Set your alarm clocks now. Bekele's coach: "He's in perfect shape now....I think [he can break the WR]."

Will Flotrack take control of all the live streams and try to charge us again? They tried in 2015 Dubai when Bekele announced the WR attempt and then both Flotrack and Bekele went home DEVASTATED! 😅

Juice Springsteen wrote:

I’m not falling for this trick again.

Drops out at mile 18 or something.

Honestly yea. Would love Bekele to have a great race but recent outings have not earned him the benefit of the doubt.

WR pace through halfway but 2:04:27 at the finish

Bored with the chore wrote:

WR pace through halfway but 2:04:27 at the finish

Do you predict he wins with this time as well, or fades and get scooped?

And be careful, LetsRun posts last forever.

Juice Springsteen wrote:

I’m not falling for this trick again.

Drops out at mile 18 or something.

This is likely the correct answer.

Is there an Internet thread showing this live, and at what time Eastern?

This. It truly baffles me some people call him the marathon goat with the amount of races he didn't even finish.

The race will be streamed on Peacock. I am going to say he'll break the record and run sub 2:01.

My thesis:

1. He loves Berlin. Never had a bad race there.

2016: 2:03:03

2019: 2:01:41

2. Eliud Kipchoge is in Berlin. Yes, he was flown into Berlin by race organizers to watch. Extra fuel for Bekele.

3. Berlin is somewhat close to Jos Hermen's HQ in Europe and, more importantly, close to the physical therapist that tends to his long standing calf issues. They're going to have extra time pre-race to work on that calf.

One downside:

I saw a youtube video somewhat recently of him being interviewed. He looked overweight compared to the 2019 race.

How many times have kb and his crew talked it up at pre race press conferences and whatnot knowing he's not actually going to race? Straight up lying to everyone. I've learned to not believe a word his team says before a race.

I am rooting for him though. That 201 he busted out was fricken awesome. I had counted him done.

Prediction: Dnf or under 207. He doesn't bother finishing if over 207.

It will be too hot, even if he is in WR shape. The entire race will be well outside ideal temps. If he runs 2:03, he was in shape to do it.

The rest of the elite men's field this year is pretty weak. If Bekele is going to run the WR, he will have to go solo the last few miles after the pacers drop out. Unless someone is able to run a huge PR from the rest of the field, no one will be left after mi 18-20 to pull Bekele to the finish.

Bekele is 39. He has not raced in over a year. He was brilliant two years ago when he ran just a few seconds under Kipchoge's record. But you have to be beyond perfect to nail a marathon at 39. I think Bekele comes through 30k under WR pace and then is forced to back off and just try to keep from getting caught by the rest of the field.

Renewed Marathoner wrote:

How many times have kb and his crew talked it up at pre race press conferences and whatnot knowing he's not actually going to race? Straight up lying to everyone. I've learned to not believe a word his team says before a race.

I am rooting for him though. That 201 he busted out was fricken awesome. I had counted him done.

Prediction: Dnf or under 207. He doesn't bother finishing if over 207.

I am rooting too. His 2:01 was such a perfect run - the pacing immaculate. And going into that, we were saying the same things as now... then he ran it. TWO SECONDS off - I still can't believe it. Best marathon I've ever watched.

So yes, it's so unlikely, and so much disappointment before... but you never know. Berlin 2019 was a classic.

Can’t understand why people are so harsh on Bekele’s DNFs. He’s had three DNFs total out of the 10 marathons he ran, two of which were in Dubai that tends to run hotter. Also, the Amsterdam marathon he could’ve probably finished for the sake of finishing it as he had barely a mile left, but it’s understandable if he could have finished but just didn’t see the point that day. He’s finished enough marathons including three competing against Kipchoge when he respectively placed 4th, 3rd and 6th, so it’s not like he doesn’t care to finish if he isn’t winning.

He did come twice very close to breaking the WR, once in 2016 and again in 2019, so I’d keep an open mind. Berlin is special because the current WR was made there, so it makes for a fair comparison. Man knows what he’s doing.

Where is banana bread? I haven't seen him chime in on a Bekele thread for quite some time now.

I'll be happy to see him win, time regardless.

Is it just me or do they say this every year about Bekele and then 2/3 times he DNF's?

#LHRC wrote:

Is there an Internet thread showing this live, and at what time Eastern?

Keep an eye on this site:

Newbury Park? wrote:

The race will be streamed on Peacock. I am going to say he'll break the record and run sub 2:01.

My thesis:

1. He loves Berlin. Never had a bad race there.

2016: 2:03:03

2019: 2:01:41

2. Eliud Kipchoge is in Berlin. Yes, he was flown into Berlin by race organizers to watch. Extra fuel for Bekele.

3. Berlin is somewhat close to Jos Hermen's HQ in Europe and, more importantly, close to the physical therapist that tends to his long standing calf issues. They're going to have extra time pre-race to work on that calf.

One downside:

I saw a youtube video somewhat recently of him being interviewed. He looked overweight compared to the 2019 race.

Peacock website shows no search result for this race

He's like Muhammed Ali...

The Greatest in his prime but painful to watch when Father Time caught up to him.

Like Ali, he should have hung it up a long time ago.

But like Ali, occasionally he shows glimpses of past greatness.