Meb says he's considered coming out of retirement to run the 2020 Trials

Qqqqqqq wrote:

He should qualify at CIM this year with sub 2:20:00

He's already qualified for the trials because he was on the team last year.

jajkfdkjldf;jfads;jafs wrote:

I see he suffers from Joan Samuelson syndrome.

Some people can't let go of the limelight. They need constant attention an ego strokes. Meb seems like that.

They both are making constant announcements about what they are doing, seeking attention. Never wanting to step aside to let the younger guys take over.

Losing mad respect for Meb.

I'm not sure if it's Meb wanting to return or his brother (business manager) recommending it from a fiscal standpoint. Sponsorships are harder to come by when you are not racing anymore and the general public does not care about distance runners compared to the Michael Jordans, etc.

I have a much different take on Joan Benoit Samuelson, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting a couple times after races. I think it's fantastic that in our sport those who were the best when I was young (JBS, Bill Rodgers, etc.) can still, if they choose to, compete in major events decades later. I can't readily arrange to play in a rec basketball league with Larry Bird, for example.

I see them as giving back to the sport and doing what they love, in some cases [e.g., JBS] at a really high level within age group. Where's the downside, and how are they preventing the young stars from taking over? Is Molly Huddle's career somehow being stymied by Joan Samuelson's keeping after it?

Jared Ward should be able to run sub 2:10 and qualify for the Olympics.

Hardloper wrote:

That would be great to watch him see what he can do at age 44 but I would almost rather some see 2:14 rando get an Olympic spot

We could see both!

Outlaw wrote:

asdghj wrote:

Believing he can run 2:12-2:13 and actually doing it are completely different things. I think the chance of him getting back to this level are pretty slim.

you know what's funny? that's the attitude that he's faced most of his professional career. I remember watching the 2012 London Olympic Marathon and he was not even introduced--despite the fact that he was the ONLY person in the field with an Olympic Marathon medal! And he finished 4th!!!

If anyone could pull it off, it would be Meb. He has the racing talent, and knows how to control a race. He has old-man strength now and more guts than any other American runner than i've ever seen. It's conceivable that he could run 2:12 and place 2nd or 3rd to take a spot, and finish in the top 10 in the Olympics.

Sure, what Meb did in his late 30's and into 40's was amazing. But retiring and then coming back to do the same thing 4 years later isn't going to happen. I'm guessing the people thinking he can just run 2:12 again are all under the age of 40. Things fall apart quickly after the age of 40. Meb will be 45 during the Tokyo Olympics and more than 6 years removed from his 2014 Boston win.

If he has stopped running I would agree with you 100%. Reports are though that he still runs 60+ miles a week and did just run a what 69 or 70 minute half off that?

It's a longshot, but if he is still running like that he probably has a barometer on where he is at. The biggest question might be how much 2 more years takes out of him even if he does start training. If he really could get back to 2:12 right now that could easily fall to 2:15+ in the next couple years.

Chances are small, but my feel is more like 2-5% chance than the sub 1% chance you're suggesting.

dhaaga wrote:

I have a much different take on Joan Benoit Samuelson, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting a couple times after races. I think it's fantastic that in our sport those who were the best when I was young (JBS, Bill Rodgers, etc.) can still, if they choose to, compete in major events decades later. I can't readily arrange to play in a rec basketball league with Larry Bird, for example.

I see them as giving back to the sport and doing what they love, in some cases [e.g., JBS] at a really high level within age group. Where's the downside, and how are they preventing the young stars from taking over? Is Molly Huddle's career somehow being stymied by Joan Samuelson's keeping after it?

I agree completely. And I think if Meb wants to go for it, he should do it! If a 44-year-old guy turns out to be one of the top three male marathoners in the U.S. that year, so be it. The guy obviously loves to run and seems to be a class act. I'm skeptical that he can do it but I'll be pulling for him if he tries.

asdghj wrote:

But retiring and then coming back to do the same thing 4 years later isn't going to happen.

Did he really retire? My understanding is that he's running a lot, just not racing. If his base fitness allows for him to begin workouts in a relatively short period of time, then he could be ready by race-day.

I'm guessing the people thinking he can just run 2:12 again are all under the age of 40. Things fall apart quickly after the age of 40.

I am under 40. When I hit 35, i noticed a big difference. at 36, I struggle to run--never had knee pain before! I struggle at 20mpw! It sucks! I was inconsistent from 32-35 with training, and I lost basically all my fitness.

Meb will be 45 during the Tokyo Olympics and more than 6 years removed from his 2014 Boston win.

This is where Meb is different. every now and then, athletes come along who surprise us well past their 40's, and can still compete at a high level. Kelly Slater, Tony Hawk, and Steve Caballero are among 3 athletes that many people have not heard of who can still compete at a high level in challenging sports, and challenge the next generation(s). I would put Meb in that category as well as Bernard Lagat. If you follow their careers, you'll see that Meb had a similar trajectory.

Would be pretty interesting if he did that. However, the new wave of Kenyan immigrants (there's so many now I can't even keep track) will probably be taking over the marathon by then, it will be Rupp and 2 of them.

Station to Station wrote:

not always.

Everybody can agree that Mr. Rupp deserves it the most but if he comes to the starting line slightly injured and can't complete the distance as was the case in Boston then the guy who deserves it the most won't make the team.

It would be great to see an under the radar guy make it. It would give many the idea that possibly they can do it also.

Rupp wasn't injured in Boston, he got hypothermic (90% of the elites did as well)

remember when he ran 2:06:07 twenty days later in Prague?

I thought about it. As good as Sage is at ultra running he didn't qualify for the last trials and hasn't qualified for the upcoming trials so...

Meb came to America when he was 12. I think Mo was 10 when he moved to the UK. They may be genetically East African but their running careers are owed to the U.S. and the UK. Neither ran in Eritrea or Somalia. Hard to keep up a running regimen during civil war. Look at Mo's twin brother who stayed behind in Somalia--he's not a runner. Meb and Mo were both encouraged by gym teachers in their schools. It would be more of a betrayal for them to run for Eritrea and Somalia.

Even if they were born in the West, they'd still have the same genes. So I don't get what your problem is. Children of 10 and 12 are not recruited as mercenary runners. They're both a product of their environment as well as sons of their East African parents.

Rupp, Biwott, and Korir

That last one is assuming Korir goes to the marathon, as he could just stay with the 10k and make the team there.

But I'd say Meb has a chance.

Charlesvdw wrote:

Jared Ward should be able to run sub 2:10 and qualify for the Olympics.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I'll believe it when I see it.

Repeat after me: "Coming out of retirement in pro sports after the age of 40 is ALWAYS a mistake."

Meb is a washed up cuuck. I wonder how he logs 60-70 mpw in his nursing home.

I dont underestand why RW and hobby joggers ride his dong so hard. Hes not even an American born runner.

RUPPY RUPPY RUPPP will send him home devistated if he does. Rupp is a better marathoner than meb could ever dream of becoming.

what name wrote:

I'm sure one of those names you can't pronounce from the top 10 in the men's 10 mile champs will make it.

Good post.

Replace "one" with "two" and you nail it.

asdghj wrote:

But retiring and then coming back to do the same thing 4 years later isn't going to happen. I'm guessing the people thinking he can just run 2:12 again are all under the age of 40. Things fall apart quickly after the age of 40. Meb will be 45 during the Tokyo Olympics and more than 6 years removed from his 2014 Boston win.

Wrong.

Less accomplished runners than Meb have run much faster than 2:12 into their 40s.

M40 WR is 2:08 by one Kenneth Mungara.

For M45 the WR is 2:14 by Jackson Kipngok Yegon. And a white Swedish guy ran 2:15 at 45, in 1991.

I think peak Meb was probably two minutes better than peak Kipngok Yegon, although it's tight as JKK's PR was a 2:08.

It is a new thing for truly top talents to run seriously into their 40s, and those who do so are teaching us what is possible. The experience of 40-something never-was types is not relevant.