fairly flat at the moment but in a couple of kms it will start to go downhill
- from km22 till km26 and then there is a steep uphill section with a gradient
of 50 metres from km 27 to 29.. that is going to be tough
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:05 PM
They are starting to move now and Lidia Simon from Romania has moved to the
head of the pack. Dita looks more relaxed for the time being. She looks like she
is on a training run. Alemu from Ethiopia is right behind Simon
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:06 PM
there are nine in the lead pack now and the others are falling back. Florence
Barsosio is running in the front with Simon and Alemu and Tosa is coming back
alongside them
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:09 PM
It is getting warmer now - a couple of degrees more and strong sunshine, but
the conditions are still good. It could be very hot towards the end as the
runners feel tired.
Dita has just grabbed a drink
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:10 PM
she went through 20 km in 1:08:27 and is starting downhill now. She lost some
time taking her water bottle
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:11 PM
Dita still has a 2 minute lead and I really hope that she can keep going and
win. She has taken all the pain so far.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:12 PM
Dita's speed is very constant running just over 17 for each 5 km split except
the second that she rane in 16:47. It is a great run so far
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:14 PM
Dita just passed the half marathon in 1:12w:17!!
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:16 PM
Sonja Krolik has moved up in the pack now and is just ahead of Simon and
Olaru, with the two Ethiopians and Morgunova close behind them.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:25 PM
Dita is approaching the end of the flat section at the bottom of the incline
now and reaching the point where the gradient starts to go uphill. It does not
look that steep, but whe your legs have been running for 26 kilometres you
really feel the slightest incline
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:25 PM
1:25:27 for Dita at the 25km mark
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:28 PM
Dita is now 1 minute 35 secs ahead of the pack, with Krolik in the lead
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:29 PM
There are still 15 in the following pack, with Renders bringing up the rear
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:37 PM
Morgunova has taken over the lead of the pack now. It looked as though Dita
had a problem, stumbling but she is back running smoothly way out in front
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:38 PM
The pack is starting to spead out more now with nine runners in front and the
others gradually dropping back |
Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:41 PM
Dita seems to be having some problems with her right leg and her pace looks
to be dropping off with the pack narrowing down her lead.. but she is climbing
the gradient and still managing to give a little wave to the supporters on the
roadside
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:45 PM
1:44:28 and 30km. Dita grabbed a drink and stopped to look back at her
pursuers. This is a mistake.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:47 PM
Tosa is coming back now and the gap has narrowed way down. Just 40 seconds
between Dita and the pack at the 30km mark... she will find it hard to keep her
lead
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:50 PM
The pack is reeling in Dita now just a couple of hundred metres separate them
from the leader
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:55 PM
Dita has been overtaken by the pack. I feel sorry for her because she really
ran a brave race.
The finish looks like it will be between Simon, Tosa and Aleru and watch out
for Zakharova from Russia, she is a real fighter
[This message has been edited by Tegla (edited 12-08-2001).]
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:58 PM
And of course, Tosa and Shibui will be doing everything possible to make it a
Japanese one two. They are running side by side in front now and that may slow
them down a little but they also give each other support.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 05:59 PM
Having someone from your country/team running alongside you makes you feel
better, because you can feel like you are on a training run.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:05 PM
Tosa and Shibui went through 35 km in 2:02:06, so they are going to be
running to the finish around 2:28 -2:30. The Japanese and Simon have made a
small break from Zakharova, but she could still come back. At the moment it does
look though like the Japanese are going to take those two podium places. Lidia
is not looking so comfortable now she does not seem relaxed in her running
[This message has been edited by Tegla (edited 12-08-2001).]
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:06 PM
The Japanese will need to build up a lead, because if they reach the Stadium
together Lidia Simon has the strongest kick.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:12 PM
The pace is hotting up now and Tosa and Simon are side by side with Shibui
behind and appearing to drop back still further, Zakharova is still in the game
if she can turn on the gas in the last kilometres
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:13 PM
Lidia is trying to pull away, but Tosa is holding on. They have around 3-4 km
to run
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:15 PM
Lidia and Reiko look really inseparable at the moment they are side by side
again
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:16 PM
Shibui is looking like a definite for the bronze unless Zakharova can produce
something magical. The first two places are wide open this pair is so evenly
matched
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:18 PM
The time can be a lot faster - maybe 2:24-2:26, they are about 2 kilometres
out now. Zakharova looks to be closing on Shibui
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:20 PM
2:18:48 as the girls run into China Town and Zakharova kicks hard to overtake
Shibui and move up towards the leaders
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:21 PM
Zakharova is coming up strong and looking good, she is lifting her legs high
and looks very strong but I do not think she can catch the leaders.. It looks
like Simon for the gold
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:23 PM
The stadium is in sight and Tosa and Simon are still togather - Zakharova
around 50 metres behind them now
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:23 PM
It looks like it is going to be a sprint around the track in the stadium will
decide the two top medals
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:24 PM
Simon is kicking now as they approach the stadium and has taken the lead
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:25 PM
It doesn't look like Tosa has anything left as Simon sprints for the line and
the gold medal
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:26 PM
It is Simon all the way now into the home straight:
Simon, Tosa, Zhakarova in that order across the line. A great Race
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:30 PM
Thank you all for following the race with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much
as I did. It was really a great race and a well-deserved victory for Lidia
Simon.
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Tegla
Posts: 65
From:
Registered: Aug 2001 |
posted 12-08-2001 06:31 PM
A special mention too for Constantina Dita who just cross the line after
running 2:30. She made all the early running and is a great athlete with a lot
of courage. |
