HAILE GEBRESELASSIE TO RUN AS PACEMAKER 2014 LONDONMARATHON...WITH EXCLUISVE DECLARATION!

A great great man and a great runner to boot.

douglas burke wrote:

lets see how geb does in his pacing at london and then how he does at hamburg 3 weeks later, if he runs under 2:07 still realistic for him, how many runners do we have that can do that now besides rupp????

Um when has Rupp ever run a marathon?

His 60:30 half and the fact that he can probably best that nowadays suggests he is capable of 2:07

I wonder when they signed him up - they probably had a contract for a while, but decided that they would only announce it when Haile was fairly certain that he would run. I, too, would be surprised if he goes to 30k at world record pace, but there is no shame, of course, if he only goes to the half marathon distance (although London risks of developing a habit there - Paula half marathon in 2015, perhaps?).

winstifred wrote:

His 60:30 half and the fact that he can probably best that nowadays suggests he is capable of 2:07

His half was a long time ago. And there's no evidence that he can "probably" best that nowadays. He is clearly in speed shape not endurance shape. So if you include him, then you should include Hall and Ritz. Especially because they've ACTUALLY done it.

Agree

Not Sad Man wrote:

Defense wins championships wrote:

That's sad Geb is reduced to a pacemaker. This reminds of Komen doing pace duties years after his decline.

Just hang up 'em up - why degrade your legacy?

Not sad at all. He is giving back to the sport.

Seems like an inspiring example to me. If the GOAT isn't too proud to contribute to the next generation isn't the sport richer for it?

I am a bit surprised. I thought Haile had asthma issues while running London in the spring years ago. I don't mean to be cynical, that was just my recollection.

I think the comparison with Joanie is apt. Maybe Bill Rodgers as well, at another level, though.

These are people at the top level that love running as much as most of us hard-core "never-were's".

I feel a Pilkington coming on . . .

His half was a long time ago. And there's no evidence that he can "probably" best that nowadays. He is clearly in speed shape not endurance shape. So if you include him, then you should include Hall and Ritz. Especially because they've ACTUALLY done it.

I think his 60:30ish half was where he came third after Kenenisa and Farah in the great north run in September, in bad weather conditions. So I think in a very fast course he he can still go sub 60 for the half and sub 2:06 for the full. And I have run Hamburg twice, it is a really flat one, and he might do it there. Long live the King!:-)

reminder... wrote:

I think his 60:30ish half was where he came third after Kenenisa and Farah in the great north run in September, in bad weather conditions.

Rupp's 60:30 came in the NYC half in 2011. You're confusing him with Geb, actually, who came in third at that race in 1:01:41.

I think Geb is doing a good thing. Plus it would be an honor to run with him for however long he goes.

it is 1:00:41... not 1:01:41 (he was only 30 sec off Farah)

bigbing wrote:

I feel a Pilkington coming on . . .

I thought the same thing.

Great thing about Geb as a pacer is that the pack will have to go with him or else he'll steal the race. But he also knows what WR marathon pace feels like. I expect him to do an amazingly even job at the pace. Personally, I don't think he'll go farther than 30K with Hamburg 3 weeks later. I hope the pack doesn't waste his good pacing duties by slowing down after 30K.

can he