We merged two threads on the same topic and kept the one started by Rojo as Rojo's was started first and its his website. The 2nd thread was titled, "Random Swede runs 12:44 to smack the Africans and set new European record!?"
You probably never heard of lactate testing. That's normal for someone who doesn't follow the sport. Just don't pretend you know what you're talking about.
Jargon. Training is running. So explain exactly the difference in performance created by "lactate testing".
Surely he can improve his 3000m time. Sub 7:30 should be possible.
Honestly, I'm not too sure about that. Both his 1500 and 3000 times seems a bit out of place compared to his 800 and 5000 times, but he's been competing regularly in the 1500 and 3000 in his entire career.
My theory is that he's always been a long distance man and that his 800 PB he set at the U20 Worlds was a once in a lifetime race that he's not been able to replicate since. His body hasn't been able to handle too much speedwork without getting injured and that's probably why he's not been able to go below 3:30 or 7:30.
i think sub 2.05 (NR) + sub 3.30 1500 (he's running 1500 next year I think). That would be crazy!
True, I think he'd take the title even by breaking the Swedish record in the marathon, but the current Swedish record holder, Suldan Hassan, is quite a bit younger than Almgren and has just gotten started with the marathon, so he'll most likely bring the Swedish record even lower.
My god that was impressive. Final 2+ k all by himself leading it all. Not nearly as good conditions as Oslo as it was warmer and windier.
Hocker got dropped about 5 minutes in.
Rank Pos Nat Name Time 1 13 SWE ALMGREN Andreas 12:44.27 Official AR MR 2 12 ETH GIRMA Kuma 12:57.46 Official 3 11 AUS ROBINSON Ky 12:58.38 Official PB 4 1 NED FOPPEN Mike 13:02.43 Official NR 5 7 UGA KIPROP Kenneth 13:02.69 Official 6 10 KEN KIPKOECH Denis 13:07.02 Official 7 14 USA HOCKER Cole 13:09.36 Official 8 4 USA BEADLESCOMB Morgan 13:13.37 Official 9 5 MEX HERRERA Eduardo 13:17.08 Official 10 8 ERI TESFAGIORGIS Saymon 13:23.78 Official 11 9 KEN ALAMISI Andrew Kiptoo 13:29.07 Official 12 6 SWE DANIELSSON Emil 13:32.03 Official 13 2 ETH MELAK Biniyam 13:32.79 Official 14 3 KEN KEMBOI Cornelius 13:49.29 Official
SPlits 1000 POL CZERWINSKI Adam 2:33.17 2000 CZE SASINEK Filip 5:07.43 3000 SWE ALMGREN Andreas 7:42.93 4000 SWE ALMGREN Andreas 10:16.16
We need to have a conversation soon about where Almgren ranks all time in the conversation about runners with the greatest range.
Only runner in history to run sub 1:46 in the 800 and sub 27 in the 10 000, and now he's smashed the European half marathon record by 30 seconds and is the only white guy in the top 90 or so on the all time half marathon list.
800 - 1:45.59
1500 - 3:32.00
3000 - 7:31.42
5000 - 12:44, European record
10 000 - 26:52, Worlds bronze medalist
10k road - 26:53, European record
Half marathon - 58:41, European record
What time would he have to run in the marathon for there to be no discussion about the greatest range, at least on the mens side? I'd put him there if he beats the European record in the marathon, but that's going to be a difficult task.
He'd need a lot more than a mediocre 800 time and Euro records to challenge the range of Haile Gebrselassie.
800 - doesn't matter when you see the rest of this list
1500 - 3:31.76, World Indoors gold
3000 - 7:26.15, 3x World Indoors gold, Indoor World Record breaker
5000 - 12:39.36, World Record breaker, Worlds silver medalist
10 000 - 26:22.75, World Record breaker, 2x Olympic gold, 4x Worlds gold
Half marathon - 58:55, World Record breaker, Worlds gold
Marathon - 2:03:59, World Record breaker, 4x WMM winner
We need to have a conversation soon about where Almgren ranks all time in the conversation about runners with the greatest range.
Only runner in history to run sub 1:46 in the 800 and sub 27 in the 10 000, and now he's smashed the European half marathon record by 30 seconds and is the only white guy in the top 90 or so on the all time half marathon list.
800 - 1:45.59
1500 - 3:32.00
3000 - 7:31.42
5000 - 12:44, European record
10 000 - 26:52, Worlds bronze medalist
10k road - 26:53, European record
Half marathon - 58:41, European record
What time would he have to run in the marathon for there to be no discussion about the greatest range, at least on the mens side? I'd put him there if he beats the European record in the marathon, but that's going to be a difficult task.
He'd need a lot more than a mediocre 800 time and Euro records to challenge the range of Haile Gebrselassie.
800 - doesn't matter when you see the rest of this list
1500 - 3:31.76, World Indoors gold
3000 - 7:26.15, 3x World Indoors gold, Indoor World Record breaker
5000 - 12:39.36, World Record breaker, Worlds silver medalist
10 000 - 26:22.75, World Record breaker, 2x Olympic gold, 4x Worlds gold
Half marathon - 58:55, World Record breaker, Worlds gold
Marathon - 2:03:59, World Record breaker, 4x WMM winner
We need to have a conversation soon about where Almgren ranks all time in the conversation about runners with the greatest range.
Only runner in history to run sub 1:46 in the 800 and sub 27 in the 10 000, and now he's smashed the European half marathon record by 30 seconds and is the only white guy in the top 90 or so on the all time half marathon list.
800 - 1:45.59
1500 - 3:32.00
3000 - 7:31.42
5000 - 12:44, European record
10 000 - 26:52, Worlds bronze medalist
10k road - 26:53, European record
Half marathon - 58:41, European record
What time would he have to run in the marathon for there to be no discussion about the greatest range, at least on the mens side? I'd put him there if he beats the European record in the marathon, but that's going to be a difficult task.
He'd need a lot more than a mediocre 800 time and Euro records to challenge the range of Haile Gebrselassie.
800 - doesn't matter when you see the rest of this list
1500 - 3:31.76, World Indoors gold
3000 - 7:26.15, 3x World Indoors gold, Indoor World Record breaker
5000 - 12:39.36, World Record breaker, Worlds silver medalist
10 000 - 26:22.75, World Record breaker, 2x Olympic gold, 4x Worlds gold
Half marathon - 58:55, World Record breaker, Worlds gold
Marathon - 2:03:59, World Record breaker, 4x WMM winner
Honestly, I'm not too sure about that. Both his 1500 and 3000 times seems a bit out of place compared to his 800 and 5000 times, but he's been competing regularly in the 1500 and 3000 in his entire career.
My theory is that he's always been a long distance man and that his 800 PB he set at the U20 Worlds was a once in a lifetime race that he's not been able to replicate since. His body hasn't been able to handle too much speedwork without getting injured and that's probably why he's not been able to go below 3:30 or 7:30.
I really don’t understand you here -he set his 1.45.59 in the final at the WC u20 after running heats and semifinals the two previous days, and then he ran 1.45 again (twice) later in the same season. And in the previous season (2014) he did 1.45.65 + being stable at 48 in the 400m a number of years (as an indicator of 800m speed). And he PR’ed in the 3000m in 2025…. Clearly he has unfinished business in a range of distances, although not the 800m and below (because he thinks a focus here will get him injured).
We need to have a conversation soon about where Almgren ranks all time in the conversation about runners with the greatest range.
Only runner in history to run sub 1:46 in the 800 and sub 27 in the 10 000, and now he's smashed the European half marathon record by 30 seconds and is the only white guy in the top 90 or so on the all time half marathon list.
800 - 1:45.59
1500 - 3:32.00
3000 - 7:31.42
5000 - 12:44, European record
10 000 - 26:52, Worlds bronze medalist
10k road - 26:53, European record
Half marathon - 58:41, European record
What time would he have to run in the marathon for there to be no discussion about the greatest range, at least on the mens side? I'd put him there if he beats the European record in the marathon, but that's going to be a difficult task.
He'd need a lot more than a mediocre 800 time and Euro records to challenge the range of Haile Gebrselassie.
800 - doesn't matter when you see the rest of this list
1500 - 3:31.76, World Indoors gold
3000 - 7:26.15, 3x World Indoors gold, Indoor World Record breaker
5000 - 12:39.36, World Record breaker, Worlds silver medalist
10 000 - 26:22.75, World Record breaker, 2x Olympic gold, 4x Worlds gold
Half marathon - 58:55, World Record breaker, Worlds gold
Marathon - 2:03:59, World Record breaker, 4x WMM winner
A 1:49 800 absolutely matters if we're talking range. Gebrselassie gets the edge for now because of his marathon performances, but if Almgren runs a decent marathon I'm going with him.
Honestly, I'm not too sure about that. Both his 1500 and 3000 times seems a bit out of place compared to his 800 and 5000 times, but he's been competing regularly in the 1500 and 3000 in his entire career.
My theory is that he's always been a long distance man and that his 800 PB he set at the U20 Worlds was a once in a lifetime race that he's not been able to replicate since. His body hasn't been able to handle too much speedwork without getting injured and that's probably why he's not been able to go below 3:30 or 7:30.
I really don’t understand you here -he set his 1.45.59 in the final at the WC u20 after running heats and semifinals the two previous days, and then he ran 1.45 again (twice) later in the same season. And in the previous season (2014) he did 1.45.65 + being stable at 48 in the 400m a number of years (as an indicator of 800m speed). And he PR’ed in the 3000m in 2025…. Clearly he has unfinished business in a range of distances, although not the 800m and below (because he thinks a focus here will get him injured).
I'm mostly basing it on the fact that he's 30, he might have some more decent 3000 performances in him but it's going to get less and less likely the older he gets.
He'd need a lot more than a mediocre 800 time and Euro records to challenge the range of Haile Gebrselassie.
800 - doesn't matter when you see the rest of this list
1500 - 3:31.76, World Indoors gold
3000 - 7:26.15, 3x World Indoors gold, Indoor World Record breaker
5000 - 12:39.36, World Record breaker, Worlds silver medalist
10 000 - 26:22.75, World Record breaker, 2x Olympic gold, 4x Worlds gold
Half marathon - 58:55, World Record breaker, Worlds gold
Marathon - 2:03:59, World Record breaker, 4x WMM winner
A 1:49 800 absolutely matters if we're talking range. Gebrselassie gets the edge for now because of his marathon performances, but if Almgren runs a decent marathon I'm going with him.
Only a biased person would say that. Almgren's 800 time isn't even good (at the pro level). It's more than a second away from the WC qualifying standard. Someone breaking Euro records from 5k to half-marathon and only winning one global bronze medal at one event doesn't come close in range to someone who broke World records and/or won global golds at every event from 1500 to marathon. Don't be ridiculous.
A 1:49 800 absolutely matters if we're talking range. Gebrselassie gets the edge for now because of his marathon performances, but if Almgren runs a decent marathon I'm going with him.
Only a biased person would say that. Almgren's 800 time isn't even good (at the pro level). It's more than a second away from the WC qualifying standard. Someone breaking Euro records from 5k to half-marathon and only winning one global bronze medal at one event doesn't come close in range to someone who broke World records and/or won global golds at every event from 1500 to marathon. Don't be ridiculous.
I totally agree. Geb not only ran 3:31 indoors, but won world indoors at the 1500. The 1:49 isn’t fast by global standards, but that drop down to 15, beating the milers at their own game makes Geb a versatility legend. The first man to break 2:04, also won world indoors at 1500 and broke like 25 WRs at every distance in between. Geb is waaaay more versatile than Almgren and almost everyone else, which makes him a top contender for the GOAT.
A 1:49 800 absolutely matters if we're talking range. Gebrselassie gets the edge for now because of his marathon performances, but if Almgren runs a decent marathon I'm going with him.
Only a biased person would say that. Almgren's 800 time isn't even good (at the pro level). It's more than a second away from the WC qualifying standard. Someone breaking Euro records from 5k to half-marathon and only winning one global bronze medal at one event doesn't come close in range to someone who broke World records and/or won global golds at every event from 1500 to marathon. Don't be ridiculous.
It's not biased to believe range is the most important aspect in a discussion about range, Sifan Hassan is the unanimous range GOAT on the womens side with one world record in a championship event she held for like 3 days and no elite 800 time.
And yes, 1:45 isn't elite for 800 specialists, but it is for long distance runners since nobody in running history aside from Almgren has run sub 1:46 in the 800 and sub 27 in the 10 000. You fail to realize how different the 800 is to the long distance events when a GOAT candidate like Geb has a PB that a decent high schooler could beat. It's also weak to include an indoor title for the 1500 when you're saying Geb had world records or global golds in the 1500 to the marathon. Especially when El Guerrouj skipped the 1999 indoor Worlds.
And like I said, despite all this I still give the edge to Geb for now, because of how important the marathon is to be an elite distance runner.
This post was edited 4 minutes after it was posted.
Only a biased person would say that. Almgren's 800 time isn't even good (at the pro level). It's more than a second away from the WC qualifying standard. Someone breaking Euro records from 5k to half-marathon and only winning one global bronze medal at one event doesn't come close in range to someone who broke World records and/or won global golds at every event from 1500 to marathon. Don't be ridiculous.
It's not biased to believe range is the most important aspect in a discussion about range, Sifan Hassan is the unanimous range GOAT on the womens side with one world record in a championship event she held for like 3 days and no elite 800 time.
And yes, 1:45 isn't elite for 800 specialists, but it is for long distance runners since nobody in running history aside from Almgren has run sub 1:46 in the 800 and sub 27 in the 10 000. You fail to realize how different the 800 is to the long distance events when a GOAT candidate like Geb has a PB that a decent high schooler could beat. It's also weak to include an indoor title for the 1500 when you're saying Geb had world records or global golds in the 1500 to the marathon. Especially when El Guerrouj skipped the 1999 indoor Worlds.
And like I said, despite all this I still give the edge to Geb for now, because of how important the marathon is to be an elite distance runner.
Yes but Geb set WRs and won golds. I also feel like range is a weak argument when trying to compare runners. It’s definitely a factor but not as important as WRs, Golds won, winning streaks, etc…
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
It's not biased to believe range is the most important aspect in a discussion about range, Sifan Hassan is the unanimous range GOAT on the womens side with one world record in a championship event she held for like 3 days and no elite 800 time.
And yes, 1:45 isn't elite for 800 specialists, but it is for long distance runners since nobody in running history aside from Almgren has run sub 1:46 in the 800 and sub 27 in the 10 000. You fail to realize how different the 800 is to the long distance events when a GOAT candidate like Geb has a PB that a decent high schooler could beat. It's also weak to include an indoor title for the 1500 when you're saying Geb had world records or global golds in the 1500 to the marathon. Especially when El Guerrouj skipped the 1999 indoor Worlds.
And like I said, despite all this I still give the edge to Geb for now, because of how important the marathon is to be an elite distance runner.
Yes but Geb set WRs and won golds. I also feel like range is a weak argument when trying to compare runners. It’s definitely a factor but not as important as WRs, Golds won, winning streaks, etc…
Yeah, that makes him the GOAT from the 3000 to the marathon, it doesn't mean there can't be a discussion if he has the greatest range when his 800 PB is regularly beat by good high schoolers and where his only 1500 merit came from an indoors competition that the best in the world skipped.