Haile Gebrselassie: isn't retired, He Will Compete Again!

As long as the money's right, he'll be back.

No idea.

All I know is he should've given himself a week or two before making this decision and announcement. It's too emotional right after the marathon.

It's a very sad day for our sport if he does retire

It's pathetic how some people on here seem to be enjoying it. This attitude seems to come down from the top. This is not football or soccer where armchair critics who have never competed in the sport talk rubbish. As runners ourselves, we should be able to respect one of the best all time long distance runners

He just ran sub 60 in the Great North Run. I've run that course and it's not the fastest or easiest

Nobody can stay at the top forever, but I hope he changes his mind and would love to seem him in London 2012

He is moving on. American Baseball. It is his childhood dream.

Just bumped into his manager in the hotel , Jos , said its been coming. No more marathons for sure. Maybe other races , but no marathons.

Is it possible that the knee injury is more serious than we know at this point? The MRI was just done yesterday. Maybe he knows something the public doesn't about the extent of the injury and the amount of rehab and recovery necessary to fix it.

He has mentally shut off his former drive. I can't see him running anything significant anymore.

As much as I love Geb, I think part of the problem is that even when it comes to fast races, he's not at the top anymore.

After the 2:03 world record in the fall of 2008, he ran a 2:05 at Dubai in early 2009. Then he ran a 2:06 last fall and another 2:06 in Dubai this January. That 2:06 is the 13th-fastest time in the world this year and even among Ethiopians it ranks fourth.

I could be wrong and maybe he can put it together for a 2:03 again in the perfect race, but I think even if he were to continue competing, he wouldn't be the best. More likely are a string of 2:05s and 2:06s, which aren't as competitive as they were a few years ago

I don't want to see Geb doing what Tergat did for a year or two, which was to run as an also-ran at New York and elsewhere. Tergat had a great moment in outkicking Ramaala at New York in 2005 but never ran at the top again after that.

I think with perfect training and conditions Haile could run 2:04:35-2:04:50; however, it would shock me if he could come back and break his marathon WR. I still think the last 2-3 years he had a better chance at medaling (certainly not Gold but silver or bronze) in the 10000m track race if he had trained for it specifically.

Pacing did Haile in I don't recall him doing well in any marathon that goes out that slow. Yes he had a bad knee but the slow pace in which he had to compromise his fast and fluid stride probably aggravated the knee even more.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

He just ran sub 60 in the Great North Run. I've run that course and it's not the fastest or easiest

It somewhat is.

possibility wrote:

Is it possible that the knee injury is more serious than we know at this point? The MRI was just done yesterday. Maybe he knows something the public doesn't about the extent of the injury and the amount of rehab and recovery necessary to fix it.

Bingo

VIPAM wrote:

After his New York Marathon DNF it's reported that Haile G. has retired; however, I think the difficult course and huge self-disappointment is affecting him right now.

vipam, his retiring had nothing to do with the "difficult course" at NY. His injury stopped him, and he is incredibly disappointed by this. Also, in the past, he has had asthma issues, and he is tired of "making excuses" when he has to drop out. Now these are not excuses in the sense of made-up reasons for his poor performances, but he can't take the heartbreak of training so hard, and expecting so much, and then having to drop out and let down himself, his fans, and his family. The emotional pain of all that just crushed him.

He really had a lot of emotional currency invested in this race, this was going to be one of his final crowning jewels, to win this race, but he to go out with a whimper because of the injury, and thus sound like his "making excuses." He doesn't want to have to through that again.

But I agree: if he is healthy again, he will be back. I still think he will take a crack at 2012 Olympics.

This is probably the first real big injury he had so just freaked out about it. He will be back I think. Even if he doesn't come back and Gebremarium turns into a marathon beast which looks likely, it would be cool to look back and know Geb quite literally stops running and pass on the torch to the next guy as Geb II powers to victory.

[quote]Sir Lance-alot wrote:

[quote]VIPAM wrote:

and he is tired of "making excuses" when he has to drop out. Now these are not excuses in the sense of made-up reasons for his poor performances, but he can't take the heartbreak of training so hard, and expecting so much, and then having to drop out and let down himself, his fans, and his family. The emotional pain of all that just crushed him.

He really had a lot of emotional currency invested in this race, this was going to be one of his final crowning jewels, to win this race, but he to go out with a whimper because of the injury, and thus sound like his "making excuses." He doesn't want to have to through that again.

[/quote

What about just competing to your best on that day even if it is NOT your best ever? What about guts and courage? He absolutely did not "HAVE TO" drop out. He made a choice to drop out. And he needs to deal with whatever emotional baggage that holds for him. He would gain the respect of many if he chose to fight on and compete even when he is not at his best.

Man I hope he comes back, I know most people on this site hate runners a lot, or at least runners with marathon times >2:35 or <2:20. But its GEB, he needs to go out on a high note! I secretly hope he storms back and dominates in London 2012, I don't even care how unrealistic that is.

Kevin52 wrote:

No idea.

All I know is he should've given himself a week or two before making this decision and announcement. It's too emotional right after the marathon.

No, I agree with Haile:

"Best just to stop here."

He's retired.

He doesn't wish to struggle along at a subpar level. I was there watching him say "let the younger guys do it," and he meant it.

Yeah, because that was a really popular move for Jenny Barringer last year at NCAA cross.