Mebrahtom Keflezighi & 2 others join the Incredible field for the 2005 London Marathon

I hope that Geb is up to the challenge.

This could be the greatest mens marathon in history.

Has Geb committed to London? I hadn't heard. That would be great if he raced against such an exceptional field.

No announcements have been made aobut Geb's racing plans -- but I'm sure that London is on their list. I hope it doesn't comedown to an issue of money.

Now that the field is one of the best ever assembled for a non Olympic/World marathon, I want to know who the rabbits are gone to be for the race. If the conditions are favorable I know that Sammy Korir and Evans Rutto want to take a shot at the world record. The Americans Khalid and Mebrahtom better get in low 2:06 shape if they want to place in the top five.

VIPAM

You know London is after Geb to join that field but I wish that Geb doesn't show up and run something else. The field already have the implications of world record but a healthy Geb could hurt the field more than help it. If Geb ever tows the line healthy he could easily pop a very low 2:04 maybe slip under 2:04 and the field isn't ready for that.

Agreed I hope Gebrselassie0 doesn't toe the line unless he is 100% healthy.

Vipam wrote:

If the conditions are favorable I know that Sammy Korir and Evans Rutto want to take a shot at the world record. The Americans Khalid and Mebrahtom better get in low 2:06 shape if they want to place in the top five.

VIPAM

The Kenyan, Korir better get HIMSELF back in shape if he wants to run the world record. He was only the third best runner in Fukuoka this December. (2:11 something I think).

Three world-class marathons in a bit under eight months for Meb. Is this too much?

He done it once in one calendar year (2004) and placed second in all three: U.S. Olympic Trials, Athens Olympics, and New York City. So if you add the upcoming London Marathon and drop the U.S. Trials to place three marathons in 8 months again and he actually have more time to prepare for the London Marathon than he did between the Olympics and New York. I think he will do well unless the pacesetters go out at World Record pace and he follows the rabbits/leaders. I'm not his coach but I would much rather Mebrahtom go out in 1:04 flat and see if he can negative spilt the fast and flat course. Hey maybe he don't need to run 2:07 to bust a 2:06 or 2:05-play it safe Meb go for the 2:07 first.

VIPAM

NoGeb wrote:

You know London is after Geb to join that field but I wish that Geb doesn't show up and run something else. The field already have the implications of world record but a healthy Geb could hurt the field more than help it. If Geb ever tows the line healthy he could easily pop a very low 2:04 maybe slip under 2:04 and the field isn't ready for that.

You think Geb would easily run 2:04 in London 2005? That's a pretty bold prediction! Now that I think about it I think 2:05 is possible for him but I don't think he'd be ready for 2:04 yet.

Can somebody list every single super elite male runner they have for this race?

Rutto

Khannouchi

Abera

Pinto

(the other of the last 5 champions...forget the 5th guys name)

Tergat

Baldini

Keflezighi

Yuda

Korir

Brown

Ghaourib

Anybody else? There are so so many super elite male racers please make a list it'd be easier for me to remember, like mine, add to it please

This is a updated list I compiled!!! ...

Paul Tergat

Stefano Baldini

Evans Rutto

Meb Keflezighi

Khalid Khannouchi

Sammy Korir

Jaouad Gharib

Gezahegne Abera

John Brown

Antonio Pinto

Abdelkader El Mouaziz

John Yuda

Please please let Haile Gebrselassie join this race! 0=)

Who else can they get, maybe Felix Limo or Vanderlei de Lima? This race is nearly perfect, and a field this good comes around extremely rarely! Hopefully Haile joins the race, it just won't be complete without him, in my mind he's as exciting/important to get etc as about 5 of those guys hehe. Not sure what I meant but you get the idea.

Boston must be pretty upset right now eh? All the major stars ditched! Haile said he's choosing London or Boston, I don't think he'd skip this race!

By the way, how do you think John Yuda will do?

Paul Tergat

Stefano Baldini

Evans Rutto

Meb Keflezighi

Khalid Khannouchi

Sammy Korir

Jaouad Gharib

Gezahegne Abera

John Brown

Antonio Pinto

Abdelkader El Mouaziz

John Yuda

I'm thinking about who will win. Remember that this is a fast rabbited city marathon, not a tactical championship race, so some of these guys don't have a good chance to win. The winning time will be 2:04 to 2:05 probably. The 2:07+ guys have no chance in a super fast race, no offense Baldini/Keflezighi.

The only people who can run at a 2:04 or 2:05 pace now or could possibly improve and do it in Spring 2005 are: Paul Tergat, Evans Rutto, Khalid Khannouchi, and Sammy Korir. Also Haile Gebrselassie if he runs.

Khalid Khannouchi has had training problems with injury recently, hasn't been on top form for a while so even though he could win(like in 2002), I don't see it as likely. Sammy Korir although fast has not won any fast marathon yet, I think whatever he does, there's atleast one person gonna be ahead of him in London 2005.

Basically this is gonna be a showdown of...

PAUL TERGAT VS EVANS RUTTO VS HAILE GEBRSELASSIE

That's gonna be an insane matchup! I'd say there's a 90% chance that one of those three is gonna win. And of those three I think all three have equal chances. Remember, I'm talking about the race being fast! If the race is tactical like London 2003 then anybody can win, but in a fast race, there are only three people who I think will win.

I'm having a tough time choosing who will win.

If Paul Tergat wins he will have shown the world that it's not Evans Rutto or Stefano Baldini that is the top Male Marathoner but him, and will have avenged his Athens heartache and have another victory over Haile.

If Evans Rutto wins he will prove that he's the best marathoner in the world by taking down Paul Tergat head to head and defeating among others Haile and Baldini.

If Haile Gebrselassie wins, well I don't know what to say it would be amazing, I mean he's the greatest distance runner in history and to win over a field this caliber would be amazing. He'd be elevated to Godlike status by taking down Paul Tergat AND Evans Rutto, and The Olympic Champ Baldini.

Place your bets!

Who will it be everybody?

Paul? Evans? Haile?

The London Marathon 2005!!!

Rutto's the man right now, he'll win, possibly taking the record if conditions are OK.

Since they're sure to go through half between 62:30-63:00 there's going to be wreckage all along the Embankment.

Just a thought concerning Mebrahtom Keflezighi if he does well in London and place top 5 possible 2:07:30 or faster and place higher than Khalid would that garner the right to say best American distance runner ever or just best American today?

VIPAM

My money is on John Brown to get 4th.

Best American today. To be the best ever, he needs an Olympic gold, and he needs to actually win a race like London (or Chicago or New York) and not just place in the top 5.

Vipam wrote:

Just a thought concerning Mebrahtom Keflezighi if he does well in London and place top 5 possible 2:07:30 or faster and place higher than Khalid would that garner the right to say best American distance runner ever or just best American today?

VIPAM

If he beats Khannouchi he'll be the best American on that day, but unless Khannochi shows that he's clearly past his prime, I'm not ready to say that Meb is the best current American. I think he'd need to beat Khannouchi's American record and/or gold at Olympics or WCs to be considered the best ever U.S. marathoner, ahead of KK and Shorter.

What odds are the London bookmakers giving on two Americans on the podium?

Will be in Boston that day waiting around until the marathon the next day.

Does anyone know of a sports bar with plenty of dishes where I could go to watch that....Just have to watch that!!!!!!!!

sorry, will be 6 AM EST, oh well