The Fastest Boston Marathon Ever + Simeon Birnbaum 3:31, Michael Norman Returns
LetsRun.com's Track Talk: The Home of Running and Track and FieldShow Notes
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John Korir obliterated the Boston Marathon course record with a stunning 2:01:52, negative-splitting the second half in 60:02 to repeat as champion. The top three men all broke the previous course record in what became the first marathon in history with three sub-2:03 finishers**. Sharon Lokedi** defended her women's title with a devastating 14:48 5K split between 35K and 40K that destroyed the field. Zouhair Talbi ran 2:03:45 to post the fastest time ever by a US citizen, igniting debate over whether he or Conner Mantz is America's top marathoner. Meanwhile, Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum smashed the NCAA 1500 record with a 3:31.69 at Hayward Field, and Michael Norman made his long-awaited return to competition after surgery.
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LINKS
Fastest Boston Marathon Ever: Korir Destroys Course Record, 13 Men Under 2:06
Sharon Lokedi Repeats as Boston Marathon Champion Thanks to Sizzling 14:48 5K Split
How Did They Run So Fast in Boston? Inside the Fastest Race in History
Simeon Birnbaum Smashes NCAA 1500m Record With 3:31.69
Michael Norman Is Back: Runs First Race in 19 Months With New Coach
Why the AIU Handed NCAA Champion Adaejah Hodge a Secret Doping Ban
Joe Klecker's Strava
Stephen Pifer's Strava (Sharon Lokedi's Borrowed Garmin Data)
Mary Ngugi Cooper Post-Race Interview
"No One Cares If You Get Second": Simeon Birnbaum on Why Winning Is All That Matters (Podcast)
Fiona O'Keeffe's Withdrawal Announcement (Instagram)
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Mary Ngugi Cooper Audio / Intro
00:48 Show Open
05:25 John Korir: Best Marathoner in the World?
08:33 The Kipchoge Legacy Debate
14:33 Record-Shattering Men's Results
22:05 Conner Mantz vs Zouhair Talbi: Who Is America's Best Marathoner?
28:41 Richard Ringer's Surprise Run at Age 37
32:52 Non-African-Born Runners Rewriting All-Time Lists
39:25 What Went Wrong for Korir in Chicago?
44:20 Korir's Rise: From 70 to 150 Miles Per Week
47:40 Where Your Dreams Become Reality
51:07 Technology's Impact on Marathon Depth
53:27 Sharon Lokedi Defends Her Boston Title
59:41 How Good Was Lokedi's Performance?
62:00 Jess McClain Leads the American Women
66:05 Fiona O'Keeffe's Withdrawal and Durability Questions
71:21 Mary Ngugi Cooper and the Let's Run Effect
74:14 Simeon Birnbaum Smashes the NCAA 1500 Record
79:10 NCAA 1500 Depth and the Championship Preview
83:26 Michael Norman's Comeback
87:13 Tate Taylor, Adaejah Hodge, and Sprint Controversies
94:41 Katelyn Tuohy's Health and Pro Struggles
97:35 SC Exclusive: Nick Willis' Theory
98:05 Supporters Club Plug
98:26 Closing Remarks and London Marathon Preview
CONTACT
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Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running.
The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Weldon Johnson, a 2-time Team USA member, and Robert Johnson, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.
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