Can Ethiopian women attain sub 2:10 marathon times soon?

ADDIS ABABA, September 30, 2023 - The history of Africa's marathon triumph began with Abebe Bikila's historic barefoot victory in the 1960 Rome Olympics. The double Olympic champion set a world record time of 2:12:11 at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which stood as a national record for Ethiopia until Belayneh Densamo broke it with a time of 2:06:11 in Rotterdam 26 years later. However, no female athlete had surpassed the men's world record time set in 1964, until the impressive performance of Ethiopian athlete Tigist Assefa on September 24, 2023 proved that determination and effort can overcome any obstacle.

At the Berlin Marathon, the 28-year-old successfully defended her title and broke the world record with a time of 2:11:51. She was aided by pacemakers and wore the new Adi Zero Adios Pro Ivo 1s shoes. Her time beat the previous world record set by Bridge Kosgei by over two minutes. The athlete celebrated by kissing her shoes, emphasizing the important role of technology in sports and the potential for even greater advancements in the future.

CRUCIAL QUESTION
The crucial question that remains unanswered is whether a female marathon runner possesses the ability to accomplish the race in less than 2 hours and 10 minutes. The runner must maintain an unwavering pace of 3 minutes and 5 seconds per kilometer, which would enable them to complete the half marathon in 1 hour and 5 minutes. This feat would undoubtedly showcase the remarkable progress achieved by women of all ages.

Breaking the 2:10 marathon barrier would be a significant achievement for any woman runner. It holds importance in the world of competitive running as it is that range beyond gender differences.
I demanded answers from athletics professionals regarding the imminent likelihood of a sub 2:10 women's marathon.

SPEAKING TO EXPERTS
I had the opportunity to interview Gemedu Dedefo, an up-and-coming coach in Ethiopia who has achieved remarkable results. he has coached world champions Tamrat Tolla and Amane Beriso, as well as Tigist Assefa who broke the world marathon record.

Adilson da Silva, on the other hand, is an experienced coach in middle and long-distance races. He currently works as a marathon coach for the Bulgarian Athletics Federation and is a big admirer of Ethiopian athletes. Additionally, He gives his predictions about what he expects will happen soon.
It is predicted by both coaches that within the next two years, Ethiopian women will achieve a sub-2:10 marathon time. The rapid development of the fastest marathon time has left Silva amazed.

“When a world record is broken in marathon running, it typically involves a time of one minute or more. This may seem commonplace now, especially after notable achievements such as Paula Radcliffe's record-breaking run in London, the Kenyan bridge Kosgei's performance in the 2019 Chicago Marathon, and Tigist Assefa's recent success in the Berlin Marathon. These runners have managed to achieve impressive time gaps of two minutes or more,” he said.

According to Coach Dedefo, Ethiopians are poised for success thanks to their unwavering dedication and tireless work ethic. Their unrelenting desire to make history will undoubtedly propel them to greatness. Additionally, he recognizes the emergence of a new generation of road racers who possess immense potential and high hopes for their performance.

A marathon race demands the athlete to be exactly where they need to be, at exactly the right time, and to perform exceedingly well. Effective training schedule management is key to attaining these objectives. The coaches who comment on it highlight some critical issues to achieving below 2:10 shortly.

SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE WIND WITH PACERS
Tigist Assefa's coach shared that she received assistance from two male pacemakers during her run in Berlin. The first pacemaker led at a consistent pace for the first 20 kilometers, while the second pacemaker, Girmay, is a skilled athlete with a 2:05 marathon record who was dedicated to helping Assefa break records. The coach believes that these pacemakers helped Assefa feel at ease, boosted her confidence, and shielded her from the wind. The coach proudly reported that their strategy was successful.
It is imperative to note that both competition and training are crucial for developing endurance, and Silva strongly believes in this. In the East African athletics culture, it is considered beneficial for female athletes to have a male partner for this purpose. Moreover, during major races, female athletes are allowed to have male pacemakers, which helps them conserve their energy. However, it is important to note that this makes it challenging for women to achieve the fastest times in women-only races like the Olympic and World Championships.

SHOES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY
Silva is impressed by the way technology has advanced the world of sports. “Sports are developing rapidly and I'm glad to see that there are great facilities for training. It's challenging to compare the current generation of athletes to those of Paula Radcliffe's time, but I hope that the future of sports will be even more advanced”
Silva's opinion of is further backed by the current marathon success of the Ethiopian coach. Dedefo makes an effort to recollect his own experience.
“I've worked with Adidas for several years, including during the Rio Olympics and the three years that followed. Regrettably, my athletes' performance fell short of our expectations during that period. However, Nike's introduction of a new line of running shoes proved highly effective, delivering favorable results for wearers. These shoes were lightweight and comfortable, making them exceedingly popular. After Adidas also released innovative new shoes, we were able to achieve success once again”
The new world record holder was introduced to a new pair of Adidas running shoes during her visit to Berlin. She wore them for the first time.
“My athlete Assefa was the first customer to try out the Adidas Adios Adi-zero Pro Evo 1. I noticed that this brand is significantly lighter compared to previous Adidas models. It's also more comfortable to wear, and it helps with sprinting. If previous generations had access to this technology, I believe they could have achieved a sub-2:10 time ten years earlier.”

RUNNING AGAINST CLOCK
“Today's athletes push themselves beyond their limits, competing not just to win major marathons but also to beat their personal best times. For them, the satisfaction of achieving a personal goal is more valuable than any prize money. They prioritize major marathons over world championships and are dedicated to challenging their minds and bodies. Through their achievements, they prove that humans are limitless and anything is possible.” Both coaches agreed on this point.
Join a group training session where you can support and motivate each other towards achieving great things. A notable achievement in the running world was when Tigist Assefa set a national record by completing the Berlin marathon in 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 17 seconds. Shortly after, Beriso ran the Valencia marathon in 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 18 seconds, which was the third-fastest time in history at that point. Recently, Assefa has broken the world record. Both runners are coached by Dedefo, and it will be interesting to see how world champion Amane Beriso responds to this achievement.

PSYCHOLOGY AND PLEASANT WEATHER CONDITIONS
Enhancing performance requires a focus on consuming organic foods and developing a strong psychological readiness. According to Adilson da Silva, the Ethiopian lifestyle, which involves habitual running, is a significant factor in producing top-tier athletes in track and road races. For them, winning is a habit, and mental comfort is essential to achieve their goals.

WHO WILL BE THE FAVORITE?
Adilson da Silva hopes either Letesenbet Gidey or Ethiopian-born Dutch athlete Sifan Hassen can have sub 2:10 in a marathon within the next two years. "I admire Gidey's running style. She will compete in the New York Marathon the following week. I'm hoping that when she does it more on the road, she'll set the next world record. Ethiopia has a good generation. Many fast athletes with steady performance. Sifan Hassen, in my opinion, will put them to the test.”
“Predicting who will manage a particular task may be challenging, but those athletes who adhere to the correct training methods will undoubtedly excel. It is important to note that the current mood of athletes plays a crucial role.” Dedefo vividly recalls the events that occurred at the world championship in Budapest.
“I am confident that Tamirat Tolla will defend his title, but he is experiencing severe pain just hours before the race. I feel saddened by what has happened to him. Sometimes unexpected things happen," he said.
“Gidey's performance in the half marathon is truly impressive. While Kipchoge's best half-marathon split is 59 minutes, Gidey completed it in 62 minutes. If she maintains this pace, she could potentially finish a full marathon in around 2 hours and 4 minutes. Even if she experiences a five-minute delay, her finish time would still be below 2 hours and 10 minutes, which would be a significant achievement,” Dedefo added.
As both sides agreed, the option of Berlin's flat landscape is probably the most ideal. However, depending on how well-prepared you are for this task, it could happen in other major marathons as well.
Since the apex has not yet been reached, we are on the right track and will soon see Sub 2:10. Time will tell who can achieve it and when it happens!

News from the same category