He should race Euro XC and (if Euro XC goes well) World XC, and then skip indoors altogether to prep to chase WRs outdoors.
Um. He has a way better chance at Double gold in Poland than beating Kiplimo in World XC. Downvote all you want but it's true.
So? When has Jakob ever backed down from a challenge? Jakob at World XC against the big dogs would be way more interesting than seeing him dominate a B-tier field at world indoors.
Um. He has a way better chance at Double gold in Poland than beating Kiplimo in World XC. Downvote all you want but it's true.
So? When has Jakob ever backed down from a challenge? Jakob at World XC against the big dogs would be way more interesting than seeing him dominate a B-tier field at world indoors.
Well Hocker is racing and supposedly doubling. If you were Jakob, would you rather bet on winning a more than likely silver at World XC, or winning a 2nd double at World Indoors to join Emperor Geb as the most decorated indoor runner ever?
I’d be fine if he just did World XC though, really the main goal are those 3 WRs outdoors and you can stick a fork in him
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
Jakob has caught the OldyMania syndrome before the age, that's what happen when we fall in the excess of high volume trainings for year. Add to that his Nordic skin not naturally adapted to rude and dry climat.
So? When has Jakob ever backed down from a challenge? Jakob at World XC against the big dogs would be way more interesting than seeing him dominate a B-tier field at world indoors.
Well Hocker is racing and supposedly doubling. If you were Jakob, would you rather bet on winning a more than likely silver at World XC, or winning a 2nd double at World Indoors to join Emperor Geb as the most decorated indoor runner ever?
I’d be fine if he just did World XC though, really the main goal are those 3 WRs outdoors and you can stick a fork in him
I don't see how facing Hocker at World Indoors is an easier task than World XC, where there is a smaller margin of error on an indoor track.
Also, Kiplimo is a different athlete now - he is a marathoner. Can he dominant the last 1-2K with both speed and strength? Would you back him for the win if Jakob is within breathing distance? I wouldn't.
I would be more than happy seeing Jakob run the XC season, break the 3000m indoor WR in Lievin - or if he is cheeky, break the 2 mile WR that Hocker and Fisher are chasing - and then train the house down for the outdoor season.
Jakob already had the perfect indoor season in 2025, there are other goals to chase in 2026.
Well Hocker is racing and supposedly doubling. If you were Jakob, would you rather bet on winning a more than likely silver at World XC, or winning a 2nd double at World Indoors to join Emperor Geb as the most decorated indoor runner ever?
I’d be fine if he just did World XC though, really the main goal are those 3 WRs outdoors and you can stick a fork in him
I don't see how facing Hocker at World Indoors is an easier task than World XC, where there is a smaller margin of error on an indoor track.
Also, Kiplimo is a different athlete now - he is a marathoner. Can he dominant the last 1-2K with both speed and strength? Would you back him for the win if Jakob is within breathing distance? I wouldn't.
I would be more than happy seeing Jakob run the XC season, break the 3000m indoor WR in Lievin - or if he is cheeky, break the 2 mile WR that Hocker and Fisher are chasing - and then train the house down for the outdoor season.
Jakob already had the perfect indoor season in 2025, there are other goals to chase in 2026.
I really doubt Jakob is going to travel across the Atlantic ocean to run World XC during the time he’s usually at altitude. World Indoors is in Poland which is far, far closer to Sandnes. Nothing wrong with going for that and it’ll still benefit his career.
I guess what bothers me, is that he admits some days his Achilles is still sore. I'm no elite athlete but I've had Achilles tendonitis 3 times during my competitive years and there is no way I could have ever trained through it. I had to wait until there was absolutely no pain at all before I could even train again.
I guess what bothers me, is that he admits some days his Achilles is still sore. I'm no elite athlete but I've had Achilles tendonitis 3 times during my competitive years and there is no way I could have ever trained through it. I had to wait until there was absolutely no pain at all before I could even train again.
I’m worried too. -But I think one should be careful using one’s own experience too much: I had Achilles tendonitis on both legs, and was severely punished each time I tried to run throughout 6 months. But years later, when the problem reappeared (only one leg) I was able to run despite the pain, and quite soon the foot was totally fine again…
it is a come back race of sorts, though he got in pretty good shape for the worlds as in 10 th in the world type shape, and building on that, he should do well.
that said, if someone brings their A game, less than first is nothing to panic about.
you know, like a 26x 10k guy who loves the course,
i'm talking about a 26.4x effort 10k ish, could happen and if you're there at the finish, that's fine prep work for 5k in 5 months..
I don't see how facing Hocker at World Indoors is an easier task than World XC, where there is a smaller margin of error on an indoor track.
Also, Kiplimo is a different athlete now - he is a marathoner. Can he dominant the last 1-2K with both speed and strength? Would you back him for the win if Jakob is within breathing distance? I wouldn't.
I would be more than happy seeing Jakob run the XC season, break the 3000m indoor WR in Lievin - or if he is cheeky, break the 2 mile WR that Hocker and Fisher are chasing - and then train the house down for the outdoor season.
Jakob already had the perfect indoor season in 2025, there are other goals to chase in 2026.
I really doubt Jakob is going to travel across the Atlantic ocean to run World XC during the time he’s usually at altitude. World Indoors is in Poland which is far, far closer to Sandnes. Nothing wrong with going for that and it’ll still benefit his career.
He travelled to China last year for World Indoors, which he could have skipped like all of the other pretenders. He could have also skipped Worlds in Tokyo this year, but he turned up. Nothing is off the table for Jakob it seems.
This post was edited 25 seconds after it was posted.
Is cross country tough on the Achilles? If so, id rather him just focus on maybe some road racing in super shoes (better for Achilles) and then outdoors to ge that 5k record. No indoors as that is a risk too
Uh, not sure I agree with that.
Nobody has really connected the dots on Jakob's lower leg issues have they?
All this guy does is rack up heavy volume in soft super shoes running anti-clockwise around a running track. In his high-volume track phase (March/April) he is running approx 20km a day across two workouts (his famous "double stacking" in shoes with 35mm+ of soft foam under his heel which is compressing to half the size and back every time he foot-strikes.
Does that intuitively sound like a good "scenario" for the body? The slight over-extension of the lower leg muscles because the underfoot platform is essentially "giving way" considerably every time the foot impacts the ground? I personally believe "super shoes" have been the cause of all his issues and it's stunning to me that this guy and his team that are so "scientific" and meticulous around his training haven't figured this out yet. Even small things like when he starts his reps - he basically does them from a standing start (slow walk in), always pushing off the left foot first - a small burst of stress but one that with his volume of reps matters.
Is XC that much better? On a good firm course yes, on a super sloppy course no - fundamentally the same issue as blasting miles in his super shoes. But this race is in Lagoa Portugal which has hardly any rain this time of year (I just looked at the forecast it's been mid 60's and sunny for the last multiple weeks) so if the course is firm then it will be idea for him body wise and certainly better than putting in more intense effort in marshmallow shoes that quite frankly he's been overusing in training (not what they were created for either btw).
I think the main reason is running 190km per week for 8 years and prior to that probably 140km for 4 years.
so basically at 25yo having the mileage of 30 yo.
also trolling a bit with his shoes, some vids were he brags and runs in old vaporfly models with more than 1000km on them.
And he does not cross train much compared to the other top 1500 guys, Hocker training for instance is quite novel and smart with some bike and XT + lower mileage.
I really doubt Jakob is going to travel across the Atlantic ocean to run World XC during the time he’s usually at altitude. World Indoors is in Poland which is far, far closer to Sandnes. Nothing wrong with going for that and it’ll still benefit his career.
He travelled to China last year for World Indoors, which he could have skipped like all of the other pretenders. He could have also skipped Worlds in Tokyo this year, but he turned up. Nothing is off the table for Jakob it seems.
Except maybe World XC. He is obviously not one to shy away from competition and racing, with one consistent exception -- World XC. Even when healthy he avoided it. It would be great to see how he would do in what Eyestone recently called on the NYC marathon broadcast the greatest distance race in the world.
does anyone know what a typical week of pre-comp and race week training looks like for Jakob? I feel like there seems to be a lot of info on his 8 week base plan, but not much leading up to his races. Based on what I've found, they obviously seem to incorporate more speed work and race pace stuff, but what workouts would this intale, and how would this affect his weekly mileage?
does anyone know what a typical week of pre-comp and race week training looks like for Jakob? I feel like there seems to be a lot of info on his 8 week base plan, but not much leading up to his races. Based on what I've found, they obviously seem to incorporate more speed work and race pace stuff, but what workouts would this intale, and how would this affect his weekly mileage?
he is careful not to post too much about it. there are a couple of hiw pre race workouts, usually 300-400 at race pace but he usually does not provide the rest and remains a bit illusive about which day he does it before a comp.
does anyone know what a typical week of pre-comp and race week training looks like for Jakob? I feel like there seems to be a lot of info on his 8 week base plan, but not much leading up to his races. Based on what I've found, they obviously seem to incorporate more speed work and race pace stuff, but what workouts would this intale, and how would this affect his weekly mileage?
he is careful not to post too much about it. there are a couple of hiw pre race workouts, usually 300-400 at race pace but he usually does not provide the rest and remains a bit illusive about which day he does it before a comp.
I was at the training track in Tokyo and saw his prerace workout 3 days out of the 5000m heats in Tokyo:
2x700m at around 2:00 in trainers. 1600m at 4:01-4:03 in spikes (I can't recall the exact time) 3x400m 58-60" (can't remember the exact splits)
Henrik pacing with the bike and teenager Moe Berg helping.
I guess what bothers me, is that he admits some days his Achilles is still sore. I'm no elite athlete but I've had Achilles tendonitis 3 times during my competitive years and there is no way I could have ever trained through it. I had to wait until there was absolutely no pain at all before I could even train again.
I’m worried too. -But I think one should be careful using one’s own experience too much: I had Achilles tendonitis on both legs, and was severely punished each time I tried to run throughout 6 months. But years later, when the problem reappeared (only one leg) I was able to run despite the pain, and quite soon the foot was totally fine again…
Well clearly he had some time off and supposedly he is building up right now. It was hard watching his new amazon series as he decided to run on an inflamed achilles and he would stop many runs short.