Slow Bob wrote:
Another great of the EPO era retires.
As for people speculating as to while he didn't run the Olympics or world's, I think it's legitimate to mention EPO.
That being said, I'm writing to take on Hersh.
I don't get why people like Hersh act like there were so many times he didn't run for the US.
Now if people are going to talk a lot about their love of the USA to get endorsements, and then not do it, I can see why that is more aggravating and people would have a right to be angry. It's sort of like someone who talks a lot about their faith all the time but then is out to 5 am on Saturday night/Sunday morning and not making it to church.
But I'm not even sure if that is the case with Khannouchi.
I probably should write an article where I take a real in depth look at Hersh's criticisms of Khalid. But here's a quick response before I go to bed. Hopefully, my quickness doesn't make me look like a fool.
Ignoring the fact that in my opinion, someone of Khannouchi's stature in the marathon shouldn't run the WCs as they are a step down in stature from a major to be honest but Khannouchi did run (and drop out of) 1 WC, the facts seemignly show that Khannouchi didn't regularly skip out on his patriotic duty as Hersh insists. The facts show that Khannouchi was chronically injured starting in 2001.
Let's go through the years, year by year when Khalid was in his prime.
Aren't we really talking about only the 2000 Trials when he didn't even get citizenship until 4 days before the event and he'd already run London the month before?
Does anyone know how much in advance he would have known about his citizenship? Does Hersh really expect him to pass up a 6 figure payday only to find out he couldn't run the Trials at all? Khannouchi's citizenship was being expedited. Unless Hersh know for a fact Khannouchi knew he'd get it 4 days before the Trials, I think he is expecting a ridiculous thing from Khalid. I mean Khalid's wife had moved to Madrid to try to help the whole thing.
2001 - Khalid did run the 2001 WCs and yes he did drop out. But does Phil remember that Khalid also dropped out of Boilermaker that year and that Khalid didn't finish any marathons that year. It's not like he did what a ton of top international stars do - which is show up at world's to please the federation and then drop out only to show up later in the year at Chicago or New York to pick up a big pay day. The world champs were his only marathon according to
http://www.tilastopaja.org. So I dont see what Hersh is upset about for 2001. Khannouchi was hurt as shown by his lack of a spring or fall marathon.
2002 - not a world champinship or Olympic year and it was the best year of Khalid's marathoning life. Bad timing I guess for Hersh.
2003- world championship year. But guess how many marathons Khalid ran according to tilastopaja? Zero. So he's injured.
2004 - In the article, Hersh rips Khalid for not trying to run the 2004 Trials when Khalid had previously said he'd run it on a broken leg. Well the facts are that Khalid pulled out in December 2003 and the Trials were in February 2004.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2003-12-05-notes_x.htmSo Hersh is upset that Khalid didn't wait until a month before the TRials to know he wouldn't be ready?
That doesn't make sense.
Does Hersh know he seemingly was 100% legitimately hurt because after not running any marathons at all in 2003, he didn't run a spring marathon in 2004 (according to
http://www.tilastopaja.or- again this is me writing off the cuff with out emailing London to confirm). So Khannouchi is out from Fall 2002 to Fall 2004 and Hersh is irate that Khalid didn't run the Trials? That's crazy. Khalid didn't skip the OTrials to get rich in London as he didn't run London. He got healthy and ran Chicago that October. Not sure what Hersh is complaining about here.
2005 - world championship year but no marathon finishes for Khalid.
2007 - 4th in Olympic trials on about 2 months training.
Admittedly, I don't remember the specifics of everything back as to what happened over the last decade but can someone tell me where I'm wrong? (Unless Khalid ran but his results aren't showing up in Tilastapja)