Eluid Kipchoge IS one of the greatest runners of all time.
His win over Elg & Bekele is my favorite 5k to watch. It was extremely fast and the guy out Elg and Bekele at the height of their powers. It's still hard to believe he was only 19!?
Eluid Kipchoge IS one of the greatest runners of all time.
His win over Elg & Bekele is my favorite 5k to watch. It was extremely fast and the guy out Elg and Bekele at the height of their powers. It's still hard to believe he was only 19!?
FWIW we discussed this after the Berlin marathon a bit http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=5418320
I always loved Kipchoge and I don't think he is underrated. He is very very good. Every body knows that. But I think his early success in Paris in 2003 set the bar pretty high. While that was a great win for him, looking back it is clear that the only reason Bekele lost that race (or the next year in Athens) was because he ran a very hard 10 km earlier in the championships (in fact the only 10k ever run with the final 5k under 13!). Also Bekele was so worried about El Guerrouj that he may have handed the victory over after those first 2k in 5:04? or so and then slowing it down allowing the whole field to catch up. Not good tactics by Bekele in that race. Especially when you consider 2003-2005 was really the peak of his career in terms of fitness.
One of the feathers in Kipchoge's cap: His indoor 2 mile win over Mo Farah in 2012.
Mo got the European record, but he woulda rather beat Eliud I'd say.
Pretty great track racing for a guy who was about to become a marathoner.
On the other hand, Kipchoge did not make the Kenyan Oly team in 2012, correct me if I'm wrong.
Probably my personal favorite runner of the modern era. Was fortunate enough to be traveling in Europe during summer of 03 and watched the WC 5K final from a hotel live in Amsterdam on BBC, best race I've ever seen fast throughout and an unbelievable finish. Also had a chance to see him in person at Pre in 2012 in the Kenyan trials 10K.
The Rocket. wrote:
Not good tactics by Bekele in that race. Especially when you consider 2003-2005 was really the peak of his career in terms of fitness.
Arguably, 2008-2009 was Bekele's true peak. He doesn't quite have the times to show for it, except for his 26:25 at 2008 Pre, but the "double double," two golds in two consecutive years, AND going 5-5 on the 5k diamond league circuit in 2009- it's pretty impressive.
Not to say that 2003-2005 wasn't an amazing time for Bekele. But I think he was a better championship runner from Beijing-Berlin. But maybe the two peaks are so close to each other overall that it's impossible to say which was truly "Better."
ScottEvil wrote:
The Rocket. wrote:Not good tactics by Bekele in that race. Especially when you consider 2003-2005 was really the peak of his career in terms of fitness.
Arguably, 2008-2009 was Bekele's true peak. He doesn't quite have the times to show for it, except for his 26:25 at 2008 Pre, but the "double double," two golds in two consecutive years, AND going 5-5 on the 5k diamond league circuit in 2009- it's pretty impressive.
Not to say that 2003-2005 wasn't an amazing time for Bekele. But I think he was a better championship runner from Beijing-Berlin. But maybe the two peaks are so close to each other overall that it's impossible to say which was truly "Better."
Very much agree, Bekele was a monster then. It's really too bad he's been hurt because I do think that he still has a lot of life left in him and has been unfairly discredited recently due to injury. I hope he destroys the marathon.
Prowess wrote:
Coin toss between Sihine and Kipchoge.
Eh, I'd give the edge to Kipchoge based on consistency and having better PRs at everything but 10k.
He debuted at the marathon in 2:04:05, FFS. That is BEAST.
Bump
Well, those London and rio marathons really screwed up the debate, didn't it?
they raped it.
I guess I'll reply to an old thread.
Actually Sileshi Sihine is the most underappreciated runner of all-time:
2 Olympic Silvers (10000 m)
3 World Championship Silvers
1 World Championship Bronze
Bests:
3000 m 7:29.92
5000 m 12:47.04
10000 m 26:39.69
I'm not above replying to an old thread either!
Your "most underappreciated runner of all time" didn't win any major races? A bunch of seconds and thirds? What a guy!
David S. Pumpkins wrote:
I'm not above replying to an old thread either!
Your "most underappreciated runner of all time" didn't win any major races? A bunch of seconds and thirds? What a guy!
+1
Who is he anyway? wrote:
David S. Pumpkins wrote:
I'm not above replying to an old thread either!
Your "most underappreciated runner of all time" didn't win any major races? A bunch of seconds and thirds? What a guy!
+1
This thread aged as well as kipchoge has
Yeeeeeeet wrote:
Who is he anyway? wrote:
+1
This thread aged as well as kipchoge has
Bump