2014 Boston runner-up on Meb: "I thought he was a pacesetter..I lost the title last year to an Eritrean turned American"

Chewannabet wrote:

I doubt Meb will repeat, but it sure would be nice to see him beat this guy again. Next excuse: "I saw someone ahead, but I thought that it was a woman. By the time that I realized it was an Eritrean turned American man, it was too late."

Hilarious!! This made me laugh out loud!

Alright, the brojos AND that runner are trying to cover up what they know is the real and only suspicion . Last year's Boston was a throw away so an American could win it after the bombings the previous year. There is no disagreement that terrorism is a thousand things dogged and awful. But fixed and biased races are perturbing, especially when certain people pretend to be completely unaware of it. Ugh and now Rodale is trying to shove Mebs running guide book in my face every chance they get. Puh lease. But I guess today's consumer does not exercise spending retribution for corporate distastefulness. #punkisdead

1994 Chicago wrote:

Big 3? wrote:

Why would you think I was referencing quantity not quality? LA has never had the quality at the top end of the field as those other 3 marathons.

In 1994, the Chicago Marathon was not a big three event. It wasn't until a few years after LaSalle Bank started sponsoring the event that the Chicago Marathon really grew up. 1997, when Khalid Khannouchi ran 2:07 (an area record) is where it started.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Chicago has been attracting the top marathon runners in the world since the mid 80s. De Castella, Lopes, Seko, Meyer, Kristiansen, Benoit, Mota, etc. Steve Jones set the world record there in 84, and then just missed breaking it again in 85. They also had big cash prizes (for the time) and bonus incentives, which is what drew so many top runners.

LA has never been as prestigious as Chicago.

The guy has run 205 at least 3x ...pretty sure Chebet won't be coming back for 2nd place

At his peak lead, I believe Meb was 86 seconds ahead of 2nd place. According to science of sport, Meb was 81 seconds ahead of 2nd at the 30K mark. Doing the math at 4:55 pace, that means Chebet was 483 yards behind Meb. At the 30K mark, that would put Meb at the intersection with the street just before the city hall parking lots. I could understand the runner not seeing Meb there. But, heartbreak hill is at mile 20.2, it is a pretty straight shot up, and it's over 600 yards. By then, he had to know.

But shame on Chebet (and if this "I didn't know" story is true, his coach) for not knowing that Boston has no pacers. More importantly - that giant timing clock and truck full of reporters. That's hard to miss when you're running.

I once lost a race because I thought there 6 371 pacers in front of me.

You can't fix stupid.

Wilson Kwambai Chebet said:

"I did not see Meb until we were all on a flat course. For me I thought he was a pacesetter but later learned that he was competing and beating him with the distance he had was too big for me."

"I lost the title last year to an Eritrean turned American Meb (Keflezighi) but this year, I want to try my best in one of Majors."

Seriously though, Boston doesn't even allow pacesetters, right?

really...LA?? wrote:

You have no idea what you are talking about. Chicago has been attracting the top marathon runners in the world since the mid 80s. De Castella, Lopes, Seko, Meyer, Kristiansen, Benoit, Mota, etc. Steve Jones set the world record there in 84, and then just missed breaking it again in 85. They also had big cash prizes (for the time) and bonus incentives, which is what drew so many top runners.

Chicago was very successful in the 80's but ran into some serious financial issues in the 1990's, with a corresponding dip in quality. I ran it in '96 when it really began its recovery. Just look at the winning times from '91-'95.

Admittedly, LA doesn't exactly draw the cream of the crop

Pace Car wrote:

Oh, stop your incessant crying. Chicago was a smaller event in 1994. The race was named the "LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon" starting in 1994. Chicago's winning times were 2:11 and 2:31. LA winning times were 2:12 and 2:28.

Well, Curt Cobain was still alive in 1994. This is 21 years later. Chicago is considered one of the major world marathons and has been for a decade and a half. LA is trying, but not there yet.

Everyone talks about PRs as if Meb should have lost to Chebet because his PR is slower. The reason Meb has a relatively slow PR is that he doesn't run in any paced races. He knows it would be a waste of time lining up against guys like Kimetto, Mutai, etc. in a race like Berlin or London, where they get dragged along at breakneck speed until 30k. That said, it's silly to think that Meb wouldn't run a 2:05 or 2:06 at one of those races, or Amsterdam or Rotterdam for that matter. He's never raced in a non-technical, flat marathon before!

Chebet seems to think that because he has a faster PR over a much easier course than Meb has ever raced, he should have beat Meb at Boston. Chebet could also stand to learn a thing or two about race tactics. There's a reason why Meb has two wins in the Marathon Majors and Chebet has zero.

well.... wrote:

really...LA?? wrote:

You have no idea what you are talking about. Chicago has been attracting the top marathon runners in the world since the mid 80s. De Castella, Lopes, Seko, Meyer, Kristiansen, Benoit, Mota, etc. Steve Jones set the world record there in 84, and then just missed breaking it again in 85. They also had big cash prizes (for the time) and bonus incentives, which is what drew so many top runners.

Chicago was very successful in the 80's but ran into some serious financial issues in the 1990's, with a corresponding dip in quality. I ran it in '96 when it really began its recovery. Just look at the winning times from '91-'95.

http://articles.philly.com/1999-10-24/sports/25506311_1_carey-pinkowski-chicago-marathon-america-s-marathon

Admittedly, LA doesn't exactly draw the cream of the crop

thanks to those of you who helped illustrate my point about Chicago. I'd distinctly remembered Steve Jones (85?) setting the WR there. Yes, I'd heard about its dip at some point, but over a long period of time it's been WAY more high quality than LA, even if particular years can be pointed out with similar winning times (yeah, and maybe the conditions weren't comparable either; there are many factors). So, in summary, to borrow a fantastic phrase from the LA Times article, "LA is totally bush league compared to Chicago".

Boston doesn't supply pacers, but there's always the possibility that competitors arrange for their own. Without looking back at the threads from last year, I recall some speculation that Boit was there to support Meb.

Whatever he was thinking at the time, it's clear Chebet made a major tactical blunder that probably cost him the win.

The 2015 Boston Marathon is coming up in 11 days. This out to get American fans riled up.

Wilson Kwambai Chebet said:

"I did not see Meb until we were all on a flat course. For me I thought he was a pacesetter but later learned that he was competing and beating him with the distance he had was too big for me."

"The problem is all these East African runners look the same to me. From my perspective it's ruining the sport."

[/quote]

LetsRun.com wrote:

The 2015 Boston Marathon is coming up in 11 days. This out to get American fans riled up.

Wilson Kwambai Chebet said:

"I did not see Meb until we were all on a flat course. For me I thought he was a pacesetter but later learned that he was competing and beating him with the distance he had was too big for me."

"I lost the title last year to an Eritrean turned American Meb (Keflezighi) but this year, I want to try my best in one of Majors."

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2015/04/08/im-coming-to-win-boston-kwambai-asserts/

We don't think it's been reported until now that Wilson thought Meb was a rabbit.

lol

Here is the bottom line...Kenyans don't have much respect for american runners. Call it arrogant if you want but why should they? They disrespected the wrong guy on the wrong day and to make himself feel better about it, he reminded himself that he did not lose to a mzungu but to a fellow African. When was the last time an american won a major? Meb in 2009? Before he was almost 40? I was so excited to see Meb win don't get me wrong, but nobody thought that was a possibility...nobody. So much so that it's improbability has led many (morons) to conclude it had to have been a conspiracy...of course Meb could not have legit won that race...it had to be a conspiracy, why? Because NOBODY thought it was possible...except Meb. Kudos.

I am not saying I necessarily agree with this logic, but it is not crazy to think--when was the last time an american born male won a major? And we wonder why the Kenyans don't concern themselves with american runners. I can envision the strategy meeting at demadonna headquarters..."hey guys, we should really think about nick arciniaga, how will we handle him."

Tough love...tough love

Citizen Runner wrote:

Boston doesn't supply pacers, but there's always the possibility that competitors arrange for their own. Without looking back at the threads from last year, I recall some speculation that Boit was there to support Meb.

Whatever he was thinking at the time, it's clear Chebet made a major tactical blunder that probably cost him the win.

My thoughts exactly. Just because the race doesn't sponsor a pacer doesn't mean there won't be one. Meb took a risk and it paid off, thanks in part to Chebet's tactical blunder.

The Eritrean turned American comment was very strange.

Funny that the runner considers a ridiculous mental blunder to be a better excuse than simply being beat by someone who had a better race. Anyone can simply not bring their best stuff on a given day and end up losing. I don't see any dishonor in just getting flat out physically beat, especially in a race like the marathon where there are so many variables effecting performance. Not knowing your competition, on the other hand, is completely inexcusable, and simply shows a lack of preparation and focus.

While a bad race could be the result of a minor illness, a nagging injury, or a million other excusable things, failing to know your competition has no valid explanation or excuse. "I wasn't physically unable; I was intentionally ignorant" isn't exactly a great explanation.

I think Ryan Hall told him to let Meb go.