Are marathon times getting faster?

What factors a record breaking run for the marathon?

Well we all know the Berlin Marathon is a popular event to break the marathon record for it’s flat course and employing pace-makers, where the record tumbled twice by the great Haile Gebrselassie, as compared to non-flat course such as the Boston Marathon.

Here’s an interesting read on the scientific findings, assumptions, thoughts and conclusion by “The Science of Sport: Are marathon times getting faster or not?”

via The Science of Sport

One key factor is pace-makers – at least for the last few years, neither Boston nor New York have employed pace-makers, whereas Berlin, London and Chicago have.

Berlin, in particular, has evolved into a staged record attempt every year. Fast times are designed on these flatter courses, and that is certainly a factor to take into account.