Renato Canova wrote:
How you can see, I'm still in this post, of course, when I'm at home. I was in Ostrava, inside the track, at 200m (while Jos Hermens was on the finish line) for giving his splits to Kenenisa and my athletes. Kenenisa is absolutely a phenomenon out of every rule. Gebre was not a phenomenon, but a top runner with a phenomenal brain. He was the first Ethiopian able to understand the modern athletic, very different from the past, when athletes can prepare and compete only for 2-3 events during a season. The secret of Gebre was his continuity in training. In training, you never have to replace some type of workout, but always to add something. Gebre (his first competition, when was 16 years old, was a full marathon in Addis Abeba, where he finished n. 99 with 3:06) add speed to resistance, and resistance to his speed, using a correct modulation that allowed him to run 3:31 in 1500 and 2:06 in marathon (till now...). He was the best example for young Ethiopians. His presence in Ethiopian athletics is fundamental. He has charisma, and every one follows his example. When, in 2001, he was operated and lost the most part of the season in training, also the other Ethiopian runners were not able to prepare, running very bad. But in that year, the new generation emerged. Bekele, Sihine and Gebremariam (also if this one, officially born in 1984, is 2-3 years older than Bekele...) began to train with the some seriousness and perseverance of Gebre. In Kenya, nobody (except Shaheen and Kipchoge) had the same mentality.
I have the example of Nicholas Kemboi, my athlete that last year was able, in two months with me in St. Moritz, to move from 28:19 to 26:30. Being so young, it's not possible that in two months he could already reach his top. So, what Nicholas has less than Bekele ?
The values that I said before : perseverance, professionalism and seriousness. Nicholas is very serious, but to be serious in your life doesn't mean to be serious in training. Bekele, after winning World Championships, soon had in his mind the focus of beating the World Records of Gebre, didn't lose time, and used the winter for improving in his qualities. Nicholas, after his 26:30, relaxed till one month ago, always running, but NEVER TRAINING. There is a very big difference between TO RUN and TO TRAIN. If you don't stimulate your body, you cannot improve, neither to keep the same conditions. Adaptation is the main enemy of improvement.
So, the big difference is the mentality. Ethiopians are FULLY PROFESSIONAL, building their life for athletics and organizing every thing for improving their results. Kenyans are PROFESSIONAL ONLY DURING THE PERIOD OF THE RACES, losing many months every year for following their business at home, that nothing have to do with athletics and disturb them very much.
About the possibility of Bekele, believe me, he is still very far from his top. In Ostrava was windy, and his first half was normal. I think that in two years is really possible for him running under 26:00.
He has not the change of speed of the young Gebre or of Yifter, but seems to Viren in his final progression. His threshold is the higher all time. He has a natural hematocrite of 49%, while Gebre had 41%. He is technically perfect, and is very strong in his muscles.
But his main quality is his recovery. After a very tough workout, he can have only one day of easy run, then is able to work again two days later.
And who speaks about drugs is ridicolous, because he doesn't know anything about Africans. I repeat, my athletes (Shaheen, Hassan, Paul Kosgei, Nicholas Kemboi, James Kwalia, Moses Mosop, Rodgers Rop, Julius Nyamu, John Korir, Robert Kipchumba, Selina Kosgei, Dorcus Inzikuru and many other) eat only ugali, vegetables and meat, and drink only milk, water and orange. Never one of them asked me something about integrators. They have their power in the self confidence to be strong and to be able to train hard recovering naturally. And Ethiopians are harder than them.....
Anyway, remember one new name for the future : Wilson Busienei, from Uganda, already 27:29 in Hengelo. Look at his career, and can see like not only Kenyans and Ethiopians can reach the top.