Berlin Marathon -- live

[Alan Shank]

Watching on NBC Gold. Tim Hutchings doing the introl, focused on Kipchoge and Kipsang.

Elites are warming up in front of the start, with a huge crowd of runners stretching back blocks.

Now focusing on Tirunesh Dibaba and Gladys Cherono.
Periodic updates to come.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

[Alan Shank]

It's 14 C/57 F, humidity 79%.
Introducing the top women, Cherono, Kiplagat (Edna) and Dibaba.
Now the men: Tadese, Kipsang and Kipchoge.
They're off!
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Looks like Kipchoge and five pacemakers are at 1 km in 2:43!
Men and women in separate "streams" going around opposite sides of roundabouts. Interesting image, like blood cells through arteries.
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Three pacemakers are shielding Kipchoge, while Dibaba has several male pacemakers around her.
Men 8:34 at 3km
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Kipsang is with his own group of pacemakers, shooting for 61:30 at halfway, while Kipchoge is going faster, with Sammy Kitwara the "lead" pacemaker.

Over 44,000 starters.
14:24 at 5K, pae for 2:01:31.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Dibaba 5 km 16:27, pace for 2:18:49.
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Clicking off kilos in 2:54-5.
Almost no coverage of elite women so far.
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Elite men in one window, in-line skaters from yesterday in the other. Elite women?

[Alan Shank]

Kipchoge 29:01 2:03:08 current-pace projection, 2:02:26 avg. pace
Kipsang 11 seconds back.
Dibaba 32:44, 2:17:35 @ current pace, 2:18:07 at avg. pace.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Kipchoge is "directing" the pacemakers to get in front of him. Tim Hutchings mentioned there is a slight headwind. Kitwara has dropped out!
Boit and Kipkemoi are left.

Kipchoge 43:38 at 15 -- 2:03:08 at current pace, 2:02:44 at avg. pace.
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Kipkemoi dropped out, only Boit left.
16th kilo 2:50!
Kipsang still has several pacemakers.
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

Dibaba 49:08 -- 15K 2:18:20 current pace, 2:18:13 avg. pace.
Cherono and Aga are close behind
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

kilo 19 2:51 for Kipchoge
57:56 20K, Kipsang 55 seconds down.
Kipchoge 2:01:25 current pace, 2:02:13 avg. pace (last 5K was 14:18!)
Alan Shank

[Alan Shank]

1:01:06 at halfway
Alan Shank

[AS]

Not to distract, but ideal conditions for tilt at Half Marathon records in Copenhagen today too. Crisp, no wind, great flat course. Starts in 50 mins time