What a 2:06 New York Marathon looks like in heart rate and cadence

I recently looked at the running watches worn by the top two men at the New York Marathon. Winner Andreas Almgren was using a COROS PACE 4, while Crippa raced with the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro. Now we have some of the numbers sitting behind Crippa’s race as well.

Impressive stats

Crippa completed the New York City Marathon in 2:06:14, averaging 2:57 per kilometre along the way. The figure that immediately jumps out is the average heart rate. Maintaining 2:57/km for a full marathon while averaging 151 bpm sounds very restrained, particularly when viewed through the lens of the heart-rate numbers most recreational runners see at much slower speeds.

Of course, 151 bpm does not mean the same thing for everyone. We do not know Crippa’s true maximum heart rate from these graphics, nor do we have his lactate threshold heart rate or his individual training zones. That makes it impossible to turn 151 bpm into a precise percentage of race intensity.

Zepp Health does give us a maximum recorded value of 171 bpm during the marathon. That means his average was around 88% of the highest value recorded during the race, although 171 bpm should not be confused with his actual physiological maximum.

The heart-rate graph is interesting as well. Rather than showing Crippa sitting at one huge number for two hours, it moves considerably throughout the race, with several obvious rises and falls before climbing again later on. Without the underlying data or course markers it is difficult to attach those movements to specific sections of the race, but it gives a much better picture than a simple finishing time.

His cadence is just as impressive

The other number worth looking at is 191 steps per minute. That is Crippa’s average cadence across the marathon.

Put pace and cadence together and the difference between elite marathon running and everyday running becomes easier to visualise. Based on those rounded averages, Crippa was covering roughly 1.8 metres with each step while still turning his legs over more than three times every second.

That does not mean recreational runners should go out and try to force their cadence to 191. Cadence depends on speed, leg length, running mechanics and the individual athlete. Crippa’s number is useful because it shows what happens when a very high turnover is combined with the stride length required to hold sub-three-minute kilometre pace.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, we dug up some stats on a “shakeout” 18km run he did only a few days before the marathon. Average pace 3:53, average heart rate 133 bpm. Insane figures.

So now you know what it takes to finish near the front of a major marathon. The rest of us can go back to feeling pleased about closing our rings.