I know someone has a thought. This is a 23 year old record. Can someone finally get under Mark Allen's time?

possibly macca?

Take his ITU speed gains from the past year plus his endurance base?!

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COROS Sports Science

No incentive. Run just fast enough to win.

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#swimmingmatters
Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind.
The Doctor (#12)

I am anxious to see what the run splits of Alexander, Macca, Jacobs, Raelert etc...will be now that they aren't managing a gap from Lieto.

This.

Unlikely any of them will have a large gap over the others to overcome out of T2, but with them possibly bunched fairly close together, it could be quite interesting to see who does what and when.

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float , hammer , and jog

WHile it's possibly, I'd say it's unlikely.

Every year we see people crush it at races in June/July - than arrive and the "game" in hawaii completely changes the dynamics of the race - i.e. one of racing vs. pacing.

What I'd like to see is someone go Sub 8 ...Craig is close!

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Member of the Litespeed Factory Team
www.litespeed.com

Joe Thorne is going to try.

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Hilly Flats Racing

The odds of the conditions being that perfect again are pretty low.

Twelisek will crush the pace and be first off the bike. Although he doesnt have the run legs to stay away he will give crowie someone to chase.

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who's smarter than you're? i'm!

Is that the AG'er that almost did it last year?

An AGer running sub 2:40 is just a stunt. A lot of AG could do it if they put up a 6 hr bike split.

Yes, even if I believe the situation and tactics might play into a very interesting marathon, the conditions on the day will override the other variables in determining whether we could see a sub 2:40, or sub 8:00 race time, for that matter.

That said, I think if you get two guys together out of Macca, Crowie, Raelert, or Jacobs...we could see a real drag race. But if more than 2 get together at any point on the run, I think we'll see a more tactical approach that will slow the race for a bit and put sub 2:40 out of reach.

I dream of Crowie and Macca putting on the gas for the last 5k and duking it out.

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I would disagree with that.....there aren't that many who could run a fast enough straight marathon to manage a sub 2:40 Ironman Marathon,especially in Kona...There was one in IMC back in the day but he was a good marathoner.

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Joe thorne is a stud!! Guy could go pro.. but I remember reading for some reason he chooses to stay A.G.

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COROS Sports Science

If I am not mistaken, his bike split was around 5:02 last year. The guy is legit.

OK, I'll give you "a lot" was the wrong choice of words, but there are definitely a handful.

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I know a guy that came pretty close in Kona.In his 4th triathlon and 2nd Ironman he went 2:46:11 after a bike that was just under 6hrs..Heis a top Ultra-runner with a marathon pr of around mid 2:20's....

Colin Dignum went into Ironman Canada with the specific purpose of running the fastest ever marathon in '97 and his 2:38:47 would have done it had Peter Reid not spoiled his party in Europe a month or so earlier.


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yes

This interview implies that he's going to race pro. I thought he was racing AG still.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/...Joe_Thorne_2821.html

I been out on the trail here doing speedwork at the same time he's been out. Coincidental. Funny thing is that his recovery pace is my speed work.
Not sure if he's racing Kona this year at all.

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Hilly Flats Racing

Joe Thorne 2011 Kona results...

Swim - 1:04:36
Bike - 5:05:22
Run - 2:43:29

That's a hell of a stunt right there. :-)

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That 'aint no stunt, that is a fair bit of talent.....Hope he got some swim lessons..

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If this is an AGer; I have two questions:

1) What kind of job does he have? Hours? Stress? Etc?
2) How often is he training? 30 hours a week? 20? Is it mostly speed work because he can handle it? Etc?

Because no matter who you are, without drugs, those are insane times to accomplish with a REAL job on the side.

He was an Age'r last year. Maybe turning pro this year I guess.

That does not answer a single one of my questions.