wejo wrote:
When I saw 2:06, 3rd place I wondered the same thing. Sounds like it was too hot for a world record.
And they just went out too hot for a WR. The lead group was far ahead of Bekele's half marathon split from 2019. I saw Bekele hanging back, looking at his watch, likely knowing they were going too fast. I'm amazed Adola managed to hang on from going that quick out of the gate.
niceneighbor wrote:
wejo wrote:
When I saw 2:06, 3rd place I wondered the same thing. Sounds like it was too hot for a world record.
And they just went out too hot for a WR. The lead group was far ahead of Bekele's half marathon split from 2019. I saw Bekele hanging back, looking at his watch, likely knowing they were going too fast. I'm amazed Adola managed to hang on from going that quick out of the gate.
let's not forget he almost beat Kipchoge WITHOUT super shoes in 2017.
niceneighbor wrote:
wejo wrote:
When I saw 2:06, 3rd place I wondered the same thing. Sounds like it was too hot for a world record.
And they just went out too hot for a WR. The lead group was far ahead of Bekele's half marathon split from 2019. I saw Bekele hanging back, looking at his watch, likely knowing they were going too fast. I'm amazed Adola managed to hang on from going that quick out of the gate.
Yes they went out too fast, but they had no chance of 2.01 regardless of the early pace.
malmo was rong wrote:
niceneighbor wrote:
And they just went out too hot for a WR. The lead group was far ahead of Bekele's half marathon split from 2019. I saw Bekele hanging back, looking at his watch, likely knowing they were going too fast. I'm amazed Adola managed to hang on from going that quick out of the gate.
Yes they went out too fast, but they had no chance of 2.01 regardless of the early pace.
yes, the dew point is 58 and it's really sunny. Not bad for racing, but that's tough when we're talking about breaking the WR.
From an Aussie to an Aussie, I have to respectively disagree. He looked pretty "heavy" today so a damned good run in warm conditions going out at WR pace. If he can stay motivated and get "lean" I reckon he still has a 2:01+ repeat in him.
This is a bit of a side note, but in this age of climate change it looks like September, maybe even early October, is not a good time of year to attempt a world record because the likely warm conditions will slow you down too much. At this point I expect marathons this time of year to exceed 70 degrees and be humid.
I think if a WR is truly your goal then you'd want to try in March/April, or try it during summer in a mild-climate Southern Hemisphere city where it's winter. I even think May at this point would be too hot in most marathons, even if you're far north.
He's 39 years old. Father Time catches up to everyone. He can probably run 2:04-2:09 for 3 years still or even more, and that's insane, but he's not a world-record setter anymore.
By the way, I would LOVE to eat my words there.
Statistically Berlin is home to most WRs. So can't blame him for taking his chance here. But I agree September is perhaps going to be as hot every year now.
michiganrunner55 wrote:
He is 39…yes his open days as a potential WR holder are over but a 2:06 at age 39 is unreal!!!
More unreal is that after a 61 first half. On a warm (for marathon) day.
abcrunning wrote:
GOAT had a rough day. Pace was fast, he is getting old and today the weather was far from ideal for that kind of pace. They still went through half way in 60:48 with KB 10-12 sec behind. He didn’t quit and finished third. He deserves all the respect in the world.
This man has been racing at this level for about 20 years that’s incredible.
Hopefully his legs will be 90% ready for NYC marathon.
To be honest I thought he was gonna DNF after he lost touch, as that has been his habit in recent years, but as you well said, he didn't quit and finished 3rd. Hats off, the man deserves respect.
They went out too fast , and he's too old for a WR. So is Kipchoge imho.
doctorj wrote:
To be honest I thought he was gonna DNF after he lost touch, as that has been his habit in recent years, but as you well said, he didn't quit and finished 3rd. Hats off, the man deserves respect.
Yes, I was just happy it wasn't over after 18k. Bekele is exciting to watch, And I am so impressed he hit his halfway mark at 1:01:00 exactly as planned. What a pro. Those pacers were amateurs. Wishing him good health so he can take his XC skills to the NYC course.
The 90% humidity made the difference. He ran a very impressive race still. But you could see the effort in his face at the 5k when they did a close up. I do think he's running Chicago to end his career with a check on his way out.
According to the man himself, he still plans to gun for the world record, "and beyond", at some point. Whether that's unrealistic or not, someone like Bekele would be in the best position to know that.
I think he will do it, as crazy as that sounds lol
Let’s move on from Berlin. Fat Kenny was clearly fit but unlucky with the weather (and errant pacing, somewhat). Consider this race a tune-up for NYC. If he crushes a sub 2:04 on Nov 7, will it not be just as sweet as a 2:01:38 would have been earlier today?
Go back to first modern Olympics, 1896. Olympic schedule for running events: 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, Marathon, 110mH.
A few Olympics later, phony events were created for almost 1500m runners and almost Marathoners, 5000m & 10000m added to 1912 Summer Olympic schedule.
Mode poster on let'srun, a combo of JV high school XC runners and JV D-3 XC runners. Of course 5000m & 10000m appear to be popular events on this site. Bekele was never great because his so-called greatness, greatness at phony events, 5000m & 10000m.
A time for let'srun honesty wrote:
Go back to first modern Olympics, 1896. Olympic schedule for running events: 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, Marathon, 110mH.
A few Olympics later, phony events were created for almost 1500m runners and almost Marathoners, 5000m & 10000m added to 1912 Summer Olympic schedule.
Mode poster on let'srun, a combo of JV high school XC runners and JV D-3 XC runners. Of course 5000m & 10000m appear to be popular events on this site. Bekele was never great because his so-called greatness, greatness at phony events, 5000m & 10000m.
Lol it really never gets old for your breed of troll does it
He should do ultra marathons next, because he is too old.
Flagpole wrote:
He's 39 years old. Father Time catches up to everyone. He can probably run 2:04-2:09 for 3 years still or even more, and that's insane, but he's not a world-record setter anymore.
By the way, I would LOVE to eat my words there.
This.
Bekele ran 7:30 for 3,000m in 2001, just over 20 years before his 2:06:47. Never mind the fact that he’s definitely good for faster with more reasonable, non-WR-chase pacing, that kind of longevity at that elite of a level must be totally unprecedented. I guess it’s easier when you’re the most talented distance runner we have ever seen.
Bekele has been putting up 1220+ point performances on the IAAF tables for longer than the War in Afghanistan - astounding.
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