Marino Vanhoenacker - New IM record 7:45:58

Mark Roberts

 Marnio Vanhoenacker sets a new IM world record today at Ironman Austria - 7:45:58!

http://ironman.com/events/ironman/austria/kevin-mackinnon-reports-on-a-record-setting-day-at-karnten-ironman-austria#axzz1R45b3HoL

He closed with a 2:39 marathon.  Unbelievable.  

 

Scott Alexander

I wouldn't even be done with my bike ride yet! Amazing!

Norton

He even negative split the marathon!

kurshing

Is this guy not doing Kona every year? Wasn't this his sixth straight at this race...all getting faster?

mattsull

Posted By Stephen Anderson on 03 Jul 2011 07:15 PM

Is this guy not doing Kona every year? Wasn't this his sixth straight at this race...all getting faster?

He was third at Kona last year behind Macca and Raelert. I think that was his first podium there.

Jeff Unruh

And then Andreas Raelert goes 7:41:33 in Roth -- Kona could be fun this year!

Paul Hough

If you read Macca's book, he wrote off one of his competitors at Kona that had gone sub 8 hrs because he felt even at the pro level they don't have 2 races in them at that level in the same season. Nonetheless, I wouldn't bet against Raelert!

GMAN 19030

The Raelert boys will literally damn near kill themselves to finish 1-2 at Kona this year. There's a million reasons why. I don't see one of them -- Andreas most likely -- not winning.

mancona

A couple quick thoughts:

- Marino and Andreas both had amazing results, no doubt.
- Both are very capable of being world champion in Kona
- It appears the pro men are finally starting to step it up a bit after they really haven't gotten much faster in the last 10 years. maybe they are getting scared of Chrissie closing the gap a little too much :-)
- Kona is a different beast, particulary compared to Austria and Roth which are know to be REALLY fast, somewhat short, and have ideal weather conditions
- As Paul mentioned, both of these guys now have to recover and rebuild from setting world records to peak again in kona. I don't agree with many things Macca said in his book, but I think he has a point here.
- Neither Ralert brother has qualified for Kona yet this year. With the points they have, all they each have to do is finish a WTC ironman race before the end of August, but that is still one more race they each need to do. FWIW, there are 6 races left so plently of chances.
- I would not be surprised to see Macca KQ and end up racing Kona as his Olympic prusuit is not looking great at the moment. I don't think he can win again, but it's hard to rule out any past two time champion.
- I know I'm looking forward to watching Kona this year.

[Deleted User]

I was just finishing up the first loop of the bike course when Marino blazed right past me. He was on fire!!!

Paul Hough

@ Matt - after reading Macca's book, and seeing his short course goals fizzle, I think it's only a matter of time before he throws in the towell and pursues something else. If he's going to try for Kona, then he'll need to make that decision this month!

As to Roth being short, I read somewhere that the organizer's added over a mile to this year's bike course. If that's true, then all previous efforts at Roth (and IM Europe before) were not full distance. Still, the runner in me says there are no world records in triathlon, only world bests. In running there are certified courses and all the rest of which 90% are probably short of the advertised distance. Unfortunately, there's virtually no way to certify triathlons. I don't see how you can certify the swim course, and the races all have different transition lengths.

Jeff Unruh

If you ever listen to IMTalk podcast Bret Sutton spoke about Chrissy going so hard in Roth in 2010. His feeling - similar to what I understand Macca was saying - was you can't blast yourself like that in July and be 100% in October.

I wasn't even thinking about the fact that neither Raelert brother has validated (completed a WTC Ironman)...