isio wrote:
Why would anyone be an idiot for thinking those things? Both are entirely reasonable opinions based on the actual evidence.
3:28 is 2 seconds off the world record for 1500m. He would need to run sub 26:30 for his 10k to be better than his 1500m time. Do you honestly think 26:40 is as good as 3:28??
Farah has never won a really fast race. Nor has he won a race that wasn't just sit and kick. Nor has he ever run a fast 5k time. He purposefully slows the pace down. Why would he PURPOSEFULLY slow the pace down EVERY time if he could win a fast race as easily as you make it sound?
He has PRs of 26:46 and 12:53, both of which were wins...
He purposefully slows the pace down in championships because while he has the best credentials in any field he enters in a fast race (at least over 10k), he has prohibitively dominant credentials in a kickers race...championships are about winning and hes going to do whatever it takes to maximize his chances of doing so
I don't think hes ever going to break a world record on the track, however running say 12:48 and 26:35, coupled with his championship success would put him in the ranks of one of the best ever...
The word "idiots" for believers in him as a 1500 runner may have been a bit strong. However my point was a runners abilities over a given distance are evaluated on 2 things: the ability to run fast times and the ability to win championship races. Farah has shown he can run a fast 1500, however, it is my belief (which, in fairness, is not based on much) that he doesn't have the foot speed to compete with the true middle distance guys in a typically tactical championship 1500, nor does he have a strength advantage to run away from them from the front.
That said I agree, he needs to run 5k and 10k times at least comparable to his 1500 PR to drive the argument home...however I believe his current PRs in wins coupled with the lack of fast races hes been in show its a lack of opportunity, rather than ability, that has prevented this thus far.