Official 2013 Great North Run - Bekele, Geb and Mo, Meseret and Tirunesh - Race Thread

Selam,

You are acting like Mo Farah is a fabric of the new generation (He is 30yrs old), he was also there getting smoked by the Sihine and Tadese in the 5k imagine, getting knocked out in the semi's etc.

I find it highly unfair that Farah is being considered alongside greats such as Haile and Kenenisa when he cant even be compared to Tergat, Sihine, Tadese, because these 3 in their primes will destroy him in the 10k and are much more talented/accomplished runners.

Btw if you watched Tadese or Tergat run, they dictate the pace, so they control the time, they dont wait like Farah till the final bell then kick. So if they were to race Farah in their prime (assuming this is Farah prime) would completely destroy him. Open your eyes the track (5k/10k) is going through a period of transition and Mo Farah is reaping the rewards.

And do you know what Farah has? FIVE GOLD MEDALS. Take out Bekele in both situations, and Farah is at worst tied with Sihine for global medals. And Farah's PB is from the year that he got lit up by Jeilan in Daegu. He certainly is in much better shape now. You say that Farah has never tried to break WR's.. well neither did Sihine and Farah has a non-global-champs year next year to go for it. The Farah v. Sihine argument is an interesting one but they never really matched up and looking at what they've both done, Farah is better than Sihine. On the track.

And the 'World Events' argument for Tadese is B.S. Sorry, the 1/2 Mar WC's are NOT that competitive - just like the WC Marathon is not as competitive as a typical Oly or track WC race. He does NOT have 7 golds in 'world events.' He has ONE world cross gold which is the closest he has come to a global gold. Bekele has what, a dozen of those? And yes I have watched the 2009 10k. Yes, Tadese ran from the front - but he got beat by several bus lengths in the last 50 seconds.

Look, Tadese at this point is obviously the best HM'er we have ever seen. But we have not seen some of the greats of the last decade+ try the HM until now. It will take more time to see whether or not Tadese can keep his title as best HM'er ever.

What you say is not really important, cos the IAAF deem it a World Championship so thats it.

You said no1 tried half marathon championships, how bout Koech? Tergat? Gebreselassie? Lel? They were all champions of the HM and Tadese won 5 GOLDS in the HM WC. So case closed about none of the greats.

Sihine PB in both the 5k and 10k is better than Farahs. So how can you tell me Farah is better.

Several bus lengths is under 5seconds? Tadese ran the 2nd fastest championship 10k race EVER.

So whos the greater runner out of those 3? Taking all things into account

Im interested to hear your response

illegitimate wrote:

And Farah's PB is from the year that he got lit up by Jeilan in Daegu. He certainly is in much better shape now.

Based on what? Today's race shows that he's in worse shape than Daegu.

Not forgetting the great daniel komen

Michael Y wrote:

...

5.Wanjiru

5k-13.12

10k-26.41

HM-58.33

*Wanjiru also had a 2:05 in Marathon and done this all before the age of 25, he will surely of been much higher in the list if he fulfilled his potential

...

Wanjiru also had a 2:05 Marathon and did this all before the age of 25. He would surely have been much higher on the list if he fulfilled his potential.

or better

Wanjiru also had a 2:05 Marathon and did this all before the age of 25. He would surely be much higher on the list if he didn't croak.

Michael Y wrote:

What you say is not really important, cos the IAAF deem it a World Championship so thats it.

You said no1 tried half marathon championships, how bout Koech? Tergat? Gebreselassie? Lel? They were all champions of the HM and Tadese won 5 GOLDS in the HM WC. So case closed about none of the greats.

Sihine PB in both the 5k and 10k is better than Farahs. So how can you tell me Farah is better.

Several bus lengths is under 5seconds? Tadese ran the 2nd fastest championship 10k race EVER.

So whos the greater runner out of those 3? Taking all things into account

Im interested to hear your response

1. It is undeniable that HM WC's are less competitive than a WC track race or an OLY mar/track race. That's been historically true. Certainly people have tried them, but with much less frequency. A WC HM medal is not the same as a track WC or OLY medal. That's why people always for get or don't bring into the conversation Ritz's bronze.

2. Easy. Farah has been more dominant than Sihine ever was and he ran 3:28 before doubling at the WC's in the 5K and 10K. Ventolin will tell you that Farah would DESTROY Sihine's PR's, and as I said earlier, Farah is somebody who can push the limits on Ventolin's calculator that people usually conform to. His range is literally UNHEARD OF. He is the 6th fastest EVER at 1500 meters. That is absurd considering what he has done from 5000m to 21000m this year. Bookmark this thread and wait for next year when he chases the 5k/10k world records. Will he get them? Probably not. They are likely EPO'd to hell (not saying Farah isn't on anything - I really hope all of these guys are clean but so many things point to the opposite being true). However, he has a good chance at running sub 26:30 and 12:40.

3. Yes, actually, it is that far. 30-40 meters. And, who cares if it was in a championship race? If you really think the fact that it's a championship race changes times, why give Farah crap for running 27 low / 13 low to win? You do that because IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TRACK YOU ARE RUNNING ON, the time will be the same given the same effort. So while 26:50 out front is GREAT and I think Tadese is one of the ballsiest guys in T&F, what he did in Berlin is no better / roughly equal to what Gebremeskel did this year. And let's face it, Farah has destroyed Gebremeskel as of late (admittedly Gebremeskel should have won the London 5000 if it wasn't for superior tactics on Farah's part).

I'm not sure what three you are referencing. Sihine and Farah are extremely comparable, but in my mind, there is no way to give Sihine the edge. If anybody gets an edge here, it is Farah easily. If the third person you are referencing is Bekele, he trumps both.

The third person is Tadese. I don't agree with your logic, cos running 26:50 is different to running 27:18 no matter how you put it. You just used an example of 3-4 bus lengths (under 5seconds) and now Farah is finishing races almost on average to about 10-15seconds to what Tadese will finish his races in.

But guess what Tadese got 2medals on the track and Farah got 6, not representative of the competition faced. Not representative of whos the better runner

Championship races are obviously of a different standard hence why the CR is 26:44 even though like 10men (not Farah) have dipped below this time.

Btw Tadese got the 2 fastest times ever in the HM, World record holder, how can you justify Farah being the better runner?

Farah and Tadese?

The race of the day actually goes to Geb. Let's see who is at this level past 40. Haile is the GOAT!

illegitimate wrote:

2. Easy. Farah has been more dominant than Sihine ever was and he ran 3:28 before doubling at the WC's in the 5K and 10K. Ventolin will tell you that Farah would DESTROY Sihine's PR's, and as I said earlier, Farah is somebody who can push the limits on Ventolin's calculator that people usually conform to. His range is literally UNHEARD OF. He is the 6th fastest EVER at 1500 meters. That is absurd considering what he has done from 5000m to 21000m this year. Bookmark this thread and wait for next year when he chases the 5k/10k world records. Will he get them? Probably not. They are likely EPO'd to hell (not saying Farah isn't on anything - I really hope all of these guys are clean but so many things point to the opposite being true). However, he has a good chance at running sub 26:30 and 12:40.

Farah hasn't done anything from 5000m to 21000m this year. What don't you understand about that? He's won very very slow sit and kick races. In no way do they indicate that he is in good shape from 5000m to 21000m. All it demonstrates is that he is a great racer and a great kicker. Kiprop could have won those races. Is he in 26:30 shape? No.

His half today on the other hand actually exposed his weak endurance. Someone who is in 26:45 shape should be running under 59 minutes for a half marathon. Not losing in a 60:15 race. Check your calculators if you don't believe me. He is not pushing any boundaries.

You have lost your mind. i just saw sub 26:30 or sub 12:40, if that was to happen he is abusing the EPO's disgustingly.

This is a guy who got knocked out the semi's in the worlds at age 25, now your telling me hes better than runners who sodomised him so hard, hes got a losing record to both Sihine and Tadese LOOOOOOOL Tadese beat him 18times and lost 4times check IAAF, how are you telling me hes better than a guy who beat him 18times?

Who's Ventolin? A calculator? No need, he lost 18times to Tadese and beat him 4times (as Tadese went into road running)

Tadese got a 26:36 10k run as a preparation run for the Road Running championships, 26:50 whereby he dropped the WHOLE FIELD apart from the KING BEKELE.

27:18 Gold Medal and Farah will somehow get sub 26:30 wheres your logic? Not low 27. Bekele is not only the ETHIOPIAN prince but the EAST AFRICAN KING, ask him who was his most fiercest opponent (last month), he said 'Tadese without doubt' ETHIO TV, we ethiopians love our LIONS but Tadese was someone who i have the most utmost respect for, beat Bekele in cross country! Farah can only dream of beating Bekele/Tadese in their prime.

A fit Tadese will drop a fit Farah in a race, he will drop most with his 61second laps apart from OUR LIONS!

Sihine lol 26:38 says it all... Farah was the best of a weak era...

How has a thread that started off well by celebrating one of the most exciting races of recent times descended into one poster insisting tadese is better than Farah?!?!

Ok, you've made your position clear. Can we please get back to talking about the race?

Jeptoo and haile were huge today, and isn't it great to see the kennster laying down the hurt like old Times?

Hawkins wrote:

I think if you've won 5 global gold medals and just run a half marathon in 60 mins, 2 months after running 1500 in 3.28. You are an all time great who is definitely capable of breaking the 5k WR and also maybe the 10k. I think it's a mistake for mo to move up to the marathon at this stage.

He is an all time great but at the moment short of Geb and KB. There is a lot of sad bitterness on here, where are your best runner?

Ron Clarke ran plenty of WR's but is way behind Mo in my opinion becuause championships are ahead of records. As Mo and Geb have both that put them ahead

I was more impressed with Mo today than in the WC's, most would have given up but he made it one of the best races I've ever seen. I was rooting for Bekele as someone needed to test Mo and its not his fault the Kenyans have lost their bottle. When Mo came on his should I changed my mind back again.

Geb running so well at 40+ is actually the best performance on the day comparatively

To judge Mo on a 60 + 1/2 marathon 1 sewc defeat is stupid. Look at the womens race the 2 best runners got beat by someone better - at the moment - over 1/2 marathon. Paula got beat by your girl in a great north run in much slower and still came back to set WR's

Mo is not moving to the Marathon he's doing London then going back to track. He may then move up depending on London result

Mo coule have run close to the WR over 5km this year but he didn't need to. I don't know if he could beat it but he's not far off I would say 12:45

If someone put up big money he would go for it, nobody has.

...and one more thing, Mo Farah is the best ever long distance runner not born at altitude.

It's too soon to say where Farah ranks on the alltime list. Right now the most impressive thing about him is his range. To run a 3:28.xx 1500m, then sweep the 5 / 10 at worlds, then run a 60 low 1/2 marathon all in the span of less than 2 months is impressive but also just kind of odd.

If he develops into a sub 59 / sub 2:05 guy, which I think is possible once his focus goes purely onto long road races, and picks up a couple of good wins at major events, I still wouldn't go calling him the G distance runner OAT, but I think you could then start making an argument for putting him #3 behind Geb & Bekele.

And before he does that, it would be fun to see what he can do for 3000m and 5000m in a fast time trial kind of race.

Anyway, lot of "ifs" in all that - will be interesting to see how his career goes from here.

Will also be interesting to see if Bekele can stay healthy long enough to post some fast long race times.

For all you folks saying how great today's race was: I haven't even watched the video of the last mile yet. I'm sure it was very exciting, but would you guys be similarly excited if that duel had been for 2nd place behind a winner who had run 59:30?

I don't think anyone was in 12:45 shape this year.

But it is odd that there were no races against the clock

on the circuit this year.

Bekele blocked Mo when he went to pass by swinging right slightly, and then when Mo when to go left, Bekele swung out in that direction. It was a narrow gauntlet to the finish and Mo ran out of distance but about with 10 meters from the finished, he realized that he'd run out of chances to swing by. Bekele won the race but it was pure "Chicken $hit" if you ask me!,

I agree dkny64 if he runs sub-59 Half-Marathon and a sub-2:05 Marathon, ofcourse he can stake his number 3 spot, but right about now Farah relies on this sit sit sit then kick strategy. I'm not sure whether this tactic will always work, cos even KB held him off today, which was impressive.

However, I would like to see a few of the athletes push through a honest pace race and what intrigues me is how Farah will handle it?

Farah is a ferocious sprinter (3:28) and he know that if he is near the front he has a great chance, only way to nullify it, is to run hard and efficient throughout the race or do it in a concentrated burst (like KB today) and that should be victory.

It will be very hard to compare Farah to the greats KB and HG as they were proteges from a very young age, they didnt need to wait till the age of 28 to gain a international title.

Do you think Gebremeskel and Gebrehiwot are lying about their age?

I'm afraid in your zeal you are missing the point. No one is saying that Tadese is not great--clearly the greatest half marathoner ever; no one is saying Tergat is not great (maybe the greatest cross country runner ever); no one is saying Sihine is not great. However, if we are talking about track and field and not road racing, for all of the above, along with Bekele (especially) and Geb, focused on track and field (Tergat as well on cross country, in which he was the master), then we have to be concerned not just with times in which there are rabbits, but we racing, man against man, then it's hard to see how Farah--five track golds, two doubles--doesn't have to be considered, as you are unwilling to do. To say that Sihine has run eight seconds faster than Farah in what were two rabbited races (Farah's at the beginning of the season and Sihine's at the end) means nothing Twenty seconds would mean something, not eight. But also if you want to extend the discussion to a half on the roads, why not cut it back to 1500 on the track, in which Farah could have beaten Sihine by your eight seconds if not more. Here's a simple truth about our sport: you can only beat the men who line up against you, and not the ghosts of history. Farah has done this. You're probably too young to remember this, but there used to be a time without rabbits--those were times when times.

Not Chicken $hit, just an inxperienced road runner not knowing how to get around. The more Mo has to battle from behind in the last 200, the better he will be at making sure this doesn't happen again. He has had it too easy for the last couple years.