I think this is just a ruse. I suspect he's really going to run St George in October and be the first man under 2 hours.
I think this is just a ruse. I suspect he's really going to run St George in October and be the first man under 2 hours.
nexis, you are seriously kidding yourself if you don't think he's ever avoided another runner in his life. He makes a regular habit of it. He makes DEALS not to have certain runners invited to events; there are stories of people being DISinvited because Geb wants to come. The Berlin Marathon's world class men's field is never more than three deep because that's how he wants it.
Haile is a fine runner! A fine boy and a fine runner. I remember when he was just a little tyke and he'd put on his little white sneakers and run around the backyard saying "Look at me, I'm in Limpics! I'm im Limpics!". Well he's all grown up now and he doesn't have to run the Olympics if he doesn't want. He can make up his own mind about what 'Lympics' he wants to run. So don't you people be saying nothing about him not going to that dirty old city over there.
Let me say this about that wrote:
Haile is a fine runner! A fine boy and a fine runner. I remember when he was just a little tyke and he'd put on his little white sneakers and run around the backyard saying "Look at me, I'm in Limpics! I'm im Limpics!". Well he's all grown up now and he doesn't have to run the Olympics if he doesn't want. He can make up his own mind about what 'Lympics' he wants to run. So don't you people be saying nothing about him not going to that dirty old city over there.
Oh, boy. I can't stop laughing at this. How about this:
I am a fine runner. I ran in my backyard when I was a boy and now I have grown up and I try to avoid Olympic and WC and anywhere when there are runners taking EPO (Read, faster than me or have a chance of beating me or mess up with my racing rhythem). So, I am the best clean runner in the world. Don't you people be saying nothing about me not going to your dirty race in the dirty old city.
Now, I will rest my case. Have a nice day!
There are many, many more stories of Gebrselassie winning legendary races that the whole world knows about then your so called stories of him avoiding other runners. Go back and check the history. And Berlin simply does not have the budget of several of the other big city marathons nor does it have David Bedford or Mary Whittenberg to lure in top talent. Both of them are at the top when it comes to getting the best athletes.
nexis151 wrote:
There are many, many more stories of Gebrselassie winning legendary races that the whole world knows about then your so called stories of him avoiding other runners. Go back and check the history. And Berlin simply does not have the budget of several of the other big city marathons nor does it have David Bedford or Mary Whittenberg to lure in top talent. Both of them are at the top when it comes to getting the best athletes.
If the other big races have such huge budgets, don't you'd think they'd try to get Geb to race at their events... oh wait, they did and he got beat.
I don't think its a secret that geb avoids competition at this stage of the game. That's not to say he always did, but think about it. Him breaking world records gives him a much higher pay day then him taking 3rd or 4rth in a race. So, he has special races set up (arizona half) or runs berlin($ with no comp), or dubai ($)... and maybe the person driving those decisions is the agent and not haile himself. After all, running berlin gives him a nice boost to the bank more than running at the olympics.