This post just underscored for me the mind boggling nature of Komen’s record. When I first saw 7:19, my impulsive first thought was, “No way in hell can anyone ever run a 3k that fast, how absurd!” Then it hit me that a 7:19 would be just one second faster than what Komen ran. Wow!
Have you thought about my point?
Yes, I have. I also wrote about it extensively in the latest Bekele vs Kipchoge thread. I think you, Brain Cell, Curious Cat, and Talent Evaluator all have valid points. Part of what makes a WR mind boggling is its difficulty and context in which it was achieved (pacers, technology, etc.), part of it is how much it improved the previous record, part of it is how many other people have gotten close to it, part of it is its duration, and part of it is its uniqueness in the event’s history.
A sub-13 5K would have been mind boggling 50 years ago when the WR was 13:13 but now it’s commonplace so it’s no longer as impressive.
Other runners are relatively closer to 12:35 and 12:37 than they are to 7:20, so at least in that aspect the 7:20 stands out more. If more people run close to 7:20 or break it, then yes, it loses its luster a bit. But it would retain its impressiveness as a record that lasted 26+ years.
2) thinking about Komen’s 3k and 2-mile, I was wondering what would be comparable. I think the only comparison would be in an event that was prolonged (no jumps or throws), and didn’t have different significant phases like a start or acceleration — so, distance events. Is there in the 10,000 an example of someone who ran two successive 5000’s each in a previous huge record time? Is there even a 5000 equivalent milestone like the 4:00 mile? Rono 13:08? Aouita 12:58? Kuts 13:35?
If you use Rono’s 13:08, then Cheptegei’s 26:11 is the only 10,000 in which it was bettered twice successively; not even Bekele, Geb, or Tergat did that.
As impressive as 7:20? Idk, you are the distance guys.
2) thinking about Komen’s 3k and 2-mile, I was wondering what would be comparable. I think the only comparison would be in an event that was prolonged (no jumps or throws), and didn’t have different significant phases like a start or acceleration — so, distance events. Is there in the 10,000 an example of someone who ran two successive 5000’s each in a previous huge record time? Is there even a 5000 equivalent milestone like the 4:00 mile? Rono 13:08? Aouita 12:58? Kuts 13:35?
If you use Rono’s 13:08, then Cheptegei’s 26:11 is the only 10,000 in which it was bettered twice successively; not even Bekele, Geb, or Tergat did that.
As impressive as 7:20? Idk, you are the distance guys.
But…….KOMEN 🏔
This doesn’t work at all, it’s completely meaningless.
13:08 is WAY stronger than 3:40.33 for 1500. WA tables 3:40.3 = 13:30, so maybe one of Ron Clarke’s WRs would be the nearest comparison. You were closer with Kuts than Rono, considering 3:40 was first broken in 1957, the same year Kuts clocked 13:35.
But it doesn’t matter; doubling one distance is not the same as doubling another. Emil Zatopek ran a 13:57 5k WR in 1954, and now the half marathon WR is 13:38 x 4.22. OTOH, Rudolf Harbig ran 1:46.6 in 1939 and it’s unlikely anyone will run 1500m at that pace (3:19.88) in any of our lifetimes, unless they come out with some spectacularly crazy drugs and shoes.
They’re WR’s so of course they’re all crazy, but here’s my top 5:
1. Komen’s 3k. Seven sub-60 second 400’s in a row, plus another 200 for good measure. Back to back 3:40 1500’s. Basically back to back sub 4 miles. WTF
This WR is a myth.
Let this distance become official and you will see how much time it will take before it's beaten.
2) thinking about Komen’s 3k and 2-mile, I was wondering what would be comparable. I think the only comparison would be in an event that was prolonged (no jumps or throws), and didn’t have different significant phases like a start or acceleration — so, distance events. Is there in the 10,000 an example of someone who ran two successive 5000’s each in a previous huge record time? Is there even a 5000 equivalent milestone like the 4:00 mile? Rono 13:08? Aouita 12:58? Kuts 13:35?
If you use Rono’s 13:08, then Cheptegei’s 26:11 is the only 10,000 in which it was bettered twice successively; not even Bekele, Geb, or Tergat did that.
As impressive as 7:20? Idk, you are the distance guys.
But…….KOMEN 🏔
This doesn’t work at all, it’s completely meaningless.
13:08 is WAY stronger than 3:40.33 for 1500. WA tables 3:40.3 = 13:30, so maybe one of Ron Clarke’s WRs would be the nearest comparison. You were closer with Kuts than Rono, considering 3:40 was first broken in 1957, the same year Kuts clocked 13:35.
But it doesn’t matter; doubling one distance is not the same as doubling another. Emil Zatopek ran a 13:57 5k WR in 1954, and now the half marathon WR is 13:38 x 4.22. OTOH, Rudolf Harbig ran 1:46.6 in 1939 and it’s unlikely anyone will run 1500m at that pace (3:19.88) in any of our lifetimes, unless they come out with some spectacularly crazy drugs and shoes.
Ok, but doubling the 1-mile and the 5,000 are comparable, because it is the same energy systems, in the same proportions, used in each single as in its corresponding double. In the 800-1 mile, not so much, although I may be wrong. 400-800, no way.
I only suggested 13:08 as a potentially comparable milestone to 4:00. Of course I have no idea if it is appropriate by whatever criteria you are applying, but what I do know is that it is the time which, when doubled, only one athlete has ever beaten, and it involves the same energy system as does its double.
Ok, but doubling the 1-mile and the 5,000 are comparable, because it is the same energy systems, in the same proportions, used in each single as in its corresponding double.
No, all four (1500, 3k, 5k, 10k) involve varying percentages of different energy systems, and there’s a greater disparity between 1500 and 3k than there is between 5k and 10k.
Other runners are relatively closer to 12:35 and 12:37 than they are to 7:20, so at least in that aspect the 7:20 stands out more. If more people run close to 7:20 or break it, then yes, it loses its luster a bit. But it would retain its impressiveness as a record that lasted 26+ years.
12:43.02 Selemon BAREGA 2018 12:45.71 Jacob KROP 2022 12:45.82 Hagos GEBRHIWET 2018 12:46.33 Nicholas KIPKORIR 2022 12:46.79 Yomif KEJELCHA 2018 12:46.96 Grant FISHER 2022
If 7:26 being 6secs away from the WR is the same as 12:45 being 10secs away from the WR, clearly more athletes have been closer to the 3K WR (7x) than the 5K WR (3x).
I only follow running so i can only comment on that.
For me the most mind blowing records are 10k and marathon. The events themself are very difficult and holding a record in them makes it even more special.
Hichams 1500m would be my favorite male record in running as i liked Hicham as a person, hard worker, versatile runner.
The 800m is pretty dope, Rudisha has a large stride and he coupled it with good endurance, it would be hard to replicate in near future.
Bolt for me was mostly genetics, which is why i never looked at his record with too much awe, i did when i was a kid and didnt know much about genetics.
Other runners are relatively closer to 12:35 and 12:37 than they are to 7:20, so at least in that aspect the 7:20 stands out more. If more people run close to 7:20 or break it, then yes, it loses its luster a bit. But it would retain its impressiveness as a record that lasted 26+ years.
12:43.02 Selemon BAREGA 2018 12:45.71 Jacob KROP 2022 12:45.82 Hagos GEBRHIWET 2018 12:46.33 Nicholas KIPKORIR 2022 12:46.79 Yomif KEJELCHA 2018 12:46.96 Grant FISHER 2022
If 7:26 being 6secs away from the WR is the same as 12:45 being 10secs away from the WR, clearly more athletes have been closer to the 3K WR (7x) than the 5K WR (3x).
Your lists are conspicuously incomplete at the top. I was referring to the guys who are closest to each record. Geb and Komen are only 2 seconds away from Bekele’s 12:37; nobody is within 2 seconds of 7:20. The closet is El G, who is 2.42 seconds away. The next closest is Wale, who is 4 seconds away.
The closet is El G, who is 2.42 seconds away. The next closest is Wale, who is 4 seconds away.
The fact that El G. did only a single try to get that should make you think. Bekele, Gebreselassie, Chepteguei, and others Mo Farah had the 5000m as priority when thinking about distance times, not the 3000m.
There was also a myth about the 5000m WR some years ago, until Chepteguei beat it in 2020.
The one I think that amazes the average person the most is the high jump. Many of these records people have no frame of reference and cant understand them and even watching the athletes are all so good that often there isnt a huge gap between them so people think they arent as good as they are. When you put the high jump standard to 8 feet or in a more normal setting in a room tell people someone got their whole body higher than the ceiling it def blows their mind a little bit.
My favorite was Michael Johnson’s 19.32. It was mind boggling because of the previous record and how much it lowered that record. The previous record of 19.72 was set at high altitude and had stood since 1979. It was almost mythical. Then 17 years later, Johnson comes along and, after first breaking the record at the US Olympic Trials, runs 0.4 faster than the old record on the sport’s biggest stage as the featured Team USA track athlete in Atlanta while wearing those iconic golden spikes. Astonishing!
Golden spikes or something else? Glad to see his records gone, like Lewis someone who dodged the testers
9.58 is the most mind blowing. The record is getting up there in age and no one has come anywhere close to it and we’re not really seeing anyone on the horizon who can even dip into the 9.6x’s. I know this is a distance site but as others have mentioned the 100m is the most contested track and field event, and bolts record is far beyond reach.
Stop being so naive. What did we learn from the tour de France scandals? You actually think these record holders are beating all the top druggies of past and present clean? Puhhhlease.
The closet is El G, who is 2.42 seconds away. The next closest is Wale, who is 4 seconds away.
The fact that El G. did only a single try to get that should make you think. Bekele, Gebreselassie, Chepteguei, and others Mo Farah had the 5000m as priority when thinking about distance times, not the 3000m.
There was also a myth about the 5000m WR some years ago, until Chepteguei beat it in 2020.
Yes, El G making only one serious attempt to break Komen’s record makes me think he realized he wasn’t capable. Running 7:23 must have been discouraging for him. If El G had run 7:21 instead of 7:23 that day, don’t you think he would have been tempted to give it another try?
I love Bekele, and I have demonstrated my willingness to go to great lengths to argue that he is the distance running GOAT in multiple threads. But if we’re just comparing his 5K record to Komen’s 3K record, I have to be fair and give the nod to Komen.
The 3K is not like other tweener events such as the 600 and 1K that are rarely contested. I don’t care about those records. The 3K, on the other hand, is contested often enough when guys should have enough fitness to try to break the record if they think they can. Komen’s record also has the same mystique that Bekele’s record had.
It’s also worth noting what the WR was when Komen broke it: 7:25.11. He took nearly 4.5 seconds off that record! That, plus the fact that none of the other all-time great runners of the past quarter-century have been able to even sniff his WR makes it mind boggling.
If Athing Mu stays healthy the 800 record will be hers in 4 years. She's still very young and Kratochvilova ran her PB in her early thirties (although...). The heptathlon record seems a little vulnerable. Thiam or a healthy KJT might get it, if not one of those two then Anna Hall may come close, she is very talented in multiple events. The others are completely out of reach for this generation of professional athletes.
There is absolutely no chance that Athing Mu breaks this record, ever. Ever. Unless she cheats and becomes a 48 flat (out of the blocks) 400m performer - then she might have a shot.
For me its the world record in marathon. Its mind boggling how the speed is so close to the world class times of the half marathon, 15km, 10km etc. If I am not wrong it equates to a 67s 400 which would be a struggle for most, even with some training.
I'm too allergic to hype ... I trust more someone like Bekele that keep it quiet while being GOAT, than someone running only after sponsors and money.
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