He said so at a press conference in Ostrava. In fact, he said he would run a HM after Moscow and then a full marathon.
http://www.zlatatretra.cz/aktuality.asp?id=780
I didn't see the youtube video in that link (because I can't in work), I read the interview in Czech on that page so I hope it's not some misunderstanding and they translated it correctly.
Too late
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww yeah
That means "i'm not in sub 26:45/12:50 shape anymore"?
Is there no big 10k after Moscow? I don't see one on the schedule in Zurich or Brussels. I'd love to see Bekele try for a fast track 10k after world's but if there isn't a race ...
Then I guess a half marathon leading to a marathon will be pretty awesome.
He NEEDS to start running marathons if he's even thinking of getting selected for 2016. Plus the money would be great.
right - he is probably around 13/27 which should be enough
to go out conservatively in 29 or so. He could lower the WR t0
the 2:02 range.
The marathon is not a walk in the park. Just because you are fast over 5k/10k doesn't mean you will master the marathon. A great example on this is Zersenay Tadese, the half marathon world record holder. I don't know what happened to Kenenisa but all I can say is that he is not coming back to his 2003-2009 shape. That is very frustrating for a guy who is used to crushing everyone. My guess is that he will retire by end of next year to run his businesses after trying a couple of marathon with no success. Kenenisa the Anbesa was a true distance king!
When elite runners get slow then they move to the Marathon?
The irony is that Bekele himself contributed to the rise of the marathon in the last 5 years.
First, Geb was so dominant, then came Bekele and a ton of people couldn't make it on the track circuit because they could never beat those two over 5k or 10k.
If you were a teenager in 2004 and looked at those events you were probably thinking you had to move down to 1500 (and face El G) or jump straight into the marathon.
Fast forward to 2005 and Sammy Wanjiru is a 19 year old and he runs 26:41 (26:41 at 19!!!!) and he got beat by 20 seconds in that race!! And by a guy who was only 23.
Well Wanjiru wasn't going to settle for second place for his whole life so he jumped to the marathon and became a legend on the roads.
And a ton of young east Africans followed his lead so that there were 6-8 people who have been conceivably capable of breaking the marathon WR in the last 3 or so years.
Now Bekele has to step into a much more competitive marathon scene than Geb did. The days of aging stars just moving up to the marathon are over because the marathon is a young man's race now.
George or Something wrote:
Too late
Sadly, I think you are right. Sure he can run a decent time, but it is unfortunate that he will attempt this when he is apparently past his prime. Now if he goes on to win gold in Moscow, then it will make things interesting.
categorically wrote:
Now Bekele has to step into a much more competitive marathon scene than Geb did. The days of aging stars just moving up to the marathon are over because the marathon is a young man's race now.
If Bekele managed to run 2:03:59 me might be able to win a few races.
mako wrote:
He said so at a press conference in Ostrava. In fact, he said he would run a HM after Moscow and then a full marathon.
I really don't see him doing something very special in the Marathon, definitely not this year. Not faster than 2:08, more like 2:09, but I tend even more to a DNF. We will see.
Ben L. Wrong wrote:
That means "i'm not in sub 26:45/12:50 shape anymore"?
+1
It seems like Bekele is on a Webb type of downward spiral right now. He feels the need to prove to anyone/everyone that he is still as dominant as he was, in something. So he is just throwing a bunch of darts at the board and seeing if any stick. Trying everything to try to find that feeling again instead of focusing on one event and really working his time down in that event.
That said, I'm still hoping he turns things around on the track this year and is ready to roll in the Moscow 10000m.
Said88 is just afraid that kennster might be better than geb. Serious this dude has been trying to protect gebs legacy for a long time. A 2:08? Okay but with a year or two year training, he could without a doubt run 2:05 to 2:04. Don't be surprised
midwestern life wrote:
Ben L. Wrong wrote:That means "i'm not in sub 26:45/12:50 shape anymore"?
+1
It seems like Bekele is on a Webb type of downward spiral right now. He feels the need to prove to anyone/everyone that he is still as dominant as he was, in something. So he is just throwing a bunch of darts at the board and seeing if any stick. Trying everything to try to find that feeling again instead of focusing on one event and really working his time down in that event.
That said, I'm still hoping he turns things around on the track this year and is ready to roll in the Moscow 10000m.
Agreed. His best days on the track are far behind him, he needs to listen to his body and get away from the track. He's not 21/22 years old anymore. Now with that being said, I wouldn't put him in the same boat as alan webb. Bekele is still competitive in his main event (10000m, although not dominant anymore) where as webb has trouble placing top three in B level races in his main event (1500m). If bekele was like webb, he will be having trouble breaking 28 for 10k.
I was referring more to his current mentality than his current fitness.
midwestern life wrote:
I was referring more to his current mentality than his current fitness.
Ok. I wasn't sure but now I agree. I just hope he makes this his last year on the track. His marathon debut is long overdue, 2014 and on wards should be all road/marathon events.
He had a few recent injury problems but I expect him to win worlds again this year. He is so talented nothing would surprise me. He is capable of taking the WR in my judgment.
Why do you guys keep thinking that he's past his prime? He's been INJURED. That could happen to anyone young or old. There is no evidence that he is past his prime.
I don't see this happening. As the WC 10000 is likely to be a tactical race, he will pretty much have to train for it like for a 5000m race. Then to go on and run his first ever HM followed by his first ever Marathon, I don't see that happening. Not even for a healthy KB. And lets face it, he isn't really healthy this year yet.