Kenenisa Bekele Going for the World Record in the Marathon.... in Dubai in Less Than 2 Weeks

Maybe he was selected but Bekele himself refused_

The letter why wrote:

Whoa man. Bekele's never winning another 10K championship.

To an earlier question: he's maybe the GOAT now. But in the marathon, it would be more meaningful to me for him to take down Kipchoge at their best than to set a WR, especially in Dubai.

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Bekele and kipchoge won't race each other this year because they are both very good athletes and represent different brands and neither brand wants to be second best. So THAT SAID... kipchoge will try to break two hours on a mickey mouse course and get WR.. (the fastest marathon time on a non eligible for record breaking course), while bekele will head to dubui to legitimately break the WR on an eligible one.

Are them both representing Nike?

Are they both representing Nike?

It makes much more sense to go to Dubai to smash the world record (which would be much harder to do in London), then have enough time to train properly for the world championships.

Plus, if you want the world record, the sooner really is the better. Eliud Kipchoge could take it any time.

If Kenenisa clocks a 2:2 flat, I wonder if this will make Dubai the place to go to break world records, instead of Berlin.

dfsadf wrote:

Why didn't nike select bekele for their sub-2 project? I feel he has more potential than the 3 they picked. Did he not want to do it or something??

He was already part of the competing sub-2 group (the one with the special drink).

I have no idea why Dubai has not been declared a non-record eligible course. A 2:04 in Dubai is evidently worth no faster than a 2:06 elsewhere. If you have doubt, ask Tsegaye Mekonnen, Lelisa Desisa, Bernard Koech, Ayele Abshiro among others. All these athletes have been unable to replicate their Dubai times or come anywhere within a minute and half of those times though they have tried many times. Isn't this a legitimate concern? And why would Kenenisa avoid racing Kipchoge if he thinks he is the best?

wejo wrote:

Pat Butcher emailed us and broke the news that Bekele will run Dubai on January 20th.

http://www.globerunner.org/01/heaven-sent/

Brief LRC write up here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2017/01/kenenisa-bekele-going-marathon-world-record-dubai-less-two-weeks-january-20th-standard-chartered-dubai-marathon/

London fans don't be too disappointed, Bekele plans to run Worlds in London. The King appears to be back.

survey says wrote:

dfsadf wrote:

Why didn't nike select bekele for their sub-2 project? I feel he has more potential than the 3 they picked. Did he not want to do it or something??

This is a good question. A related one is why are Kipchoge, Bekele and almost definitely Kipsang (expect an announcement soon) running other races instead of the London Marathon? The London Marathon gets all the top dogs, every year. Not too hard to see that if they had Kipchoge vs. Bekele this year it would totally overshadow the London World Championships marathon. With Coe in charge there's a little cooperation at work, everyone races elsewhere, London gives the World Champs a boost and the whole world will watch an epic classic in August.

That makes sense, the Worlds need an epic battle more (at last) than the marathon in April...

So where do you have Kipsang racing in the Spring ? Boston ?

Marutz wrote:

I have no idea why Dubai has not been declared a non-record eligible course. A 2:04 in Dubai is evidently worth no faster than a 2:06 elsewhere. If you have doubt, ask Tsegaye Mekonnen, Lelisa Desisa, Bernard Koech, Ayele Abshiro among others. All these athletes have been unable to replicate their Dubai times or come anywhere within a minute and half of those times though they have tried many times. Isn't this a legitimate concern?

+1

Came here to post the same.

Bekele is confirmed running in London too, against Biwott, Lilesa, Geb.

September: Berlin, January: Dubai, April: London, August: WC. That would be a lot.

But, indeed:

https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/news-media/latest-news/item/bekele-tops-stunning-field-for-2017-virgin-money-london-marathon/

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Al-Bekele wrote:

Marutz wrote:

I have no idea why Dubai has not been declared a non-record eligible course. A 2:04 in Dubai is evidently worth no faster than a 2:06 elsewhere. If you have doubt, ask Tsegaye Mekonnen, Lelisa Desisa, Bernard Koech, Ayele Abshiro among others. All these athletes have been unable to replicate their Dubai times or come anywhere within a minute and half of those times though they have tried many times. Isn't this a legitimate concern?

+1

Came here to post the same.

I also was unsure it was legal. But looking at the course map it seems to be a very straight course that is completely flat along the coast. It is equivalent to running the 400m in a straight line.

Marathon? wrote:

Al-Bekele wrote:

+1

Came here to post the same.

I also was unsure it was legal. But looking at the course map it seems to be a very straight course that is completely flat along the coast. It is equivalent to running the 400m in a straight line.

Basically like a marathon on a track but not in a track

Marutz wrote:

I have no idea why Dubai has not been declared a non-record eligible course. A 2:04 in Dubai is evidently worth no faster than a 2:06 elsewhere. If you have doubt, ask Tsegaye Mekonnen, Lelisa Desisa, Bernard Koech, Ayele Abshiro among others. All these athletes have been unable to replicate their Dubai times or come anywhere within a minute and half of those times though they have tried many times. Isn't this a legitimate concern?

And why would Kenenisa avoid racing Kipchoge if he thinks he is the best?

wejo wrote:

Pat Butcher emailed us and broke the news that Bekele will run Dubai on January 20th.

http://www.globerunner.org/01/heaven-sent/

Brief LRC write up here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2017/01/kenenisa-bekele-going-marathon-world-record-dubai-less-two-weeks-january-20th-standard-chartered-dubai-marathon/

London fans don't be too disappointed, Bekele plans to run Worlds in London. The King appears to be back.

WTF are you talking about? The rules are very clear and obviously the Dubai course follow these rules.

Marathon? wrote:

I also was unsure it was legal. But looking at the course map it seems to be a very straight course that is completely flat along the coast. It is equivalent to running the 400m in a straight line.

http://www.dubaimarathon.org/dublinluas/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/42km2017.jpg

It used to have only four turns:

. It is a shame they changed it. At least now people who drop out will never find themselves stranded 20km from their clothes.

It used to be flat. Really flat. Not flattish like most other road races. I am pretty sure the new course will just as flat. The whole area is flat anyway.

(Disregard the picture shown by embedly, click the link.)

Wait...there's a marathon on the track?

Do you think London is a Fall back plan for him if he has to drop in the WR attempt? Seems tight, 12 or so weeks apart.