Gebreselassie The God of Running

XCTC wrote:

2:05:56 running solo in the wind nine weeks ago, and now sub-2:07 in a tactical race. For almost 12 years he has been schooling the rest of the world on what it takes not to just run fast, but to dominate whatever event he takes on. The next two years will seal his legacy forever.

Absolutely!

I Thought The Nineties Were The Geb Decade

But Now He'll Rule Two Thousand Eight.

He is clearly the best ever. I'm not sure why there is even any debate. I went to bed last night not wondering whether he would win, but whether he would get the record.

Copied from a post by "ghost":

"Geb. is amazing, especially because he is so busy when he is not running. Most world class runners just run and then sleep or relax (think Kenyans), but Geb. puts in a full day working around his businesses in Addis Abbaba and fitting in a run or two every day, either very early in the morning or at other times that he can fit in.

Geb. actually said training for the marathon is easier than when he was a track runner, because now most of his training is simply going out and running, and his runs are at a good pace (progression runs). But once again, I don't think there are many who could manage to run at Geb's level and combine a full day of meetings and business dealings as Geb. has done....that is what is the most impressive aspect....

coach:

christophe_moulton@yahoo.ca

"

I agree. I don't think there is any doubt that he is the greatest distance runner ever, period.

No one is even close - Geb has "it," the aura... the heart, the power... he is the one.

I am so glad I had the chance to watch him run in Arizona early this year, it was a surreal experience! Talking to him before the half marathon was awesome as he signed a new pair of spikes for me! I cant wait for Beijing 2008, I hope to make the trip for that one...I bet it's gonna be his last race of a spectacular career!

didn't fair that well in xc

Best runner drugs can deliver. I have as much proof as I did on Regina and Eddy. Even more: Geb ran a 12:58 at the end of his 10K.

ttc wrote:

Best runner drugs can deliver. I have as much proof as I did on Regina and Eddy. Even more: Geb ran a 12:58 at the end of his 10K.

And Steve Pre ran 4flat for the last mile of a 5k. Raise your limits, ttc. If you're that good, you're that good.

Read the Todd Williams interview.

Tuone Udaina wrote:

ttc wrote:

Best runner drugs can deliver. I have as much proof as I did on Regina and Eddy. Even more: Geb ran a 12:58 at the end of his 10K.

And Steve Pre ran 4flat for the last mile of a 5k. Raise your limits, ttc. If you're that good, you're that good.

Read the Todd Williams interview.

I already read the interview and understand your point. Far as Pre's last mile, 4:00 is a Josh McDougal mile time, while 12:58 is the AR that's hardly been approached for some time.

Nuh uh. Pre is the greatest of all time and he had it all. Except a gold medal, but Pre is the greatest runner of all time. If he were alive today he would be cleaning up and beating all these Africans because Pre runs with heart like no other. Pre is da bestest.

That's because Americans (relative to their population) suck. You have to remember, guys like Geb and Bekele are probably the most talented distance runners the world has ever seen. Ethiopia and East Africa in general oozes with talent, after countless centuries of conditions that have favoured long distance runners.

And did you ever read that article showing a higher O2 bonding rate for Ethiopian hemoglobin than that found in any other blood sample?

You would do well to not judge the rest of the world with the lens of American performances. Being driven everywhere, fast food and pop, video games, mySpace, poker, skateboarding and other more lucrative sports aren't productive for developing phenomenal distance runners. Really, we're doing pretty well in spite of the conditions.

I think you wanted such a response (and probably agree despite your post):

Every single run of Geb on an international stage is worth more than the entire career of Steve Prefontaine.

Thanks to wejo for the front page linkage, but who is Kevin Drummond?

And as far as Geb not doing so well in XC: I phrased my comment as pertaining to "whatever event he takes on". He recognized track as his strength, so he focused on that. Bekele, talented as he is, has not dominated on the track as he has in XC. Even the best have limitations. Geb shows the highest level of focus in this regard.

Also, Geb has not yet dominated the marathon, but he is showing us how he is learning the event and making each step necessary to reach his goals.

ttc, if you weren't God knows where in America or abroad, and were perhaps within 20 meters of me. I would run you down and inject you with something poisionous. I don't know what...but some of the most potent sh*t I could get my hands on.

You mean the GOD of not getting caught with illegal drugs

OK TTC, so who do you think is the greatest non drug athlete is?

Tuone Udaina wrote:

And did you ever read that article showing a higher O2 bonding rate for Ethiopian hemoglobin than that found in any other blood sample?

Then why weren't the Ethiopians dominating the distance scene far before the mid 90's? Sure they're not a huge population, but they still had serious runners prior. We're also not talking about them just being world dominant, but also lots better than the drug-enhanced cheats who've been caught. Remember reading the article about the biker who experimented with EPO and some of the other drugs? Nothing short of dramatic, insane improvement, and he didn't even know what he was doing with the dope. Yet Geb and Bekele could wipe the track with the drug-engineered cheats. I don't believe it.