Reid Coolsaet narrowly misses Canadian record at Berlin Marathon

Despite the issues with his shoes, Kipchoge covered 30km to 35km in 14:23 to build a 24-second lead ahead of Kiptanui, with Lilesa a couple of seconds behind and Emmanuel Mutai half a second off his leading training partner.

Of the past six occasions on which the men’s world record has been broken, Berlin has been the venue every time – including in each of the last two races.

Despite developing problems with his insoles around the 20K mark, Kipchoge finished comfortably ahead of compatriot Eliud Kiptanui in second on 2:05:22 and Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia in third in 2:06:57.

The problems with his shoes are something that will undoubtedly have cost him time, although how much will be a source of much debate among the running community.

Emmanuel Mutai ran 2:03:13 here past year, when he was beaten by Dennis Kimetto’s 2:02:57 – the current world record.

“I am happy to have run my personal best, but I had wanted to run the world record”.

– Lornah Kiplagat (@lornahkiplagat) September 27, 2015Can’t believe I made it. Thanks to the best supporters in the world❤️!!

That time sliced 26 seconds from the world record set in the 2013 Berlin Marathon by Wilson Kipsang, also of Kenya.

“I think I had no chance to beat Eliud”, said Kiptanui, who knocked 17 seconds off his personal best set in Prague in 2010.

With favorable weather conditions forecast for the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, there will be a handful of runners targeting another world record on the fast course.

Over in the women’s race and Cherono had been favourite, having won her only previous marathon in Dubai in 2:20:03 earlier this year.

The women’s race could become a duel between two-time victor Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia and Gladys Cherono of Kenya.

“The other runners have more experience of the marathon but I’ve been learning”, Cherono said.