BEKELE is DONE

For today, he is done. This is a guy who ra 2:05 flat in his debut.

I think he needs more time to buildup for his marathons. You can't change coaches, train from chicago to now and expect to run 2:03. Now he's going to do London in April??

Having a long career in distance is virtually impossible. Bekele is a legend, but he's really only had 6 dominant years. Lots of lost years due to injury and he is all but finished now.

It really makes you appreciate what Geb did, dominating for 19 straight years.

rojo wrote:You can't change coaches, train from chicago to now and expect to run 2:03. Now he's going to do London in April??

Oh, absolutely. For the last year, I've felt like I feel right now: "I can't wait until he figures this out and we really get to see what he can do."

I have an inkling that we may never see that, but I totally agree. Give him a solid six month's training under Canova and it'll be interesting to see what he can do. But it better happen quick. He ain't getting any younger.

Then again, Kimetto is 31. GO KENNY!

rojo wrote:

For today, he is done. This is a guy who ra 2:05 flat in his debut.

I think he needs more time to buildup for his marathons. You can't change coaches, train from chicago to now and expect to run 2:03. Now he's going to do London in April??

Absolutely agree. I started a thread when he was announced for Dubai saying exactly this. He ran Chicago in October, just 3 months ago, and was far below his expectations. Doing another before London was pure stupidity. He's cashing in, and now if he doesn't run well in London - significantly more likely after beating himself up for a DNF here - he's never going to get the same type of payday again. What a disappointment. This guy could've had the WR if he wasn't so stupid in his approach.

Guy's really pissing me off now. I've always been such a huge fan, but now he's really become such a loser. He needs to man up, get his act together and stop being such a shitlet!

Isn't Canova his coach? Time to switch it up?

Lost Touch wrote:

Isn't Canova his coach? Time to switch it up?

You don't know much about coaching, do you?

Don't we all want to be a 'loser' like Bekele? Oh how I wish I had his talent and drive! Dwelling further, I probably did have something close to his drive, but alas, the talent part of it was so........ deficient.

All of you negative Bekele posters make me laugh. You guys have no idea of the effort or talent necessary to train and compete at any significant level, let alone at today's international marathon!

Such is the way of the insulated poster on Letsrun. You all love to throw out your uninformed OPINION on this forum for many to improperly absorb.

Have fun manipulating the rest of this thread and topic.

Me, I'm going to watch the races unfold and enjoy every minute of competition and ultimate excellence, no matter who emerges the victor and what time each competitor runs.

Give them time. Bekele is a legend and ran his first two marathons faster than Tergat and Haile.

-Transcend

*New Running Film* --->

www.TheFilmTranscend.com

I'm not, in any way, trying to be negative or manipulate any1 to dislike Bekele. I've always been a huge fan. I call him a loser and all of that becos I feel so disappointed by his performance today. As an athletics fan, nothing really gives me as much joy as seeing him win. Now that he's become this thing he's become lately, I'm even losing interest in athletics as a whole.

I'm not, in any way, trying to be negative or manipulate any1 to dislike Bekele. I've always been a huge fan. I call him a loser and all of that becos I feel so disappointed by his performance today. As an athletics fan, nothing really gives me as much joy as seeing him win. Now that he's become this thing he's become lately, I'm even losing interest in athletics as a whole.

Two words: Appearance Fee.

I thought it was generally agreed upon that 2 marathons per year was the max for most elite runners if they wish to perform well at both. It did not make any sense to me for Kenny to run Dubai, but at the same time I think we will see great things from him in the future. Not 26:17 great, but great things.

I think even Geb DNFed half a dozen or more times before he ran his marathon WR. Today's performance form Kenny B means nothing.

hear, hear

Guppy is right, probably, although with Geb we have benefit of hindsight - with Bekele there remain unknowns. Still, it is too early to write him off. As rojo said, he ran a 2.05 low debut. He just needs to get his prep right, which Canova might help with now. From the look of things he's brought too much impatience to his marathon training so far.

londoner wrote:

Guppy is right, probably, although with Geb we have benefit of hindsight - with Bekele there remain unknowns. Still, it is too early to write him off. As rojo said, he ran a 2.05 low debut. He just needs to get his prep right, which Canova might help with now. From the look of things he's brought too much impatience to his marathon training so far.

Well, Canova knew KB had achilles problems and still let him run.

well,. wrote:

londoner wrote:

Guppy is right, probably, although with Geb we have benefit of hindsight - with Bekele there remain unknowns. Still, it is too early to write him off. As rojo said, he ran a 2.05 low debut. He just needs to get his prep right, which Canova might help with now. From the look of things he's brought too much impatience to his marathon training so far.

Well, Canova knew KB had achilles problems and still let him run.

Yes, a good point. Maybe Canova's not getting much say in scheduling etc?

Here's a question for Bekele now. Should he, after this, go straight after London in his growing desperation to break through quickly - and risk another disappointment. Or does he take his time and do a sensible, long build-up to Berlin (say) in the autumn?

Guppy wrote:

I think even Geb DNFed half a dozen or more times before he ran his marathon WR. Today's performance form Kenny B means nothing.

Here is Gebrselassie's progression up to his lifetime best (not including the 2:40-something he is understood to have run as a teenager):

2002

2:06:35 (London, 3rd)

2005

2:06:20 (Amsterdam, 1st)

2006

2:09:05 (London, 9th)

2:05:56 (Berlin, 1st)

2:06:52 (Fukuoka, 1st)

2007

DNF (London)

2:04:26 (Berlin, WR)

2008

2:04:53 (Dubai, 1st)

2:03:59 (Berlin, WR)

Proves what a GOAT Haile Gebrselassie is... dude ran 2:04-2:05 three (3) times at Dubai, solo, by himself, largest margin of victory in the race's history.

Bekele is just bored with the Marathon. You can tell. Not in his DNA.