If you were Canada's Reid Coolsaet - would you focus on the Olympics or go for the 40-year old Canadian record?

rojo · 2016-01-27T21:40:59-05:00

Coolsaet has written a great piece on this very subject on cbc.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/playersvoice/entry/canadian-record-or-olympic-glory-what-carries-more-weight-in-2016 [quote][b]Reid wrote:[/b] "At 36 years old, marathoner Reid Coolsaet knows time is running out to break the 2:10 barrier. Chase the Canadian record or go for a strong finish in Rio? Thatâ€™s the question Iâ€™d been facing for months, as I prepared to set my schedule for the Olympic year."[/quote] Coolsaet chose the Olympics. That's something I'd almost always do as well but not in the case. I think I'd go for the record. He can still go for it and then try to do well at the Olympics just like all of the Kenyans. 1) In 40 years, no one will remember who was 12th in the Olympics but they will remember the Canadian record holder. Coolsaet admits himself that he think unless he's top 5 at the Olympics, Canadians would remember the record more. 2)He's 36 now. If he doesn't get it this spring, the Olympics mean he also won't get it next fall (well maybe he could do Fukuoka). I do agree with him that it would suck to show up at some obscure marathon and find the weather wasn't good or there was no one to run with. And in 2016, there may not be any white dudes trying to run 2:09 anywhere. So maybe he's making the right choice as maybe there are no good 2:09 races this year. It seems like Fukuoka or Tokyo next year would be the best bet. Your thoughts?

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10 years ago 01/29/2016 2:45pm EST

re: HRE

HRE wrote:
Lopes style wrote:
He can just try to do both. Many guys have done the Olympics and then closed out the year with a fast Marathon.
Shorter followed up Munich with 2:10 at Fukuoka two months later. I'm with you. It's not an either/or kind of thing.

I just looked up the dates for both 1972 and this year.

1972 - 09/10 Oly Mar 12/03 Fukuoka = 84 Days between

2016 - 08/21 Oly Mar 12/04 Fukuoka = 105 Days between

It stands to reason that an extra 21 days this year is significant. (Unless you argue that Reid can't comeback like Shorter could.)

10 years ago 01/29/2016 3:20pm EST

re: Memphian

Memphian wrote:
HRE wrote:
Shorter followed up Munich with 2:10 at Fukuoka two months later. I'm with you. It's not an either/or kind of thing.
I just looked up the dates for both 1972 and this year.
1972 - 09/10 Oly Mar 12/03 Fukuoka = 84 Days between
2016 - 08/21 Oly Mar 12/04 Fukuoka = 105 Days between
It stands to reason that an extra 21 days this year is significant. (Unless you argue that Reid can't comeback like Shorter could.)

Shorter was 24, Coolsaet is 36. A t 36 Shorter could barely move.

A better comparison is Lopes running 2:09 twice in '84 as already noted.

What was the gap between LA and Chicago that year?

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If you were Canada's Reid Coolsaet - would you focus on the Olympics or go for the 40-year old Canadian record?

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