Everyone knows that to the typical Letsrun poster, the most important race of the year is the one run that day. It foretells all future development. Thus, not only Bekele, but Mary Pierce, Morgan Uceny, Jenny Simpson and Andrew Wheating are done. They are kidding themselves if they think they can make the team or medal if they can't pr on May 18. What the hell are they thinking!
Just watched the race. Conditions were awful. pouring rain at times and windy. Commentators were saying that Bekele has been focusing on strength but with very little speed work. All of his results this year back that up. That impressive 10K cross country race, then couldn't quite handle the speed of the Doha 3000M, now this race where he just didn't have the kick at the end.
I'm thinking he is a very long shot for the 5K in London but still a huge threat to win at 10K. But Bekele looks fine all things considered.
btw, commentators were very impressed with Farah's results last night.
bpence wrote:
I didn't see where he started the last lap, but at the least he outkicked Choge and Alamirew and probably passed at least 3 others. Considering how far back he was, he probably ran sub 0:55 for that last lap. Hardly "no kick", especially if he's been doing little track work. Oslo will be the real test (I don't think he'll run Pre).
I watched the live feed this morning, but I guess I had my eye on the wrong guy in the final lap. I thought Bekele was towards the front with 300m to go and then I saw him get passed by several runners starting at around 250m out or so. But it sounds like the guy I was watching wasn't actually Bekele if he was towards the back and passed several people in the final kick.
I don't think he has the straight speed to compete with either Farah or Lagat anymore.
bekele has 740 3000m and 13:13 5000m in his comeback and the great 10k victory last year.
you have to look for bekele to be in better form come olympic time than in his 10k victory last year.
with this projected improvement, bekele should have a shot at medals, bronze being the most probable color.
+1Great summary and analysis.Bekele is in no hurry to show his cards.
wejo wrote:
Looking at the results if you didn't see the race you might think he's done but that would be jumping the gun.
The recap is coming. Gebrhiwet, the winner ran 54.35 the last lap. Bekele finished 2.8 seconds behind him. Bekele was not at the front of the pack when the kicking started.
So Bekele probably closed in 55 high or 56.0.
My main point would be, he was not running like someone trying to win this race. He was content to run in the back of the pack. Reminded me of a lot of Americans in 5000s in Europe. If the pace was too hot for him, that would be a concern but the whole field was together throughout so you can't say that with certainty.
No one had much at the end of this one. It was in rain. Choge was trying to win the thing and Bekele still beat him.
My take was Bekele was content to just run the race and kick from the back. He didn't care if he won. More of a glorified workout. His agent Jos Hermens runs the meet so I'm sure he got a nice payday regardless and he needs to get in a few races to sharpen up.
Lets see how he does in Hengelo.
The Olympics are 11 weeks away. The guy still has plenty of time.
I was at the race and what (I think) I saw was Bekele go to the front with 400m to go with a very big move but get passed aggressively by Gebrhiwet and Longosiwa toward the end of the turn with about 330m to go. A few more guys passed him as well and it appeared that he was well out the back. He then got a 2nd wind with about 200m to go and eventually moved back up to 5th. A good last lap and some aggressive running but nowhere near the win-at-all-costs guy we are used to seeing. "Done" may not be the right word but definitely not where he was at when he could win any race he was in. I look forward to seeing if he can return to that level. I'm not ready to throw him under the bus yet.
You sure about that,bra? I am not convinced that you know which guy Bekele was... He was off the back of the front pack in about 12th place with 400 to go. Might be a good idea to go back and review the race. Either way, anyone who thinks Bekele is done is an idiot. He should not be at his sharpest in May of an Olympic year. He will be fine when it counts. Don't forget, Lasse Viren got lapped in the 10k at the European Championships before winning gold in Munich.
"Everyone knows that to the typical Letsrun poster, the most important race of the year is the one run that day. It foretells all future development. Thus, not only Bekele, but Mary Pierce, Morgan Uceny, Jenny Simpson and Andrew Wheating are done. They are kidding themselves if they think they can make the team or medal if they can't pr on May 18. What the hell are they thinking!"
You got that right! They are all done. It makes me feel so much better about myself to proclaim people are "done." I mean, I trashed Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter and Dick Beardsley in races this past decade. They are so done! I told them so after the race and that they shouldn't bother even running ever again. I mean if you can't grab Oly gold in a world record time, why bother.
It's ridiculous - they have absolutely no right to try and earn a living. Since Geb has also been proclaimed to be done on these boards, perhaps he should be the standard - if he beats you, you are done and must quit the sport.
You guys are so stupid, Bekele returned months ago from an injury and how you expect him to be fine for this time?
It was a unlucky for him comeback only in the olympic year, if he could cameback earlier he would have time to prepare correctly, but even you will see when august arrives..he may not be able to win, but at least he will be medal contender and that i'm sure, I should remind you about his world records...12'37 for 5k, that is 2'31'xx per k, many guys cannot handle that for 3 k and even better 13'09 and 13'08 in a row to his 26'17, a spetacular 2'38 per k media. This guy just comeback, give him time to recover and you will se in London.
He was in second after coming from 12th with 400 to go, what race were you watching?
Bump
Factt wrote:
I don't think he has the straight speed to compete with either Farah or Lagat anymore.
Oh really?
Please, people, if you are going to follow the sport (and especially if you are going to comment on the sport) please develop a non-zero understanding of it.
Please.