Renato Canova can you please explain why Lagat and El G never broke 12:50

kind of a dumb question

they trained specifically for 1500m in their primes

5000 was a second string event for them

look here wrote:

kind of a dumb question

they trained specifically for 1500m in their primes

5000 was a second string event for them

"kind of" ?

thanks again Renato wrote:

Renato-could you please explain to all of us why neither Lagat nor El G were able to break 12:50? If you think that they were capable, what times do you think that they were capable of? Thanks again.

I watched El Guerrouj's race. He slowed down way before the line. He would have run under 12:50 had he not done that.

Because they were more likely to WIN by not controlling the pace and running 12:5X and more likely to LOSE if they set the pace ideal to run 12:4X.

Good answer.

Maybe they could have run 12.43 or so, but only in the perfect race for them.

thanks again Renato wrote:

Renato-could you please explain to all of us why neither Lagat nor El G were able to break 12:50? If you think that they were capable, what times do you think that they were capable of? Thanks again.

Have either of them ever been in a race in which the winner ran under 12:50?

train smart wrote:but only in the perfect race for them.

Its strange to me how often this phrase gets thrown around on here, along with "only with perfect pacing."

"He's a 3:26 guy who ran low 12:50s beyond his prime...yeah, he could've run 12:43...but ONLY with perfect pacing!"

Sunshiner wrote:

Its strange to me how often this phrase gets thrown around on here, along with "only with perfect pacing."

"He's a 3:26 guy who ran low 12:50s beyond his prime...yeah, he could've run 12:43...but ONLY with perfect pacing!"

Why do you guys assume El G was beyond his prime in 2004?

eiruygr wrote:

thanks again Renato wrote:

Renato-could you please explain to all of us why neither Lagat nor El G were able to break 12:50? If you think that they were capable, what times do you think that they were capable of? Thanks again.

I watched El Guerrouj's race. He slowed down way before the line. He would have run under 12:50 had he not done that.

Why did he slow down when he was beaten by Shaheen in that race?

thanks again Renato wrote:

Renato-could you please explain to all of us why neither Lagat nor El G were able to break 12:50? If you think that they were capable, what times do you think that they were capable of? Thanks again.

You have to say "thanks" a first time before you can say "thanks again."

YEAH BUDDY wrote:

thanks again Renato wrote:

Renato-could you please explain to all of us why neither Lagat nor El G were able to break 12:50? If you think that they were capable, what times do you think that they were capable of? Thanks again.

You have to say "thanks" a first time before you can say "thanks again."

Why thank you. Hey, thanks again.

malmo wrote:

[quote]

Have either of them ever been in a race in which the winner ran under 12:50?

El G lost to Shaheen 12:48-12:50. I'd like to see a video or at least splits from that race.

El G and Lagat have something else in common, too.

But they will never admit.

quite a bit different wrote:

Sunshiner wrote:

"He's a 3:26 guy who ran low 12:50s beyond his prime...yeah, he could've run 12:43...but ONLY with perfect pacing!"

Why do you guys assume El G was beyond his prime in 2004?

I think he meant Lagat?--otherwise, good question. El G was 29 y.o. in his final season, ran 3:27.6, 1:46.x to close the OG 1500, and then got his second gold over Bekele before retiring. More of a Herb Elliot exit than a Haile Gebrselassie. No reason to figure he couldn't have run 12:4x between '05-'08, had he continued.

I wish he'd at least run another fast 3k before hanging 'em up. He was in PR shape in Athens.

They both could have.

Lagat never tried. He has never time trialed a 5k outdoors. His PR proves that he could have. He ran a 12:53.6 with a 53 last lap.

El G ran a 12:52 with a 53 last lap in the '03 WC. He could have as well. He only time trialed a fast 5k once and just missed it.

Malmo- The answer to your question is yes. Oops.

Your Other Dad wrote:

malmo wrote:

Have either of them ever been in a race in which the winner ran under 12:50?

El G lost to Shaheen 12:48-12:50. I'd like to see a video or at least splits from that race.

Has anyone tried consulting the archives? through their own know-how/experience, of course (since I am of the opinion that letsrun's forum search feature is pretty inadequate). I am almost sure Canova has discussed Lagat and El G's 5k ability a number of times.

Thank you!