Day 6 - Men's Marathon Athletics: European Championships

Good morning you on the final day of the European Athletics Championship

and the news is the sup is shining. -- sun is shining. Some things are

familiar, the British Athletics team is still on fire. It is Britain and

Russia, just one more change. Hold your breath. That is not a bad

start. Britain and their changeover is good to Talbot. That is pretty

swift. It will be about who gets it right on the day. Lindsey Sharpe

kicks again. Sharpe the silver. We are across the line. That is a good

performance from that quartet. Jo Pavey struggling. Her race is run in

terms of a medal. Eilidh Child running strongly. Child leads on the

final barrier and the final run. Eilidh Child's gold. Another great

night here. More medals for Britain and Scotland. Brendan and Paula are

here. A great performance from Eilidh? Yes, she went to the

Commonwealth Games and she had an outstanding Jamaican athlete and she

knew she couldn't beat her. She gathered herself, came here,

executed her race brilliantly. She did everything she was expected to

go and Colin Jackson who coaches her, was telling me she did what her

coach said she would do. And you can't do any more and European

champion is brilliant. Some people said she had more pressure at the

Commonwealth Games, but coming here with the expectation to win was a

greater pressure? Yes, she has shown she can cope with both pressures,

the external pressure of being the poster girl she was in Glasgow, with

all the weight of Scotland on her shoulders. But to come here leading

the rankings by a small margin and the favourite and she had that

pressure from herself. She knew she should win and she wanted to win.

She executed it to perfection. It was to perfection. It is a 400

metres race and she won at 4 hundred metres, they were coming fast down

the home straight. Yes they had misjudged the race slightly. When

she crossed the line, it was obvious she had won, I don't know what she

was looking for. You have clearly won. But she was like, I don't know

if I have won. She was quite restrained in her celebration. Thab

Maybe, I am sure she did sense how fast they were closing her down and

she wanted that confirmation. It is embarrassing if you celebrate and

then you haven't won. So she wanted that confirmation. A gutsy run in

the 800 metres. I was with coin Jackson when -- Colin Jackson went

through, and when Lindsey went through we thought Ste had gone too

quickly. She has been displaying a different way of racing. She has a

fast kick over the last 150. She was really hurting at the end. A quick

look over her shoulder to make sure she was safe in silver. She is just

trying to hang on to silver. And after she realised that she has run

a big personal best. You can't ask any more than to come and run a

personal best. A quick word on Jo Pavey and that 5,000. The 10,000 was

fantastic. Physically and emotionally and she was clearly

tired from the 10,000 still. She was lucky there were not heats, she

would have found it hard. But I am sure it must have gone through her

mind, maybe I don't need to run the 5,000. What she has done this week,

let's forget the 5,000, she has restored some real faith in long

distance running and she has inspired thousands of people,

thousands of women in particular, to run over the edge of 40 to run

10,000 metres. The reason we are here is for the men's maratho. First

let's look at the women's marathon yesterday. Setting off in cool

conditions. This is a tough course. That lead group is being closed

down. This hill is brutal. They're working hard. Look how steep it is,

Steve. I think this is a push. She may well be heading for a personal

best. The French record holder. She can see the finish line. Dornay

wins. A great performance by the French athlete and one of the

talking points was the course and Paula risked life and limb to bring

us this guide to the course. Here we are at the start and finish area. Of

course the most important thing for the athletes is they come in well

prepared physically, but also mentally. So they have have taken

the chance to look at the course profile, which shows the inclines

and declines and the general layout. This is a loop course. So they will

run a two kilometre loop and then four laps of 10 kilometres each.

Generally we talk about marathon runners following the blue line.

Here it is a purple line. But it is the same thing. It just follows the

shortest line of the course and takes the best tan Ghentest gents.

-- tangents. But I don't think we will see many runners running this

close to the gutter. This section will be testing, because of the

cobbles. As we have seen the weather can change suddenly and if it does

rain, then this area will become more testing and a bit more

slippery. As well as the cobbles, another hazard are the tram lines

they we have to run along. We have been told they may fill the tram

lines with a banana leaf substance just to fill the holes and lessen

the danger of slipping. This is the toughest climb of the course and the

runners will need to not guilty this four times. Climbing up the hill to

the highest point by the university. The hilly nature of the course will

suit the tougher athletes. We have been given information that the

Swiss may have designed the course to suit their champion. The hills

and climbs only make it tougher for the athletes as they go up the hill,

but they have to come down and that means a lot of pressure on the thigh

muscles. By the third or fout time up the hill it will be starting to

hurt. So we could see an attack being made up this hill. This is

where the runners enter the area by the lake and through the Chinese

gardens. Before they make the turn, they have have taken a drink

station. That will be the 10kph teshgs #20shgs kilometre and 30 and

40 kilometre drink station. So they will have to take a drink and then

turn into this narrow area. It is a small field and by the time they get

to 10 kilometres, the field will have finned out. But we could see

some elbowing and jostling for position here. This is the Chinese

Garden area. There are a couple of points just here and further on

where they have to cut across the grass. As long as it is not wet,

that shouldn't be a problem. This is a tough course, but I think it is a

beautiful course. The fact there are different area with the hills and

climbs and this garden means it breaks it up for the runners and

make it an enjoyable course too. If I can't get the chance to go around

the whole course, one thing is to be able to jog over the last 600 metres

to make sure I know it well. Should it come down to a close finish, I

want to be able to time my effort to perfection and know every last bump

in the last couple of hundred metres. This course could be

interesting, because they will drop down the hill and see the finish

late on. They will know it, but it makes sense to know they will be

coming down the hill, over the brow of the bridge and it will be a short

run into the finish and make sure they time that perfectly. A course

with a bit of everything, Brendan. Did you run all the way round? No,

we had to keep stopping and filming. That is the wonder of TV. It was too

busy. You got that bus. Are you a fan of that course? I think it is

fantastic. The I have never seen a course where from the lowest point

rung along the river to the highest point you can alterm live get there

by going up in a railway. Never been seen bmplt it is brilliant. Are

there rules about the amount of climbing and that terrain you go

over. It didn't climb that much. As demonstrated by the fact they did

run fast and they ran a Championship record. The climb per lap was 44

metres so they climbed 176 metres over the course of the marathon

distance. New York climbs 224. It is not as hilly as New York. But it is

shorter and steeper climbs, which take a toll. The bigger factor was

the down hill. As we saw with the Turkish runner she hammered too hard

down the hill and paid the price. A course set for a Swiss victory? Set

by him for his own victory. He designed the course. He is a

fantastic mountain runner the Zurich marathon is a flat course around the

lake. He has decided he wants it a bit around the lake and four

mountainous climbing, oom Paula thinks they're not much of a climb.

Steve Cram is in the commentary box. Are you a fan of this course? Yes, I

because I don't have to run it! I think obviously Championship racing

is difficult to the big city mar Thors, where they - marathons where

they want the fast times. Yes, I don't know. I think if you put a

course out there - excuse me, Sunday morning. It has got to be fair for

everybody. And it shouldn't always be a course that is designed just to

produce a fairly boring race. Having features in there I think

Championship races are about showing off the city, showing off where we

are, we are in Zurich, but I just thought yesterday, Paula made a good

point, the good athletes f you look at the result of the race yesterday,

even without the hill, I think we would have had a similar result. I

am not sure it had an effect on the overall result. But that could be

different. It is a very open race. I'm going to send Brendan and paw

law down to -- Paula down to see you and not a bad start for Sunderland.

Yes 2-2 away from home. Not bad. OK Steve it's all yours. STEVE CRAM: If

you won't here yesterday I will explain how the course is set out.

They're at the entrance of the lake and big crowds ended up watching the

race yesterday after one or two spots of rain early on. But it dried

up and the crowds came out this morning. There are more people there

from the start. That is great to see. So Switzerland, fingers crossed

are hoping they have some good chances. As I was saying, it is such

an open race. But Hill might suit some, may be for others, it will be

a race breaker -- backheel. So away they go, with a reasonable

field, a pretty big field, to be honest. And they set off on what is

a short lap, a two kilometre loop, and then they will have four big

laps of ten kilometres to negotiate. And the temperature is going to rise

today, that may be as much of a packed as the hill we have been

talking about, because it will get warmer, it is already 17 degrees and

once it gets up to 20 degrees, which I'm sure it will do by the end this

race, humidity sitting at about 65%, which is reasonably high as

well and if you have ever heard Brendan and I talking about

marathons, big-city marathons or championship marathons, when she get

a combination of warm weather and a bit of humidity, that is not to the

liking of the marathon runners -- once you get. There is a team

competition as well, and the medals do appear on the medal table, so

Switzerland have got a pretty good team and the likes of Poland, Russia

and one or two others might just fancy their chances of getting on

the rostrum. A couple of the Polish athletes to the four already, there

is Viktor Rothlin with the gold number. The Swiss have a couple of

different sets of strips. Messner is a familiar figure on the road

surfaces -- Meftah. They will come back down to the

start/finish line and that is the two kilometre lap finished. We will

let them settle down before we mentioned too many contenders.

Switzerland also have Tadesse Abraham. There is a big marathon

held in Zurich every year, one of the better in Europe, and Tadesse

Abraham broke the course record, set by Viktor Rothlin, last year. Not on

this course, of course, it is a mass participation event and this course

would not be suitable. The Swiss have high hopes and already the

cowbells are ringing. It is Sunday morning and many European cities

have heard the church bells ringing as the guys were talking, through

nine o'clock. I am pleased to say that Brendan and Paula have safely

nine o'clock. I am pleased to say that Brendan and Paula managed to

abseil their way down to the commentary box. I can go and find a

lozenge. That visual cue, guys, one of you talk! -- that is your cue.

PAULA RADCLIFFE: Surrey! We have come down here on a much

better date for running in a marathon. Yesterday, it was cool but

humid. Today, it is a beautiful, sunny day, but it is not hot, so

they won't be complaining about temperatures, so it will show off

this course and besides of zero to perfection.

BRENDAN FOSTER: And you can see the national hero that Viktor Rothlin

is, he was sports personality of the year when he won the marathon

championship, and the crowds have come out to support him today.

A beautiful day. Taking and not too bad for running. Maybe it'll get and

eventually, the course and the hill will take its toll on this event and

significantly affected the overall performance. But there they go, down

towards the river. As we look overhead, that is where all the

major Swiss banks have their headquarters. This is a very

expensive part of town, a very expensive part of a very expensive

town. You saw in Paula's film, this is a

little cobbled area, a little rise, and this time, for the only time,

when they get over the bridge, they will take a right-hand turn. We will

bring you all the sights and sounds of over the next couple of hours --

of Zurich. It may entice you to come and visit one of Europe's wealthiest

cities. You take a right turn there and then you come back to the start

area. Next time, they will take a left turn and continue on a bigger

lap, to take in the hill the guys were talking about. We are so

disappointed that the rope is not being used on the tramlines, we did

a lot of homework on that. I am glad they are not displaying favouritism

and putting it down to the men when they did not for the girls

yesterday. It is fairly easy to run in between them and they are

probably used to negotiating things like that. The World Championship

course in Helsinki in 2005, we had to cross a number of tramlines. That

is Grossmunster. Yesterday, I started to tell the story of Felix

and Regulah, they are the patron saint of Zurich and religious

persecution is back in whichever century it was, along, long time

ago, created the legend of the three saints who were beheaded and walked

up the hill with their heads tucked under their arms, as the legend

goes, and that became a site, Grossmunster, and there has been a

church there, a cathedral, since a roundabout 1100. You didn't believe

me yesterday. We didn't, but then we thought, the hill can't be that bad

if they can walk a bit with their heads under their arms. I think this

a legend. -- it is. Paula and I have a bit of a disagreement. The hill,

which she thinks is easy and I think is brutal, has a funicular railway

that runs up to the top of it. That is the definition of a hard hill,

with a railway. I didn't say it was easy, I just said we don't always

want to run-on pancake flat courses and it puts a bit of interest in and

it may suit other people, which are flat course may not. So you are

saying you do not like flat courses? I actually do like hills,

yes. Well, it wouldn't be Switzerland, would it, if we didn't

have a hill in it? We were talking last night about living in Zurich,

Tina Turner lives in Zurich and I said, " Of course she does, she sang

River Deep, Mountain High. " you are in good form as well last night,

then, will you? Do you think she is watching? I don't know, she might

be. She might be on the entertainment stand, it is either up

by the University or in the park, in the Chinese gardens. We went to be

invited, will we? -- and we won't be invited. As I said, we will try and

give you some local interests, if you stick with us through this

Sunday morning. There are a lot more people on the streets this morning,

we can hear the cowbells ringing. Yesterday, it was a bit like being

on the piste, all of the noise when the athletes came by. There is

Abraham, wearing sunglasses, to the right of Pertile. A lot of white

vests, and why not, in the sunshine? Abraham was going to defend his

title in Zurich this year. He has won the Zurich marathon on two

occasions, he has lived in Switzerland for ten years but has

only recently been cleared to run full Switzerland. He actually trains

with Viktor Rothlin, so they know each other, and he may well have

been involved in, well, not the design of the cause but he would

have been aware of the decisions being made. The Swiss could win a

medal here. They have two good runners and others to back them up.

They had targeted, if not an individual medal, the team medal.

Just to remind you, the first three for your country that crossed the

line at their times, it is the cumulative time of the three people

but decides the medals. I think the other thing we should mention is not

only has Rothlin had a hand in designing this course, because he is

the defending champion from Barcelona in 2010, but he has also

declared this is his farewell race, so he is maybe trying to go out on a

high in his home city. So that little turn they made their... An

early withdrawal, Sokolov, who is not a bad run at all, but obviously

injured. He had strapping there anyway, so probably just decided to

give it ago it didn't work. Looks like a hamstring injury, not the

type of injury marathon murders usually suffer from. One or two --

marathon runners. One too Familia runners, Meucci and Mostafa

Mohammad, you may remember him from his steeplechase exploits. Meucci

ran the European 10,000m, he was six behind Mo Farah and Andy Vernon the

other night and he has chosen to run the marathon for the second event of

his championships, the two British men will be running the 5,000m this

afternoon in the stadium. A big group together as they head back

towards the city. The early miles, the early kilometres just getting

them down, getting them behind you what a glorious view, looking over

the city of Zurich, on a day like today. You can see why it is often

voted as the best place, one of the best places in the world to live.

The quality of life here, winter and summer, is envied by a lot of people

around the world. And they have turned out in great numbers to watch

this one, supporting their national figure, Viktor Rothlin, because they

don't have too many international sports stars. Obviously, Roger

Federer is the biggest runner of them all. The other swish athlete,

Adrian Lehmann, settling down behind the group -- Swiss athlete. Getting

the early miles away. It is a big group at the front, that is how you

would expect it. There is no clear favourite, lots of athletes who have

claims to be competitive in this race, as they process along the quai

named after famous general, responsible for the defensive

strategy in the war, when he put plans together to prevent Nazi

invasion of Switzerland. This part of the core swings away from the

lake, and we go up Steve's favourite Street, or the expensive

restaurants, coffee shops, where you can spend your money. -- Orlov.

Well, I could. The bellhop they do cater for my tastes. I did tell the

story yesterday about the Oprah Winfrey incident, which is

apparently very famous, that she was turned down and after we had been

chatting about that, apparently she is not the only famous person who

apparently has been refused - not refuse, but politely told you can't

afford this. Brendan, would they not serve you? I didn't need a handbag,

not like Steve. They will take a right turn here. This course, which

we keep talking about, I think yesterday it was funnily enough that

hill is a factor and this time when they cross the bridge, we will see

the bridge and Brendan's funny peculiar. It is also the fwisy,

Turney nape of the -- fwisy Turney nature of the course. There is an

art to how you run this. Some people run down hills better than others

and some run uphills better. I was speaking to some of the French

commentary teams and asked if Christine Dornau, the was using a

tactic. They said yes. She was pushing up and creating a gap and

she did run well and showed the climb is very tough, but it doesn't

necessarily mean a slower time. The men through the first kilometres in

15. 46. Differently different to that of the women. That is a big

group still together. You won't see any British athletes in there, sadly

no one competing for Britain. Paul Pollock and his Irish team mates are

there. With the Commonwealth Games being such a focus, then nobody

running for Great Britain here. Brendan is pointing out the crane

which I mentioned yesterday. That is the dockyard crane. We thought it

has been left from some shipping heritage, but it is a work of art

believe it or not and it is very controversial here. It is an art

installation and it is not that popular. I think it has been there

for about five years. It came from a German dockyard and brought in here

and I'm not sure, I think it is a good addition to the waterfront. As

they run along the waterfront, great crowds out today, which is wonderful

to see, the encouragement they will gain, the strong presence at the

front of the Polish athletes, the Swiss team running in their white

vests and the Italians similarly. Lalli and Rothlin with the gold part

of his number, telling us that he is the reigning champion. They turn

here and this is where they start to climb, where you can come and watch

the course. There is the railway, which Steve didn't believe me

existed. You can see it in the background coming down the hill.

Which tells me and I'm going to make this point again, this is a hilly

course. I'm glad I'm sitting in the middle of you two. How do you spell

it? Funicular. In the background you can see the track which is much

steeper than the hill that Brendan's funicular takes. The athletes wind

their way up it. It is a initial climb and then it flattens out and

they have a very steep section around the gradient you saw. Oops a

dazy! That was a very considerate throw, making sure she didn't clip

any of the runner. It is a hazard when they take water bottles. Not so

much in a smaller field, but in a big field if you drop the water

bottle then that is a hazard for athletes behind you and can be a

risk of twisting ankles. There is Abraham. There is plenty of guys

have run times which could put them in with a chance here. I was making

the point that the night before when you come to Championships and you're

lying in your bed and wondering what is going to happen, and you're

having a sleepless night and you're thinking, I wonder if I have a

chance tomorrow. I reckon there was a lot of men in this marathon was

thinking that. I think that is right and that is what makes it a race

that will be fascinating. The tick tacks about how fast you go up the

bill. How much you control the down hill run as well. And the rest of

field just staying together. Chabowski just steals a couple of

yards. They will know at the end of this stretch there is a very severe

incline. They move back along the upper section, the same street and

then they will take this right hand turn and you will get an idea of the

gradient. It is slightly uphill and Chabowski just opening up a bit of a

gap. There is Lalli, the former cross country champion from Italy.

And Mohammed, who is already struggling. I wondered how he would

go today. He may have spent last night and this is the real steep

section. This of course first time round won't be so bad. There are one

or two mountain runners, people who have done well over the years and

switched between mountain running and marathon running. As you look at

that. So many white vests, I reckon many of the nations, you can have an

alternative vest. In the stadium, the Swiss have been wearing red, the

French dark blue. And you wouldn't want dark blue on a warm day. So the

French in white today. A lot of team kit suppliers do supply an

alternative marathon vest, which will be a lighter colour, so it

doesn't absorb the heat and a different cut so it is not as long

and it stops kind around where the waistband of your shorts would be,

to allow air to circulate and keep your body cool. They come to this

point, the highest point of the course, the impressive viewpoint

over looking the whole of this wonderful city of Zurich and there

they're going along the level part. This is the highest point of the

course. The crowds gathering. Rothlin giving the Swiss supporters

something to shout about. If you go up here and look across, you can see

the whole of the city of Zurich and the lake, which looks absolutely

wonderful on a day like today. There is Mohammed coming through. He is

off the pace fairly quickly. And there is the Institute of

Technology, a famous technology university here in the middle of

Zurich. Very accomplished students they have had here in the past.

Every where you look here you see industry, commerce, universities.

The whole feel of the city feels very modern. And very impressive in

every sense. The Swiss team getting a cheer as they come through in a

group, as well as the Austrian members in the white vests. The

crowds lining the initial point there. That is the highest point on

the course and now they will start to enter the down hill sections.

Which I think we will see play a big role in the way the race is run

today. You need to really control your effort down hill and relax into

it and just let your body almost flow down the hill, rather than

trying to break with each stride. Because that puts loading on the

quad muscle and can just mean that that fatigues more. Especially in

the latter parts of course. They're running through the grounds of the

University of Zurich. And this down hill bit, you can see how they're

free-wheeling, running comfortably down the the hill. Eventually again

as Paula was saying, you have got to be careful you don't impact your

quad muscles too much by going too quickly. Viktor Rothlin, you sense

he is here for a competition and ready to do battle. In the inside

with the gold on his number, that is Viktor rovt Lynne. That is --

Rothlin. That is good for him and good for the crowd. The European

lists are led by Mo Farah's run in London. Second is the Polish runner

in that lead group with Rothlin. I would expect he is thinking he could

figure highly as well. I did mention Paul Pollok of Ireland. I'm not sure

he has started. We were expecting him to start, but I can't see him

having gone through the start, or through the first five kilometres.

He hasn't come down as a withdrawal on the course. Maybe he didn't

start. One or two others we were expecting were initially on the

list. The Spanish runner has had an injury problem. It is a course where

if you have a nickel, it is going to find that out. But I suspect running

26 miles any way would do that. Chabowski maybing his way down the

hill. Really good crowds. Szost, the tall figure from Poland. He was

third in the Warsaw marathon, behind one of the ooeftians. -- Ethiopians.

It was a very good run from Szost and gives him probably one of the

best performances coming into this out of all the people who are here.

Not everyone has won a marathon this year. But the Polish team is very

strong. And they have Shegumo as well. That is where you were on

about, the intertaint area. No, it said on the course the entertainment

area was supposed to be on the highest point. But that is the

Swiss, what do they call it, the Swiss hospitality house they

transferred from the Winter lichs in Sochi. Being very green, they took

it down and rebuilt it here. Cress, it was a big feature in Sochi at the

Olympic Park. We had a touch of deja vu when I passed it the other day.

This part of the lap they head out away from the city centre, down the

side of the lake. And they will run down here for around a mile or so.

Maybe not that far. Maybe 1,200 metres and then turn right into the

park, through the Chinese Garden. Come back and in the direction they

have just gone in through park and rejoin the road and back to

Bellevue. So the very early stages. When they get too the end of this

they had they will go through ten kilometres and start to settle down.

A reasonable pace, but a big group. As we saw in the women's race, as

they went up the hill, that group did string out. Once they come back

on to the flat it closes back up again. Certainly in the early stages

of race. Noif idea what that is on the front of his socks! When I was

little and I sent away for my first football strip, in the 70s when

Leeds wore numbers around your calves, it lasted for one or two

year, but we all had them. We had them in the wolf cubs, in the

scouts, they were like green tassel on your Sox. But that is going back

a year or two. I think it is just tape, or maybe a sponsor that is

different to their team kit and the officials have probably taped it so

it will show. But that will not stay on. It won't be a fashion item

either, it won't catch on - bits of tape on your Sox. It is really

weird. I ud couldn't work out -- I couldn't work out what it was. We

need Colin Jackson here, the fashion consult apt. Maybe icht is --

consultant, maybe it is a new thing in Zurich. This group just off the

lead group. The Russians have a strong team. They sneaked through

for a medal in the women's competition. That German athlete at

the back he would have thought he had a chance. Mohammed of Sweden has

made the move from steeplechase up to the marathon. But if you see

that, he is not quite comfortable over the marathon distance, he has a

long stride and he seemed to struggle as they climbed that hill.

A great view of the park and the Chinese Garden there. There is an

open air cinema there. We had a walk along there. Tonight if you have

nothing else to do it is showing Pulp Fiction. Just thought I'd let

you know! There is also a Chinese Garden Chinese takeaway. There you

go, that is your night sorted. So the ten kilometre mark, but time is

going through there. -- the times. Still a big group, as you would

expect for that kind of pace, but I have seen plenty of races in

Championships that have gone slower than that. But it is not that quick

either. You were right earlier when you were talking about big-city

marathons and how they all compete for the fastest time, therefore who

has got the fastest course. When you come to a championship, it is a

different entity. These athletes are here to race for a position, they

are here to race for medals, the gold medal. And consequently, the

early part of the marathon, the early pace, there are no prizes for

running a fast time, even though yesterday, Christelle Daunay ran a

personal best time on this difficult course to win the gold medal, but

that was as a result of having a very competitive race. As we look

ahead, we now see Chabowski taking a bit of a longer lead, looking for

his particular drink, handed to him from the team managers at the side.

It looks as though it is working pretty efficiently, as the athletes

queue up, get to the right position, get the drinks on-board. The labels

and the flags are a useful addition. Someone has dropped one before they

had a chance to drink it. I thought it was working well. We were making

the point yesterday that they have their own drinks, Chabowski has his,

but there will be a lot more water taken on board than yesterday. The

temperature is rising all the time. A lovely day in Zurich. Goodness me,

we've waited for it. This was another source of argument, trying

to work out whether this camera shot was from a boat or a helicopter. It

is a really quick boat with a tall massed! A ?5 note says it is a

helicopter. In the hills in the background, you can see the

attraction of this city, it does look very pretty on a day like

today. The leading group, just a few dropping off, getting smaller. The

actual athletes that we were looking at and thinking may have a chance

today... It is starting to look even more like a helicopter to me, or the

boat is rising of the water! -- off the water. Yes, we did have a

chuckle about that yesterday. But some great shots, showing Zurich off

in all of its glory this morning. A couple of little twisty Turney

sections through this park area, and one or two grass areas, which they

have put matting over, and then they make their way back onto the paved

area. So this is an early kind of attempt to break away. Running just

a little quicker than the others. He has a seven second lead at the

moment. Such early stages. And one or two others are just dropping off

already. 15 point to five for the leader for the second 5K, that is

why he has built up a bit of a lead -- 15.25. A lot more people out on

the streets, as we have been remarking. It has been a slightly

disappointing feature of these championships, I think only Friday

night, the stadium was pretty much completely full. Hopefully and back

-- it will be today, a nice sunny day. The prospects for Britain

today, the 5,000m with Mo Farah and Andy Vernon. The men's 1,500m final,

Chris O'Hare and Charlie Grice going. The relays, the 4 x 100, 4 x

400. Greg Rutherford in the long jump. Lots to look forward to. I was

talking to Mehdi Bala yesterday, won the 800m here in 2002, but he feels

that Mekise will come through and win. We know he was foolish, taking

his vest off on the finishing straight, but he did win the race

comfortably, but at the end of the day, it was silly what he did but

the punishment seem a little harsh. A lot of people have done worse

things in the sport and collected gold medals. He was very emotional

when he ran the semifinals and it would be a popular victory, people

would feel as though he has had his punishment and now he is trying to

run and get a medal, because he wanted a medal. It has been an odd

championships for the French, they are doing well, they are rubbed

their ahead of Great Britain, but when you consider the favourite fell

apart in the 800, Martinot-Lagarde was the favourite to win the

hurdles, and Jimmy Vicaut got injured. While a lot of athletes for

us have come and performed, and we haven't had too many

disappointments, for the French, it has been up and down. On the other

hand, they have had a world-record and a marathon victory, that may be

Daunay was not expecting -- was expecting, but the team may not have

been. They are well represented in that lead group. In fact, I think

three or four of the French team are in that group. Starting to break up

a little bit as they give chase, because they have decided that

Chabowski is somebody they don't want to let out there for too long,

although it is still early stages. Seven or eight seconds, it has got a

little bit bigger. They have decided enough is enough. They are allowing

him to take them back. Chabowski is a two-time marathon runner and he is

probably running not far off that pace. So it is not something that is

suicidal by him and something he would not be able to maintain, so I

wouldn't let someone of his calibre moved too far away. That is a pretty

nasty pronation on the left foot. Do you want to explain pronation? It is

when the foot rolls in. 20 people in plenty of running shoe shops have

heard that term -- plenty of. I think I first heard that term in the

1980s and suddenly, everybody was a pro-NATO, because everybody's foot

does turn in when you are running -- everybody was prone ating.

The famous European champion, Viktor Rothlin. Just in a good position,

doing the right thing. El Hachimi, running the Belgium. This group

looks comfortable, that is what you want to be, in the middle of this

and if you have intentions to win medals, you have to be in amongst

it. On the inside, Rothlin, Pertile, the Italian, El Hachimi on the near

side. In the white vests, representing a variety of countries,

Switzerland, Italy, France, all running sensibly. I think we are

going to spend a lot of time concentrating on this man, he has

definitely brought the crowd said. It is the most supported event on

the whole Championships today and as a group, they are settling down

here. About, what, seven or eight seconds behind the leader, who has

just turned and is on his way back to the city centre, and this group

following him, maybe getting a bit concerned, because he is a good

marathon runner, Chabowski. He is down the road there and they may be

want to keep an eye on him. Yes, you could just see as they came to the

turnaround point, Abraham signalling, I don't know if he was

signalling to Rothlin, because he has an idea of how big that gap is

ahead to Chabowski and whether he was questioning should they push on

to do a bit more in this group to close that gap down a little bit.

The other race within this race is the team competition, Poland, Italy,

France, they all have three in that big group. Russia involved as well.

This is the guy who I think could have a good run today, Henryk

Szost, ninth in the Olympic Games in London. There is a bit of a

resurgence in Polish running these days. It is good to see, because

over the years, there used to be really strong athletes representing

Poland and they are doing well here in these championships, and I hope

it is the start of a real resurgence. Chabowski, former

European Juniors steeplechase champion, he has only run a couple

of marathons. He has done a good time, two hours and 11 minutes this

year and two hours ten minutes last year. So he has some credentials. He

is out on his own and you wonder, is that him trying to make an effort to

win the race and run away from the field or is he just happy running at

the pace he has chosen to run out? I think sometimes, when you are worth

a certain time in the marathon, to run around slower and then

accelerate, it can be difficult, your legs can settle into the slower

pace and when it picks up, it can be difficult, so sometimes it is more

comfortable to run at the pace you are prepared to run out, that you

had trained at, and on a day like today, when there is not much wind

out there, there is nothing he would need to specifically stay in a group

four, for protection in that form, so I think he is comfortable running

his own race. So a left turn for the leader. These

athletes, for European athletes, sometimes it is difficult to get

into the big-city marathons these days, with so many Kenyans and

Ethiopians contesting the race at the front, you keep reading they are

ten, 12, 18th, but they are running quite well in a lot of these

marathons, so a lot of the European men are targeting the marathons

around Europe, the likes of the Zurich marathon, or the Warsaw

Marathon. They can get into races where they can actually have a

chance of winning and it is difficult to them correlate one

against another. So for instance, Chabowski was fifth in the marathon

in his home country and his team-mate, Shegumo, won it, he is

back in the pack. So you wouldn't expect him to be forging away

against people he has competed against and have finished ahead of

him. It is interesting they are letting him go, it might be that

even his team-mates don't think he can maintain this. Because you do

know your own team-mates better than anyone else and maybe they are

thinking they have seen him do this before. Zoes is make nothing effort

to share any of the work in moving back towards him. There is probably

more experience in this group, certainly in the form of Rothlin and

Szost. They realise the testing nature of the course means the most

significant portion will be the third and the fourth lap and how

people handle the incline and the decline. The leader crossing the

bridge. The following group coming through under the Minster. Two

beautiful churches dominate this part of Zurich and the crowds here

are very impressive and the athletes will get a great experience. They're

seeing a Polish athlete leading by a fair distance as the second group

comes on to the bridge. He is already 12 or 13 seconds ahead. The

second group is a distance behind him that they need to start thinking

about. You don't want to be building up gaps. Viktor Rothlin looking at

his watch. The crowd are roaring them on and Rothlin was paying

attention to his split times. The reason that gap has got bigger is

that was the biggest five kilometre section so far. They're really

pushing it on. So the leader, Chabowski, put his foot down and

they have let him go. It remains to be seen whether he has got it right,

or they have got it right. Running alongside the river, I mentioned

yesterday about the mass event, and everybody gets an inflatable and

they coast, cruise down w the current. You all put your kit on the

bus. They take your kit and everyone has a nice day on the river. Last

year the inflatables were crock tiles. -- crocodiles. That sound

like a good thing to do. Not all 400 thousand people did it Brendan. You

need an inflatable to swim. I might come back to see you in the water.

If ewere made to be in the water we would have webbed fingers and feet!

#12k3w4r6r7b8g9s Groips starting to stripping out a bit more. Each time

as they come round, people have different strategies to attacking

this hill and where they want to be, but they have now started to wake up

to the fact that Chabowski had such a big lead and they're trying to

close that up this section. They can see what we can look forward to this

afternoon. Those relays will be the climax of a successful European

Championships so far. Come on guys, what are those things on his socks?

I think they have taped up the logo on the back of his sock. That is

pathetic. Not from his point of view. Trying to tape it up. Get some

decent tape, if you really want to cover up. Oh, here we go. Here we

have Mr Foster. You see I told you it is called a Polybahn. That is the

name of it - it's a funicular railway! You can go on it, it is

free. It is not free, you get on it free, because you have an

accreditation. I didn't know. I did enjoy the ride and it takes you up

to the highest part of the course and it is a beautiful view from the

top. This group now work hard to try and close that gap. They will know

about Chabowski, his team mates will know he is an experienced marathon

runner of some quality. He is the man on the inside with the sun

glasses on getting great support and this crowd are really enjoying this

marathon and he is enjoying the fact he has delivered such a fantastic

number. It would be interesting to know how many people are on this

course. It is a great place to watch the marathon. You can see them four

times the. This is the place to position yourself. And then up to

the top of the hill and take the funicular back down and get back to

the centre. Our wonderful back room staff here, they love me calling

that. They found out that funicular Isola is Latin for rope or chain. So

that links into the banana rope. This a guy at the top pulling the

rope? Yes, look at him having to work hard. It is about, we talked of

the different styles of running up a hill. He rocks from side to side.

The high knee lift not required running up the hill. There is the

angle of the funicular. It is steep, yes, it is. This section issing not

that long, it is just much steeper than you would find on a course like

this. I know you were on about the rise in New York, that is a gradual

rise, this happens at once. Yes the New York ones are gradual. But it is

like the Tour de France with the Swiss flags and how close they are

to the runners and those advertising hoardings. It is like the Tour de

France when it visited the narrow streets in Yorkshire. And there is

Viktor rovt Lynne, he ep -- - Rothlin, who helped to design the

course. In the lead is Abraham. They're working together and that

group is opening up. This is the second of four of this long incline.

The crowds have gather on this incline, like the Tour de France

crowds. Not a very wide space as we watch Chabowski leading, 52 minutes

of running behind him. And he has made his intent. That is to try and

win it from a long way out. He has been leading for the last ten

kilometres. As the rest of the field, the two Swiss athletes

together in second and third, giving the crowd more to support and more

to cheer. Are they going to have a glorious day in this glorious city

on such a beautiful day? Well time will tell. But that is significant

happenings in the group. Rothlin working hard in what is probably his

farewell distance race. Certainly his farewell marathon race. He looks

as though he is struggling. It is difficult to come back from running

a spring marathon to running a competition marathon in the summer.

There is not the turn around time to prepare. Maybe he hasn't recovered

from his exerts in the spring. The eagle-eyed may have spotted Coolly

in the crowd. The mascot who has scored -- caused differing opinions.

I think he has been a great addition to the Championships. We are still

trying to work out, the big question is who is Coolly, is there one, two

Coollies. Well, there is only one Coolly. I think there is one Coolly

suit. But each internal Coolly is not allowed to do more than half an

hour, because he gets tired. Oh! Well Chabowski down the hill now,

letting himself relax. Just you have to try and flow down the hill. It

won't be taxing him too much. But maybe next time. That lead is quite

a substantial one at this stage. Does he have the pedigree to hold on

and keep this sort of case going? -- pace going? He looks strong and

powerful. He has been a European junior champion at the steeplechase

and worked his way through over the years. As we look at the museum of

fine art. I did go there the other day, Steve s despite what you said.

I only asked, I didn't say you didn't go. I saw the famous Picasso

painting and I look the Andy Warhol painting of Campbell's soup tin.

Didn't he do a few. I think he did one and then printed thousands.

They're all over the place. Smart idea. This man has given chase in

the Poland one/two, Szost just breaking out of the group and

realising that is a big gap and he doesn't want it to go grow any more.

24.2 kilometres an hour there on the bike behind him. That is very quick.

Do you think they get in the car. The women hit a top speed of 21.5.

He turns there towards the Opera House and along the banks of the

lake, the flat part of the course. This part, another part where the

crowds are out in great numbers. It is wonderful to see. The support

they're getting, I'm sure they will say they did appreciate the crowd

support. Abraham of Switzerland, Hachimi is there. Hopefully this

group will be encouraged by one another to start closing that gap.

They have been running for almost an hour and this flat part is a respite

from the uphill and down hill. And we see the leader, Chabowski,

receiving terrific support. It is interesting, they have let Chabowski

go, but when Szost started to go after him, the group decided to let

him go as well. You would have thought if Szost was starting to

make a move, I am trying to work out, I'm sure Szost is between these

guys. Is he not at the back of this group. Over the top of the hill, he

was dropping off the hill, behind Mohammed. I am not sure wra that

camera -- where that camera angle picked that up. They will be

approaching the 20 kilometre mark, through a mist machine which tries

to give them some respite from the building heat here and the sun is

definitely out in force this morning. You can see there just

they're getting a bit of shadow. There is a lot of course that is

quite open and that temperature will continue to rise. The Swiss flags, I

think you're right, I think... He is one of the French or Italian

athletes going through there. I don't know whether now we might see.

It is hard to see. There is Szost. He is struggling a bit. He looks as

if he is as well. He came with high hopes and one of the more fancied

athletes, but he is struggling and Chabowski off the front for Poland

and Szost off the back of the chasing group. That is going to be a

long, hard slog for him. We mentioned the team competition rgs

one of the things when you're on your own you can decide to call it a

day. But with this team competition, where if you're having a bad run and

you have to keep going it can't be easy. C Though, it is very hard, and

for the team competition, ideally, he needs to keep those gaps as small

as possible. Benjamin Malaty, of France. And

there is Mustafa Mohamed, of Sweden, trying to get back to that group. He

has obviously gone through a little patch, didn't cope with the hill

very well, but he is close enough, just hanging on, just about, to this

large group that is watching Chabowski disappeared down the road

ahead of them. That lead is quite a substantial lead. They have had a

couple of bites of trying to close it down. El Hachimi of Belgium has

tried to take others with him and they have not been that keen, so

that lead continues to grow. Once that gets beyond a minute, if they

are allowed to do that, and it gets into the second half of the race, of

course, you can lose it in the latter stages but that lead can

build and build and before you know where you are, the gold medal has

gone. Exactly, similar to the way Augusto ran yesterday when she left

the leading group get a small gap on her in the first lap, for no real

reason other than she didn't want to get going in the race too early, and

then she was running the same pace as the others through the second,

third and fourth laps but was unable to close that initial gap and paid

the price with just a bronze medal. So he has gone through 20

kilometres. 15.12 through that final five kilometres section, the one

before that was 15.02, but compared to the first ten Cate, it was almost

a minute quicker. That is why he has got that gap -- the first ten

kilometres. And once he turns into the park and comes back through

along Lakeside, he will be approaching the halfway point. It is

an early stage of the marathon to be going so hard and building a lead,

and they are all looking at each other, there are a few conversations

going on in that group. Viktor Rothlin in there with his gold

number, the defending champion, in the glasses. And as we saw a few

minutes ago, Szost of Poland really struggling.

And once they go into the Chinese gardens, they will go to the drinks

station and they will get the chance to get a drink from a team official,

and they can give information and I am sure many of the officials will

be giving information on how big the gap is to Chabowski. Once he

disappears up the road, it is hard to gauge how far it is and whether

you are closing or if he is still going away.

STEVE CRAM: Well, his marathon career started just about three

years ago, and when he ran in the big-city marathon in Warsaw, 2:14

was his first attempt. He has improved that and he is attempting

to try and win this European title here, and it is a brave effort from

Chabowski... El Hachimi getting a little clip from Viktor Rothlin as

he takes his water on board. Lalli is a familiar figure to

cross-country fans over the years. Abraham is still there, Rothlin and

Abraham. Abraham cleared to run for Switzerland recently, he has lived

here, he lives in Geneva, for ten years. A familiar figure on the road

race scene, the marathon scene, here in Switzerland. Just watching Viktor

Rothlin as he came through there at the feed station, he was doing the

same as one persuades athletes yesterday that at one of the Swiss

athletes yesterday, they have that squeezy pack on the outside of the

drink, so he is squeezing that at the same time as putting the water

over him, so you have the Khyber harder to swallow and the water over

you. It is the first time I have seen anything like that. But the

leading group are starting to close down that gap. You can see Viktor

Rothlin is starting to encourage the pace to move along. He has clearly

repaired himself well, as we watch Chabowski, who must be very close to

the halfway point now. We might get some information about the halfway

point. Yes, there is a clock, there it is. 64:45, so he has picked it

up, bringing them under the two hour pace, which is very brave indeed,

given the hill, given the course. He is now operating inside his personal

best. 2:10, under 2:10, on this course, would be a remarkable

performance. The women ran extremely well yesterday, running two, --

2:25, Daunay ran a personal best. I think Chabowski has taken some hard

from the fact that there are so many people out cheering him. This

chasing group are suddenly going to have to think about getting serious.

But, remember, there are two more vicious inclines to negotiate

between now and at the finish. They make take their toll on Chabowski

and I think Rothlin, the defending champion, is running a very sensible

race, with his team-mate, Abraham. El Hachimi are Belgium, he has

always been keen to move the pace along as they move along the flat

part of the course alongside the late. Here is the leader, you can

see the motorbike leading the chasing group. It always looks a

little bit closer than it really is, when you look ahead on on the

motorbike, to the motorbike. But this man, Chabowski, getting more

experienced. A solid marathon runner at the moment. He could change that

by winning this one. You could say he is good, strong, solid, a good

performer, and can he translate a good performance into a championship

winning performance. STEVE CRAM: Huge crowds at the

intersection where they turn, and on the last lap, this will be where he

sees the finishing line. Has he judged this right, Chabowski? It is

a brave pace he has said that, not so much the first 5K, but after

that, 15-25, that second ten kilometres, it has given him this

league, about 48 seconds at the halfway point and now, perhaps,

finally, they are starting to think about getting going. You have to be

careful, if you are starting your Chase, you have to judge that right.

The main thing at the moment is to stop that lead growing. And I think

it is still growing, I think he is going away from the field. They are

biding their time, looking at each other. Every half a mile that goes

by, he gets another five seconds or so. Yes, he gained another four

seconds in the garden section of the race between the 20km and half

marathon point. Mustafa Mohamed just checking his split times and trying

to hang onto the back of that group. I think they are having difficulty

organising themselves. Nobody is particularly keen to take the lead.

El Hachimi has taken a turn, Abraham has taken a turn, then they have

looked to everyone else and no one is particularly keen and the pace

settles back then. I still think I would rather be in this chasing

group that out there on my own. I know your style of running, Paula,

was to be out on your own, running as hard as you could and as fast as

you could, but in a competitive race like this, with athletes of a

similar ability, I just feel that this chasing group is the area to

be. I may be wrong, because Chabowski looks strong. He is

experienced at winning races, but I suppose you have to learn somewhere,

and this is the place to learn. The person who knows Best is him

himself. If you are going to run your own race and go hard at the

front, you have to be very confident about the shape you are in. If he

has done that right, he has made a good move. If I was sat in this

pack, I would be worried, but then I never liked to let people get too

far ahead, particularly if I was operating at a slower pace. There

are a few in here who are well capable of having gone with him.

That is the point, he has made the decision and he is now trying to win

this race. In his mind is keeping going, keeping in this position.

Behind him, the group have to do two things. They have to lift the pace,

54 seconds... It is growing even faster, he is pushing on. It is

getting close to a minute, it is a big lead, but in a competitive

marathon, in a difficult marathon concerning the course, things can

change drastically in the late stages, and often do. Today, are we

going to see the drama of the marathon unfold, will we see the

chasing group being able to do something about the leader's

position? Nearly a minute ahead, almost an hour left of running. That

power is what makes the marathon such a dramatic event. -- at that

hour. Over the years, we have seen them run biathletes trying to win

races. When you are trying to win one for the first time in a

championship, it is great to see Chabowski trying to win it for the

first time, but is he strong enough, is he experienced enough? We are

looking at Meftah, another athlete I thought would have a chance of

winning this, a personal best of two hours and nine minutes. He is

running a decent race and he is starting to move through, as they

come back towards the city centre again. He is running very close to

that purple line. Sometimes it can be a bit mesmeric. This is the

headquarters of Zurich Insurance and Swiss Life. Did you see the look he

got from some of those guys in that group? They should have got the

information but I don't think they realised how big that gap was and he

got a few surprised glances as they were trying to work out how he had

got such a big lead. Some of them have gone to sleep a little bit.

Watching Meftah, he has worked his way back onto that group. He was not

far ahead of Szost going into the garden section but he seems to have

come to be joined at the back of that group. He looked at one point

as if you may continue moving past and take up the work at the front of

the group but he has settled into the back. You say they were looking

across a prize, a few of them will be surprised to see who it was. They

won't have noticed him drifting away. Powerful athlete from Poland,

Chabowski, at the age of 28, having served his apprenticeship at the

shorter distances, starting off as a European junior champion in the

steeplechase in 2005. He has got ten years good running behind him, maybe

that will give him enough strength and ability to win this one. Can he

win it? Can the Polish athlete win the European marathon championship?

So it looks as though Viktor Rothlin has deciding they need to get a move

on here, because that lead is significant. -- has decided. I am

still a little concern for Chabowski. Only his fourth marathon,

operating at a personal best pace after a slow first ten kilometres.

He doesn't have the experience of some of these other guys. It is a

brave effort from him and if it were to pay off, it would be a

well-deserved victory, but you just send. Read the two questions are, is

there enough in this chasing pack? Abraham has had a difficult year. He

was really targeting these championships, but he had two things

to worry about. One was actually getting his citizenship agreed and,

unlike a lot of countries, Switzerland is a country where you

have to live here a long time to be put forward. He did get it agreed

and was passed to pay for Switzerland -- run for Switzerland.

He is there with Rothlin, he did target this race but he had a couple

of races he had to drop out of through injury, perhaps as much

precautionary as anything else as he prepared for these championships,

but Abraham and Rothlin will be just wondering whether or not they have

got it in their legs. It is one thing that this guy is getting away,

you have actually then got to be able to chase him down. It looks

like they are making an attempt. He saw that gap combroe and now -- grow

and now it is the first time he has gone to the front of that pack to

get them moving back towards Chabowski. Chabowski did take that

detour to go through the mist machine. That may be a sign that the

fatigue is starting to take its toll. He has a worried look on his

face all the time, but I think that is the natural way he looks when he

is running. Yeah that, sort of surprised, worried look. Just

negotiating the tram lines. Just starting to fall off the group a bit

is Buta of Norway. Our leader crosses the river againment still

moving -- crosses the river again. Still moving well. We will get an

idea Hoff of how his basis holding up. -- how his pace is holding up.

He looks relaxed. Just clicks his watch. That is a 15.10, so he is

holding his pace. He is still rung well and you have to say he looks

relaxed and still early stages a lot of running still to go, but so far

so good for Chabowski. The next few minutes will tell us more as he

approaches the incline. He is running along the river, along the

flat part of the course, running sensibly between the tram lines. The

chasing group are still to cross the bridge. There is Chabowski. There is

the chasing group led by Viktor Rothlin as he runs in the shadow of

the two towers. Now the scenery is going by the side. It is now about

competitive marathon race running and we have a good group of good

strong athletes approaching the third time up the hill. We have

crowds like the Tour de France when it toured through Yorkshire earlier

this year. Now we will see the split time. Now it is getting serious and

now it is coming for real and the chasing group, including the

champion and the favourite of the locals in Zurich has got to get on

with the business of climbing that hill and getting closer to the

leader. Can he hold the pace, the lead sner can the chasing -- can he

hold the pace, the leader? Can the chasing group do anything about it?

The individual race led by Poland at the minute. And the team race, we

should keep an eye on that, that is a medal, Italy have a narrow lead

over France. But it about getting three people through. Poland

starting to struggle. This is Szost, he is off the back of the group of

Chabowski, in front, building that lead. That helps his team in terms

of time. But Szost has been dropping off and Poland may well have the

leader individually, but they have to work hard to hold on to the lead

in the team competition. Poland, Italy and France vie fogger that --

vying for that team spot. That is a very close team race. I think it is

a good addition. It makes the guys who are dropping off, they still

have to keep going, there is a medal to b won. It gives the teams the

opportunity, although Britain doesn't have a team after the

Commonwealth Games which was a huge distraction of being able to target

the championships. It would have meant in a normal year, if we can't

attack individual medals, you can put people in the events to try and

get you to win a team medal. Italy will be helping they can still stay

strong. They're well represented. Patile is leading them up the hill.

Chabowski still seems to be running strong up the hill. Mohammed on the

back of that group trying to hang on. He doesn't like the hills, does

he? Every time up the hill he looks as though he is going to lose

ground. But he doesn't panic and he tries to make it up over the next

five kilometres or so. But he does lose ground up the hill. Chabowski

still looks strong up that hill. There is no difference in his style

from the first time up the hill and each time he is growing in

confidence as he gets the information that that gap has grown.

Only he knows how much he has left in his legs. Viktor Rothlin likes

this particular point. Just Just brushing the sweat off husband his

forehead. He knows he will have to do something special to win this. I

will be looking for clues for the leader Chabowski when he climbs that

very severe incline and a big effort by Viktor Rothlin and his style of

running is he always runs strongly in the late stages. He has always

been an athlete who has been able to finish strongly. He was second in

the European Championships and then he won the European Championships.

So now we are seeing a bit of distress on the face of Chabowski as

he climbs this tough incline. That is the first sign, a bit of weakness

here. His coach, the Russian athlete, is a very good athlete. He

has been well guided and well structured through his training and

ready for this one as he comes out and levels. He is hoping one more

incline. Do we see any more clues. We will see and get a real clue

about the destination of the gold medal. There is the chasing group.

Patile of Italy coming close. Lalli, who won the cross country

Championships and Mohammed Mustafa getting closer. And you can see what

is ahead of them. That is another tough climb. I would like to see the

leader to see how he coped with that last incline. Lalli starting to

stretch them up the hill. El Hachimi is going backwards. One minute he is

struggling and then he is back at the front, trying to push that pace.

I think he is struggling to find a pace that suits him. Chabowski

crests that highest point again and there is his time through that

section. We will get an idea of how big that gap is. I think Chabowski

is starting to show more distress. Although up that hill it is natural

that your mouth will open more to get more oxygen in. That frown has

been on his face since he started. Hard, hard work up that hill. The

sun beating down, the temperature rising. It is only going to get

tougher as Rothlin, Lalli Abraham, they have got to give chase if they

want to win the medal. She Guus mow -- she Shegumo is also in that

group. The Italians well represented in that group. The Swiss crossing

their fingers, hoping that Rothlin or Abraham can push on. One gold

medal for swits Llan in the 400 -- for Switzerland in the 400 metres

hurdles. There are more people on the streets. More Swiss flags

watching this marathon. It would be marvellous for them if one of theirs

could run down the leader. They're just coming across for some drinks

there. There is a water station. Not their own feed station. He is

starting to look tired to me, that relaxed face is now looking

strained. The head is going back a bit. He is still working hard. It is

a brave thing to try and do. He is still inexperienced, his fourth

marathon. He finished well in Germany in a high quality race,

finished fourth. But he wasn't any where near the leader. To actually

go out with the lack of experience he has and try and attack this from

such an early point on a course like this, you have got to have immense

confidence in the shape that you're N He clearly has the confidence.

Because he struck out about the 10 kilometre point and he has been

running strongly. We are seeing signs, which isn't surprising from

the leader. This chasing group when you look at the time. The leader is

about a minute and 10 seconds ahead. Now, if he can hold it together and

run this last 10 kilometre at the Saturday of pace he what -- sort of

pace he has ran the previous 10 kilometres, then he can win. But can

he hold it together. One more run along the lake and one more climb up

the hill and starting to show the tiredness we would expect of this

young man trying to win the Championship marathon. And there is

the chasing group. This is the point an hour and a half's rung behind

them, things change in marathons. We are looking at him running down to

the lake again. He looks comfortable and relaxed there. 22.8 kilometres

per hour. He is getting a rare level of support. Wonderful scenes here.

This is where you have got to watch this marathon, this is the area you

want to be, you can see them several times the crossing and coming back

and crossing the bridge. I wonder next time there will be only two

kilometres to go, I wonder whether he is still going to have the lead

and whether if he does have a lead it is a significant one. If it is

still at that point, he has probably got the race won. Reunkov is

dropping off that group. Can the group use this hill to eat into the

lead and the worrying thing for Chabowski, he will see them catching

him, because of the turn arounds. It has been good for him so far,

because he has seen his lead building. But will he see his lead

start to diminish on this final lap. Meftah pushing on. He has a gap down

that hill. He has moved away, better than, he has come down the hill

better than those in the yup. Shegumo is still there and. He needs

to go off on his own and try and do that. He is a bit in no-man's land

as he works back to Chabowski. H he looks as if he is moving

nicely. Somebody before we thought would have had a decent chance. He

hasn't shown a lot of form this year. And he doesn't have anything

which necessarily says he would have stood out as a favourite here. He

didn't finish the Olympic marathon, but he is rung strongly here. Now

moving away from the chasing group. Meftah after Chabowski. Chabowski

starting to look tired. Starting to look a bit strained. Maybe in his

mind he starts to doubt whether or not I have made the right decision.

But he has to just go for it. He has no other choice. So that is the

second placed athlete. Here is the battle for third at the moment, that

is now just by men in that group, and by watching, as Meftah start to

pull away. -- they are watching. But still a good 40 minutes or so left

in this race. Mark Butler said he was reminded of Munich, 2002, when

someone ran away from the field, they let him break away and he run

it. That is what has happened here, Chabowski has broken away, the more

fancied athletes have stayed in a group and for the first time,

Meftah, has broken from the group to try and close the gap. We will see

some revealing signs, is the gap closing all is Chabowski just going

to keep it together, hold it together and continue that gap,

which is about one minute and ten seconds. If it stays around a

minute, you would be betting on him. If it gets less than that, you would

have to think that this man, former European junior steeplechase

champion, well guided by his coach over the distances, can he keep

going and he looks a bit stronger than he did on the top of the hill.

The latest indication was he had lost three or four seconds, one

minute and seven seconds. That camera angle makes those chasers

that a lot closer than they actually are, but he will get a view,

although when he turns right, running along the leg side, he will

not becoming directly back against them, so he went see them entirely

-- lakeside. But he looks a bit tired to make a bit more

flat-footed, and a bit of rolling action in his style now. But he will

try and hang onto this lead. Yes, he looks a little bit fatigued, he

doesn't have the same bounce as he had in the beginning. Meftah, I

thought he did look smooth and comfortable, although it looks that

gap is closing a little bit too Rothlin under the group behind him.

When he originally pushed ahead, Meftah, I thought it was significant

that Rothlin was not able to go with him, because if he could do anymore

to close this gap then, he would have taken the opportunity. Bear is

the 30 kilometre time, he was over one minute and ten seconds ahead of

the chasing group just a moment ago. Let's see where it is when the

closing group them in now. Meftah has a bit of a gap on the rest of

the group. Just behind him, still Viktor Rothlin in that chasing

group. I don't think it is just about how far behind they are, the

significant thing was that Chabowski's 5K split was 15:44, the

slowest of the whole race, which means he is slowing significantly.

But the group aren't moving that much quicker than him. He has slowed

a lot, but they have not sped up, so the gap has not diminished that

much. It is diminishing, but the question is how slow he gets, and if

anyone in the group can push on. He will see when he turns what the gap

is and they will also get the chance to see how well he is coping, which

can sometimes produce renewed energy. But we have a real race on

our hands, the classic drama of the marathon. The chasing group waited

and waited and now there are gaps in merging in that chasing group. I

think Chabowski is getting really tired, he dropped his drink, pouring

water on his head. Are these the signs of a man who has run too

fast? If he keeps going at the pace he went earlier, he will win this

race. And Steve saying the five kilometres split was the slowest of

the race, there is a group here, including Rothlin, but can pick up

the pieces. There is one big more big climb for Chabowski to come.

Polish never one marathon European Championships medal. Rothlin just

falling off that group. However, he can be very strong in the last ten

kilometres of marathon race, he has demonstrated that on several

occasions in the past. He has been a champion, been as silver-medallist

and does not want to finish his career without a medal, but this is

an interesting time for the Swiss favourite. Yes, not interesting in

the sense that anything good is happening for him. He just looks a

bit tired now. But as we all know, ten kilometres of hard running,

there or thereabouts, and all sorts of things will happen. Rothlin will

be strong but you wonder at the age of 39 if he has the chance of a

medal. The leader being encouraged by big crowds as he heads back onto

the road. Next time around, if he still has a lead, he will not be far

from the finish, just a few hundred metres. Viktor Rothlin watching the

medals may be moving away from him. The chasing group, Meftah is in

there, Shegumo, and this is a difficult time for Rothlin, not able

to go with the group. He has had a great career and there is nothing he

would like better than to finish off his career in his last race with at

least a medal here. He has been a medallist in the last two runnings

of the European Championships Marathon and desperately wants one

on his home turf, but is it slipping away from him? Here is the leader, I

think he is tiring badly now. Trying to renew himself, but the strain of

leading the marathon, if you look at the cadence, his legs are slowing,

he is looking distressed, going through a bad patch. When you do go

through bad patches are times in the marathon, you have to handle it

mentally, don't you. You do, you have to accept, really, when you

move to marathon racing that you will always have a bad patch, no

matter how good the races, you will have at least one bad patch and the

thing is to find anything, something, to focus on and believe

you will come out at the other side and feel better and regain momentum.

Any a little technique you can think of to help stay in that moment. The

track specialist, the 10,000 metre man, is the one giving chase here.

That has confused me a bit, that is Meucci. He has managed to find a

little bit extra. Meftah had been leading the chase, but Meucci thinks

he has enough here. After finishing in sixth in the 10,000m on Wednesday

night, he looks good, doesn't he? My question really was that it

Chabowski has slowed, the group haven't picked it up that much, and

somebody needs to pick it up. If he could run last ten kilometres of

anything under 31 minutes, maybe 35 or 40 for the last ten K, it is a

big as, but he could close the gap. It Chabowski keeps slowing, it will

make his life even easier. Chabowski making the turn, the next time it

will be the finishing line. One lap to go, but it is a big lap. It is

ten kilometres of hard running with a big hill in it and at least one

chasing him down. But the crowds will support him, the crowds will

give him some encouragement, but he is hurting, he is really hurting

now. I think the crowds will support him, but he is spoiling the Swiss

party a little bit. Not getting a huge amount of support. Meucci, when

he ran the 10,000m, he didn't really commit or take it on at any point,

so I wonder if this has been his main target all along. We saw women

do the same, but I don't think the marathon was that same focus, but

Meucci didn't take on Mo Farah at any point in that race but he seems

to be committing to this. Former medallist at 10,000m in the last

championship, running himself into a medal position here in the marathon.

championship, running himself into a medal position Paula said he didn't

commit too much to the 10,000m and that is absolutely true. As we look

at Guerra, Shegumo of Poland, Meftah of France and then a gap to Viktor

Rothlin, who is really going through a bad patch at this point. And once

again, upfront, a Polish athlete. A Polish athlete in that chasing

group. Meucci, the Italian. This crowd really responding and giving

him a great farewell run for Viktor Rothlin, who has been a of Swiss

athletics. We watch Meucci, the former medallist at the 10,000m, can

he stepped up to the marathon. A gap of 41 seconds. I would like to see

how the leader is coping with this late stage, because he lived to be

struggling. That is about 20 seconds that Meucci has picked off in the

last mile or so. Certainly the last couple of kilometres. This is where

Jablonski will get a very good view -- Chabowski. They run alongside the

lake, they do a sharp turnaround, and he will see that Meucci is

closing the gap and he is struggling now, dropping his arms, maybe

getting cramp. The fatigue is really starting to build. I didn't

understand why he was going so hard when he did go so hard. A bit of a

lack of experience and maybe when he got away, he thought, I am going to

go over it, and he is paying for it, and he is paying for it. Real

tiredness setting in now for Chabowski Poland. A brave effort to

try and win this race. He still has a 44 second gap, working hard to try

to take a medal, but there is a chaser in the form of Daniele Meucci

of Italy. We can see Chabowski really working hard here, the strain

on his face shows everything. It is a hard one. The distance is catching

him. And the athlete behind is catching him to. And remember, he

knows, he has been up it three times, it is not long before he has

to have that incline, can he cope with it this time and therefore the

first time, in the shop, Daniele Meucci of Italy, running so well.

And there you begin to wonder whether the long-time leader, will

he surrendered the lead fairly soon mad I wonder if he will get a

medal? He is looking in a bad way and there is a strong group coming,

and his team-mate, Shegumo, is in there, and Meftah. That is getting

interesting, this is what makes the drama of the marathon. This is going

to be a hard knock, mentally, when he sees how much the gap has closed,

just in that short section of three or four kilometres. He can see they

are moving clearly much better than him and it will be hard to take. I

am sorry to say, I don't think it is going to be too long before he loses

that lead. I was making the point earlier, Shegumo beat Chabowski in

the marathon in Poland earlier in the season. He is now in third

place. Guerra are Spain tried to hang onto as much as he possibly

can. And Meftah of France, with Rothlin really struggling now. These

are the ones you think are contesting the medals and it may be

that these three catch Chabowski. I wouldn't be surprised, Chabowski

looks like he is really struggling. Meucci has timed this well. Rothlin

is still keeping strong, he will stay strong, he probably just

doesn't have it in the legs anymore. 39 years of age and he so

hoped he could go out with a medal here. Seven. He may find himself

just one or two places shy of that, but still some running to be done

here. But there is some experienced ahead of him. Meucci looks as though

he has timed his effort well. They know what they are doing. And in

their bid to try and win a medal, you never know, one of them might

fall apart a little bit, so Rothlin will keep going and try and stay

strong. That is a big gap now and all of them avoiding the mist on

this lap. I'm not sure if Chabowski went through there. But these guys

have got real intent and know they have a chance of a medal. They're

watching Meucci give chase for the gold. But they must have seen

Chabowski, this three must think I can catch him and we still have a

chance of a medal. Yes and I'm sure they will be getting information

from team officials on the course who will be helping just to relay

about the size of the gap and about how tired Chabowski is looking. Now

you can see Meucci has him in his sights. I think your right, it won't

be long at all. I fear as to whether Chabowski is going to complete this

last lap. That is a man who is falling apart. Too much too soon,

too fast, too hard. A misjudgment from the Polish athlete and it is a

shame when it happens, but it is a feature of marathon running. You

have to be patient and know your limitations. Meucci, this is only

his third marathon, but he has got huge experience and he knows, or he

knew that pace that Chabowski was setting was something that he

couldn't go in that early stage. He looks good and strong. They have got

a great background of marathon running the Italians, they know how

to prepare and they have some good coaches. As he now runs along the

street into the centre again and towards that incline, you can sense

that we are going to have a new leader. Guerra and Shegumo and I

would bet there is medals for tleez 3-2. Two of those three will get a

medal. We are looking at a very tired and strained leader. I hope we

are going to be there to see what will be the drama as they turn off

and there is the leader. Really straining, really struggling. He has

made a brave effort. But it wasn't as considered an effort as it's

turned out. He is digging into his shorts. He probably has that drink

in his, the gel in his pocket. But now here comes Danielle Meucci as

they come off the Munster Platz. And we will see some drama. Daniele

Meucci powers past him and Dan ye Meucci for the first time hits the

front. Comes across the river Limmat and look at how quickly that gap has

opened. He will start thinking quickly about the hill. You have got

to tackle it now, Dan ye, iele, you have got to work at it and the gold

could be won in the next few minutes. Because he is still running

strongly in the shadow of Gross Munster, the Italian hits the front

and the crowds are responding. This is a great piece of drama. This what

is marathon running is about. Gauging your effort, taking your

time. Look how quickly that gap is opening and he will struggle to get

a medal at all. He is very tired. You could see he was struggling also

with a stitch and his legs have gone. I do feel for how he is going

to get up this hill this time and get down it as well. Maybe Shegumo

will give him some encouragement, because they have a chance in the

team event. Rothlin is struggling, because he has been passed by a

Russian as well. Reunkov has timed his effort well. You always look for

somebody coming from a long way back. Meucci is still a burgeoning

marathon career. He went to New York and ran the half marathon and he

went back last year to New York. He was the first European to finish in

last year's New York marathon. That maybe gave an indication and here

looking very strong and confident and you can't see anybody catching

him. The only question is the hill. Will he cope with the hill OK? Just

grim grimacing a bit. He looked relaxed. Maybe it was a bit of sweat

in his eyes and maybe it was the sun in his eyes. Or maybe he got a sugar

rush as he had taken his drink there. But he is very accomplished

over the tougher courses like in New York and I think that will stand him

in good stead now as he attacks this hill. He seems to be moving away

from the field and the biggest danger is from Reunkov who is coming

through. Shegumo there just moving much better. He will pass his team

mate quickly. The former Ethiopian. Now competing for Poland. He won the

Lodge marathon in April. His last marathon before this. He has timed

his effort well here. On that day, he beat Chabowski, Chabowski

finished fifth. But he has got it horribly wrong. If he does finish in

the top five, if he finishes at all. He is almost coming to a stop. I

can't see him finishing this race. There he stops. As I said that, the

hill finally too much for him. He has run his race and that is what

happens. I know we were saying, Brendan, your old coach's saying,

when you run out of energy, it just goes completely and there is nothing

you can do. He has just stepped to one side. It won't help his team.

That is what I was about to say. He steps aside as the other Polish

runner comes past and so no interest in battling on now he is no longer

the first Polish runner. But he is in a bad way. The most significant

thing would be trying to absorb the impact coming down the hill. I'm not

sure his leg would have taken that. A seriously brave effort to try and

win the race by Chabowski of Poe last night and -- Poland. Now Meucci

has to conserve his energy. He looked a bit tired before, now he is

relaxing into the position. He has counted ate couple of times. --

counted it a couple of times. He knows in his mind he knows in his

approach, as the Shegumo, the former Ethiopian athlete, who went to

Poland for the world youth Championships and represented

Ethiopia in the 400 metres. He decided to stay there. He has stayed

there since and worked through to marathon. He won two marathons in

Poland last year and he has decided that Chabowski wasn't going to have

the beating of himment he allowed him to go and he is in second place

now. So Poland, while having an effort to tray and win the gold look

as though the Polish team will be rewarded with a medal and Shegumo is

running himself into a medal position and followed give Guerra.

There they are. The charging Russian issing closing the gap. Reunkov is,

a while ago he was 40 seconds behind the leader. I'm not sure he is 40

seconds behind now. It will be the leader. I'm not sure he is 40

interesting. Reunkov is a man who we need to keep an eye on. He is in

fourth and he can see Guerra, the local director is looking at

Rothlin. But Rune koifs passing people all the time. I wonder if he

can put in a good hill and close the gap. Shegumo working hard up the

hill. It is tough and hard to maintain rift m. -- rhythm. Here is

the Russian eating up the ground. Guerra attacking the hill. I think

he is taking yards out of the men Guerra attacking the hill. I think

front of him. Just look how much he has taken out of him in that climb.

Rothlin is closing down. He has, as we talked about, the experience of

the hill. He has put this hill to suit him. But Reunkov is looking

that much stronger up the hill. There is the second placed Shegumo

of Poland. Another climb to face before you can, and he is struggling

as well. He has got lots of tapes on his legs. Maybe he has been

suffering from some kind of injury. But he is finding this bit tough

too. Steve, you picked out the Russian. As we watch the leader at

the highest point. Relief for Daniele Meucci, because now it is

steady and he can relax. Then it is level along the lakeside. Shegumo is

now in that area where the energy is running out. He is paying for his

effort too. The Meucci has got a lead now and it is at least 25

seconds or more. Shegumo, well, a few minutes ago we were giving him

the silver medal. Now, he is going through to a point will he get a

medal at all, as he reaches the highest point. He is 39 seconds

behind the leader. And there he is being chased by Guerra, the first

European to finish in the World Championships last year and then the

Russian, Reunkov, moving well. Moving better than anyone at this

point. Closing those gaps. A couple of seconds from a medal. A couple of

seconds from a silver medal. 38 seconds and more from a gold medal

as the gold medal favourite, who helped design this course, Viktor

Rothlin comes across the highest part of the course, being chased by

Meftah of France. Still things to happen in the late stages of this

marathon. Meucci, that is a good lead and it looks as though it is

one he is consolidating. If he can negotiate himself down the hill,

without doing too much damage to the quads. He looks OK to me. Working

hard, but you should be at this stage. He will just have two or

three kilometres to go. When he gets to the bottom of the hill, he will

see the finish line and turn away and go left along the lake. But this

is still a race for the minor medals here. Shegumo will be enjoying this

down hill section. He certainly didn't enjoy the uphill section. And

Guerra and Reunkov not far away. Italy first, Poland second, Spain

third and Russia very close behind in fourth. Just trying to stay

relaxed as much as he can. It hurts the leg when you're this tired and

running down hill. I think he needs to do, he needs to relax as much as

possible. But it is very hard to do when your legs are fatigued,

different areas of your muscles are cramping up and sliding in your

shoes so, the feet are sliding down and people get bruised toe nails and

finish with bleeding toe nails sometimes. That is a significant gap

with not too far to go. Shegumo of Poland has been running for Poland

for eleven years now, a former Ethiopian as Brendan was saying. And

now looks as though he is running strong again. But is he going to

come under pressure with Guerra and Reunkov trying to give chase. There

is the leader. Almost at the bottom of the hill. He will take a left

hand turn. If he looks ahead he will be able to see the finish line and

that will await him in about ten minutes or so. 23.3 kilometres an

hour. That is a good speed. We wouldn't normally talk about hi

speed. You contrast it with the previous laps. Chabowski did the

first lap at 24.5 and slowed down to 22 and so he has picked it up again.

At this stage he is running comfortable and he is probably

relieved that is the last time he has to come down that section. : The

crowd are close on the side of the road and they're cheering him. He

has runned a measured and considered race and he is now, see how close

they are to the runners. It is a great boost after two hours of

running. Not budge further for Shegumo to win: 's first ever medal

in the marathon in the European Championships -- not much further.

He went through a bad patch, he is now beginning to hold it together,

but I wonder, are the medals settled in one, are the medals settled in

one, two, three? Meucci an Shegumo looks settled, but this may change.

The biggest cheer, and well-deserved biggest cheer, is for Viktor Rothlin

of Switzerland, bronze, silver-medallist and then

gold-medallist in the European Championships. Enjoying the last

moment of a great career. He says after today, that is it, he is going

to go climbing in the hills, but not running marathons in the hills

anymore. And very, very tough character, though, and he is hanging

in strongly. It is interesting that he has had a hand in designing it

yet he does not seem comfortable in the downhill section. Meftah is a

much more comfortable downhill runner, he came down the hill with a

significant lead over Meftah and he ended up going past him. The leader,

enjoying, if you can enjoy, these last couple of kilometres, because I

think he must now be realising that he has got it together, he is not

going to fall apart, he has got a big enough lead. Shegumo is doing

his best to chase, but although the camera makes it look as though he is

not too far in the distance, he is well away, and I think Meucci, looks

strong, moving nicely, undoubtedly tired and undoubtedly hurting, and

the pace has dropped quite significantly in terms of this race.