Is Daniel Komen's 3000m world record insurmountable?

Great point about the frequency of 3000 events - there are several steeplechase 3000's but not enough "regular" 3000's - no disrespect to any steeplechasers out there- I just don't like the event - when I'm at a track meet as a spectator, when ANY hurdle race is on, that my cue for "popcorn time!" I don't want to see how fast someone can run over a hurdle or barrier - I just want to see how fast they can go period - at swim meets I only watch the freestyle because my only interest is how fast can the swimmer go (the breast, butterfly, and back strokes I just can't stand watching them but no disrespect to Phelps!) - that being said, it's because of Daniel Komen that the 3000 (NON STEEPLECHASE) is my favorite event - everytime I watch Komen's 7:20 I get a chill - especially when the announcer calls the first mile split in 3:56- then Komen just keeps on trucking to finish in 7:20 - that's my #1 choice for greatest athletic performance of all time - but yea - to have a shot at seeing sub 7:20, it would sure help if there were more OUTDOOR 3000 non steeple races - that would be a good place to start - me personally I've been preaching the gospel of "more 3K road races" - honestly I'm really tired of the 5K road race - most 5K road races are never 5K anyways - never can understand why many 5K courses end up being 4.8K 4.9K ect ect - last year in Plano Tx I did a "5K" and it was actually 4.1K - if it's that dam difficult to measure 3 miles 188 yards then perhaps a 3K course would be much easier to manage - for the serious runner fantastic way to get in a fast paced run but be recovered in a days time - for people just starting to run (or just off the couch) the 3K would be so much easier to tackle - 5K is actually a lot for a couch potato or an ex smoker - a person who just quit smoking a 5K is like a marathon - 3K's just make more sense to be "America's 'go to' road race - and the reason I feel this way is thanks to Daniel Komen - thank you DK!

Bolt's 9.58 is the best athletic performance there is. If you compare to the next fastest men who ran 9.69, he is about 1.1% better.

To put that into 3k terms for you, that would be like the next fastest man over 3k after Komen running 7:25.7.

Also considering the 100m is an event which is very highly contested, there's a 100m at every meeting including all the major champs, and that every man always tries to run his fastest in each outing, and it's not even close.

I firmly believe Bolt's 200m was well within his capabilities. You have to consider it was run into a slight headwind for a start. He was a 19.0x man.

Ovett himself, I believe, suggested that the track in Rieti was short.

yyy wrote:

Ovett himself, I believe, suggested that the track in Rieti was short.

When/where did he say that?

you made very excellent points - thanks for the response - I remember when "Bolt Fever" caught on in 2008/2009 there were parody videos made of Bolt running the 100 where he'd stop and eat a hot dog, look around and enjoy the scenery, then realize his competitors were coming and he'd hurry to the finish line and take first - the narrative being Bolt could have gone faster - I remember many races Bolt is looking around at people behind him - it's his perfect right to do that - I just wished he went 100.00 % flat out and who knows what we would have seen - perhaps he was "walking" a fine line between coming in first/ setting records/ and not getting injured - we'll never know - I watch his 19.19 on you tube a get chills every time - yea loved to have seen 18.99 but 19.19 still pretty exciting - the Komen 7:20 is just as exciting for both are world records - the 7:20 is about 7:52 (2) mile pace, but in actuality a 7:55 (2) mile (it's an extra 218 meters so the pace would slow just a tad for the entire 2 miles had it been a 2 mile event) - (of course this is assuming his 7:20 was a full out effort) if he had gas still in the tank and kept going perhaps a 7:53 (2) mile - I have a mountain bike and granted it's got wide knobby tires for trail riding and if I put it in 15 th gear and give it everything I have on a flat paved bike trail there's no way I can break 8 for 2 miles on the mountain bike - maybe 9 flat giving it everything I have - to be able to run 2 miles under 8, I just don't have words for - and yes to you road bikers out there I'm fully aware on a light road bike 2 miles in 6 flat is possible or even 5 1/2 minutes - just trying to somehow show how amazing Komen's 7:20 is !!

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

yyy wrote:

Ovett himself, I believe, suggested that the track in Rieti was short.

When/where did he say that?

Just a guess ,but he probably didnt say it

yea I know for a fact that some tracks are a little off - especially the lane markers - what you have to do is measure the 2 "widths" & add them then divide by 2 - this will give you the "diameter" if the track were a perfect circle - the number you're looking for is 127.38 meters (after you divide by 2)- find the most inner lane "line" and measure 3 inches going outward - that is your measuring point - take a wheel and measure to the exact opposite end at its respective same measure point - take the length and width add them then divide by 2 - if it's not 127.38 the track is off - if it's off it's ok - you can calculate the actual meters in all the lanes by using simple mathematics- you can then calculate the meters to add or subtract in relation to 1 lap to make whatever distance you're seeking come out correct - most tracks are 99.99 % right on the money - some are off - but like I said the correct distance can be achieved using what you learned in the 7th grade

Ingebritsen will break the record #MNGA

Boots. wrote:

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

When/where did he say that?

Just a guess ,but he probably didnt say it

Yes Boots I think you're on to something there.

another way to do it is take a wheel and keep it ON the most inner lane line (next to the grass) - don't let the wheel "wobble" & measure one lap exactly and you want to see 399.52 meters (1310 feet 9 inches) - I was told by a long time track coach that the 400 meters is a 360 degree 1 lap completion 3 inches outward of that most inner painted white lane (1) line - you can do that and cross check with the other method - like I said, if for whatever reason the track is off it's not a big deal- you can calculate any correction distance- but you got to keep the wheel exactly on that painted lane line for your reference - if you try to eyeball the 3 inches you will be off and all the math will be off - why do I know this? Because I've discovered inaccurate tracks - not many but a few - I've even "discovered" football fields that were not 100 yards - 1 was 97 yards - never told anyone because I don't really like football (track is my favorite sport with cycling and baseball tied for second!)

You are beginning.... just beginning... to sound like vento....

Shaheen beat El G in that race.

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

The men's 400m hurdles wr is a tough challenge.

But we have some hurdlers on fire this year :)

Exellent analysis ! I remember that Komen ran his 7.20 just 2days after a 13.02 race in Berlin were he looked very tired. That race must have been in his legs when he ran 7.20. So 7.20 on tired legs is even more impressive. But no one has even mentioned Nourredine Morcelis chances of breaking 7.20. When he ran 7.25 it was with a final lap of 54sec !!! And Gebresselassie lost 12sec in the final 600m !!! This indicates that Morceli could have runned at least 7.22-7.23 i think. What do you think ?

Well he might…

So it'll go from an EPO-filled Kenyan to a drug-filled Norwegian. Why can't this sport be clean

I think Ingy can get it after that 2-mile performance on a great day. What a time to be alive. Maybe the 1500m mark is the bigger record?