Kenenisa Bekele has run under 13:00 for 5000m 21 times

EPO Is a hell of a drug.

Maybe Bekele was the best of a bad doped lot but I bet if they gave my boy Galen the same cocktail of PED's that 'the king' was on he would give that dopper a run for his money!

Dang, Kenny B alone has done it more times than the entire USA.

Besides the 12:37, most impressive is closing a 10 in sub-13

The Rocket. wrote:

Forget for just one second that Geb lost the race and look at the facts:

He ran practically the whole race out in front.

He ran the total 10k in a championship race in under 27 minutes, with the last 5k in under 13 and did so leading all the way until the final 200m.

Bekele was able to hang with Geb's very best and still had another gear in reserve.

Geb was past his best

He was at career peak in '98

Well past his best half a decade later

Don't you think Gebs 2003 WC 10k would have been enough to beat Tergat?

Isn't it possible that Geb was still in his prime. Much like how Bekele was still in his prime in 2009.

The Rocket.. wrote:

Don't you think Gebs 2003 WC 10k would have been enough to beat Tergat?

Isn't it possible that Geb was still in his prime. Much like how Bekele was still in his prime in 2009.

I agree with this. I believe Bekele was in his prime during 2008-2009 and could have attacked 5000m record.

I just watched Gebs 1993 WC and Bekeles 2009 WC. Amazing how those two completely dominated the 10000 for 16 years!

Here's a fact:

In 2003 Geb ran his fastest championship 10,000 of his career.

And Bekele was the best he ever faced and the race was close.

If Bekele would have fallen just short, giving Geb the win, and then went on to have the career he had, that 2003 race would clearly have been the best of Geb's career.

So why couldn't it still be considered maybe his best?

It's not like he could control Bekele's ability.

Geb's PR may have happened in 1998.

But El G's 1500 PR was also in 1998 and his best race ever was probably his 2004 Olympic win over Lagat, closing in 1:46.

You can have a one year peak and a multi year prime.

* wrote:

Here's a fact:

In 2003 Geb ran his fastest championship 10,000 of his career.

And Bekele was the best he ever faced and the race was close.

If Bekele would have fallen just short, giving Geb the win, and then went on to have the career he had, that 2003 race would clearly have been the best of Geb's career.

So why couldn't it still be considered maybe his best?

It's not like he could control Bekele's ability.

Geb's PR may have happened in 1998.

But El G's 1500 PR was also in 1998 and his best race ever was probably his 2004 Olympic win over Lagat, closing in 1:46.

You can have a one year peak and a multi year prime.

This ^ is a good post. Not sure if I agree with your conclusion but you make good points, especially about not being able to control Bekele's ability. Just because Geb lost to a better racer that day does not necessarily imply that Geb was not at his best (I happen to think he was past his prime but your argument is solid).

The Rocket. wrote:That wasn't past his prime. That was Geb's finest race and he lost to a better runner.

geb in his '98 prime was ~

51.0 / 1'47.2 ->

3'29.9

7'19.2

12'36.0

26'16.9

in '03 more like ~

52.0 / 1'48.9 ->

3'32.6

7'23.5

12'41.6

26'24.5

he'd lost a lotta speed by '03 ( maybe 1s over 400 ) but his endurance had improved so he coud approach his peak 10k but still somewhat shy

I saw him do it in a 1500m from lane 10.

Speaking of doppers, I suppose some of the Moroccans can be removed from the list due to dopping (convicted of course - not speculation)?

Also:

Mourhit

Al-giraffe (sp) Algeria

In 2003 Geb had had a number of achilles injuries, so he hadn´t been able to do sprint training for several years, so in that sense (pure speed) he was well past his peak.

Let's note that Geb ran sub 27 and also set his last marathon WR 5 years after this 2003 race.

10K PR 5 years before this race.

Marathon PR 5 years after this race.

Both were world records.

ventolin^3 wrote:

The Rocket. wrote:That wasn't past his prime. That was Geb's finest race and he lost to a better runner.

geb in his '98 prime was ~

51.0 / 1'47.2 ->

3'29.9

7'19.2

12'36.0

26'16.9

in '03 more like ~

52.0 / 1'48.9 ->

3'32.6

7'23.5

12'41.6

26'24.5

he'd lost a lotta speed by '03 ( maybe 1s over 400 ) but his endurance had improved so he coud approach his peak 10k but still somewhat shy

Ventolin those numbers are complete bs. Geb never ran any of those times listed. How would you know what at 13:50-12:58 10k split is equivalent to.

Gebs 5k peak may have been in 1998,

But considering how fast he ran in 2008 for the marathon it makes sense that he would have peaked for the 10k in 2003.

The Rocket.. wrote:

Ventolin those numbers are complete bs. Geb never ran any of those times listed. How would you know what at 13:50-12:58 10k split is equivalent to.

Gebs 5k peak may have been in 1998,

But considering how fast he ran in 2008 for the marathon it makes sense that he would have peaked for the 10k in 2003.

Geb ran 3:32 indoors, didn't he? That could easily be worth 3:29 outdoors. Regarding 13:50-12:58, there are physics equations that can tell you what thats equal to evened out.

nah nah wrote:

The Rocket.. wrote:

Ventolin those numbers are complete bs. Geb never ran any of those times listed. How would you know what at 13:50-12:58 10k split is equivalent to.

Gebs 5k peak may have been in 1998,

But considering how fast he ran in 2008 for the marathon it makes sense that he would have peaked for the 10k in 2003.

Geb ran 3:32 indoors, didn't he? That could easily be worth 3:29 outdoors. Regarding 13:50-12:58, there are physics equations that can tell you what thats equal to evened out.

You do not appear to understand the meaning of the word, 'physics'.

So what? What is so special about 13:00? It's just another round number. Unless you believe in that superstitious '13 is bad luck' shit.

Physics Man wrote:

You do not appear to understand the meaning of the word, 'physics'.

Based on what? You're wrong, but go ahead and explain why you feel the way you do.