What we know
The textbook second-half-faster than first-half advice no longer maps cleanly onto top-10 marathon finishes in the elite field.
The detail
Five seasons of finish data show an even split becoming the modal pattern, with a number of top-three finishes achieved by 50:50 paces. Negative splits now sit slightly below the median.
What happens next
The full data set is on the methodology page and the article series continues next week.
Source policy
This story is reported with named sourcing and updated as confirmed details emerge. The editorial standards describe how we verify and correct; the contact page lists the secure channels for tips and documents.