Mo Farah, GOAT range?

Bad Wigins wrote:

I let this go to page 2 without saying Augustine Choge.

Until Mo has ran a sub 1:45 and a sub 7:30, forget it, he's not even close. And sub 3:30 somewhere besides Monaco.

Once Choge moves up to 10,000 and goes sub 27 there will be no debate at all.

Well, until Choge actually wins something he won't really warrant much discussion. How many medals does he have at any distance?

Surprised nobody has mentioned Eliud Kipchopge...

3:50 mile

7:27 3k

12:46 5k

26:49 10k

2:04 marathon (think he can run much faster given the shoe problems in Berlin)

Anyone know what Paul Tergats mile or 800 times were like (if he ever raced them). Cause he has a sub 7:30, sub 60 and sub 2:05 to his name but I haven't seen any mile time

OK.

Gebrselassie is the only athlete in history to run sub 3:32, sub 12:40 and sub 26:30. (where Farah hasn't managed sub 12:50 or sub 26:40)

And Geb ran a sub 2:04 marathon to boot.

Of those four marks in four Olympic distances, no has met more than two. (and Farah just one)

I'm arguing Mo's case just to do it, I'm actually partial to Geb for the true answer.

That said, Mo ran 3:28 for 1500 and 2:08 for a marathon in the same year. Everyone else listed has had a long time go between their fastest middle distance runs and their marathons.

And it's such a cop out argument to say that mo hasn't run sub 12:50 or even 26:30. It's obvious that he could, he just doesn't need to. You know, because he has more track gold than Geb and Bekele.

Aouita takes the cake for me. Although I'm sure Geb could have run 3:28-3:29 if he had been in one of those lightning fast Monaco time trials.

oh please wrote:

And it's such a cop out argument to say that mo hasn't run sub 12:50 or even 26:30. It's obvious that he could, he just doesn't need to. You know, because he has more track gold than Geb and Bekele.

It is not obvious to me that Mo could run those time. I mean I think he would be pretty likely for the sub 12:50, but even that is not a sure thing until he actually goes out and does it. Of course even 12:50 doesn't come close to touching Geb and I see no evidence at all that he could come close to 12:40.

I also don't see any evidence (as in none) that he could go sub 26:30. That is a really good time. Of all of the falsities brought to this board by he who will not be named, the drunken old fool in England, is that somehow 26:30 is an easy time and that lots and lots of guys can do it. He does a similar thing with the 3000 by claiming that lots of people could potentially run

oh please wrote:

I'm arguing Mo's case just to do it, I'm actually partial to Geb for the true answer.

That said, Mo ran 3:28 for 1500 and 2:08 for a marathon in the same year. Everyone else listed has had a long time go between their fastest middle distance runs and their marathons.

And it's such a cop out argument to say that mo hasn't run sub 12:50 or even 26:30. It's obvious that he could, he just doesn't need to. You know, because he has more track gold than Geb and Bekele.

If you´re going with the "couda wouda shouda" argument then you might as well say that it´s obvious that Geb could have run a faster 1500.

And Geb could have won some 5000m Gold medals if he didn't have the extra round of 10,000 and 5000 to run.

(The 2000 Olympics had two rounds for the 10,000 and three rounds for the 10,000 - Farah had one 10K round and two 5K rounds)

Farah won Gold in 1 Olympics and 3 World Championships. (so far)

Geb won Gold in 2 Olympics and 4 World Championships.

Plus he was top 6 in two additional Olympic Games.

That's top 6 in four different Olympics.

He ran faster than Rupp in 2012. He had a real shot at making a 5th Olympic team.

And we haven't even mentioned world records, just his racing ability so far.

Star wrote:

And Geb could have won some 5000m Gold medals if he didn't have the extra round of 10,000 and 5000 to run.

(The 2000 Olympics had two rounds for the 10,000 and three rounds for the 10,000 - Farah had one 10K round and two 5K rounds)

Farah won Gold in 1 Olympics and 3 World Championships. (so far)

Geb won Gold in 2 Olympics and 4 World Championships.

Plus he was top 6 in two additional Olympic Games.

That's top 6 in four different Olympics.

He ran faster than Rupp in 2012. He had a real shot at making a 5th Olympic team.

And we haven't even mentioned world records, just his racing ability so far.

+1.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Mo Farah is a pan-flash compared to the amount of time that Geb spent at the top.

I'm also sick of hearing that Mo "could have run faster." Until he produces a faster time, I must conclude one of two things:

(1.) He can't.

(2.) He's not trying to run to his potential...and A LAZY ATHLETE DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE THE "GREATEST" ANYTHING.

rekrunner wrote:

Compared to Bekele:

Mo beats Geb in 1500 (4 seconds)

Mo loses in 5K, 10K, marathon, BUPA Great North Run half-marathon, and cross-country

I don't think you know what compared to means... you're trying to compare someone to Bekele, but then list Mo and Geb in the comparisons below... (Very bad job of paying attention)

rekrunner wrote:

Did Mo ever beat Bekele head to head?

Mo beat Bekele in the 2011 WC 10,000m (in fact, Bekele couldn't even finish...)

Mo beat Bekele in the 2012 OG 10,000m....

(Very bad job of paying attention)

No troll.

I pulled that quote straight from Wikipedia. No one can deny Farah is the only man to have achieved this feat and I believe that gives him GOAT range.

As others said, I'm sure he can run faster over 5000m and 10,000m than he has, but with a 3:28 1500m and a 59:22 half he is unsurpassed, especially as they were run in the same season.

Geb had 8 years between his 1500m best and his best half. Farah is doing it all at once.

MoBot wrote:

with a 3:28 1500m and a 59:22 half he is unsurpassed

he'd never break 3:30 anywhere but Monaco where everyone does.

So what Bekele has beaten Mo 13 times and Mo has beaten Bekele only four times. And to the other poster who said Farah has more track titles than Bekele....uhhh.....he does not. Mo currently has seven global track titles and Bekele has eight. And this is just track alone. Bekele also has 11 cross country titles and 1 indoor title bringing his total global title to 20!!!. And here we are discussing that Mo is the GOAT??? PLEEEEEZ!!! HIs range is good but he is only faster than Bekele in 1500m and half marathon( a race Bekele has only competed in once in which he beat Mo) Bekele has faster outdoor pbs in the 3000m, 5000m, 10000m, and Marathon. Bekele is clearly faster than Mo in four outdoor distances and Mo is faster in only 2 outdoor distances but somehow the guy with only 2 outdoor personal bests has the superior range...?

MoBot wrote:

No troll.

I pulled that quote straight from Wikipedia. No one can deny Farah is the only man to have achieved this feat and I believe that gives him GOAT range.

As others said, I'm sure he can run faster over 5000m and 10,000m than he has, but with a 3:28 1500m and a 59:22 half he is unsurpassed, especially as they were run in the same season.

Geb had 8 years between his 1500m best and his best half. Farah is doing it all at once.

He only had four months between his 1500 and his 10000 though. With 26:22 he certainly could have run pretty quick for a half.

Yes.Putting "Geb" again was a cut/paste error -- should read Bekele.The "head to head" question was a moment of laziness -- should have better qualified that with "when healthy", or left it out.But I think the BUPA Great North Run finish rightfully demonstrates what happens when Mo competes against real GOAT-class talent.Mo has extremely good range, and great speed, but all this talk of Mo and GOAT anything is premature.

MTRaceTimer wrote:

rekrunner wrote:

Compared to Bekele:

Mo beats Geb in 1500 (4 seconds)

Mo loses in 5K, 10K, marathon, BUPA Great North Run half-marathon, and cross-country

I don't think you know what compared to means... you're trying to compare someone to Bekele, but then list Mo and Geb in the comparisons below... (Very bad job of paying attention)

rekrunner wrote:

Did Mo ever beat Bekele head to head?

Mo beat Bekele in the 2011 WC 10,000m (in fact, Bekele couldn't even finish...)

Mo beat Bekele in the 2012 OG 10,000m....

(Very bad job of paying attention)