What just happened? An examination of Kenenisa Bekele's bizarre day at the 2018 Amsterdam Marathon

difficult to say with the shirt on but it could be.

Runnergrl wrote:

I think that was it. When he stopped he didn’t look like he was limping or anything. I don’t think he should retire yet. Go out with a bang. He should run a race he’s proud of and then retire.

What people feel about Bekele dropping out yesterday with so little of the race remaining should be the same toward John Walker, 1977 World Cup 1500m. Walker dropped out with app. 120m to go. Some said Walker's leg hurt. John Walker had better races after his 1977 embarrassment. I believe Ovett traumatized Walker in 1977 World Cup 1500m.

ironside wrote:

Runnergrl wrote:

I think that was it. When he stopped he didn’t look like he was limping or anything. I don’t think he should retire yet. Go out with a bang. He should run a race he’s proud of and then retire.

What people feel about Bekele dropping out yesterday with so little of the race remaining should be the same toward John Walker, 1977 World Cup 1500m. Walker dropped out with app. 120m to go. Some said Walker's leg hurt. John Walker had better races after his 1977 embarrassment. I believe Ovett traumatized Walker in 1977 World Cup 1500m.

Also, Ovett himself dropped out of a olympic 1500m final with only a lap to go. I feel Bekele had a off day and was injured. He should brake the world record in Dubai or Berlin next year. Expect great things.

ironside wrote:

Runnergrl wrote:

I think that was it. When he stopped he didn’t look like he was limping or anything. I don’t think he should retire yet. Go out with a bang. He should run a race he’s proud of and then retire.

What people feel about Bekele dropping out yesterday with so little of the race remaining should be the same toward John Walker, 1977 World Cup 1500m. Walker dropped out with app. 120m to go. Some said Walker's leg hurt. John Walker had better races after his 1977 embarrassment. I believe Ovett traumatized Walker in 1977 World Cup 1500m.

Walker was having sporadic issues with a vein in the back of the knee, the circulation was cut off to the calf causing immense pain. This just happened at the time Ovett emerged as the beast. Walker did run 3:32/3:52, times Ovett couldn't beat for another few years. Bekele could've finished that race, maybe Walker could have as well.

not a marathoner. wrote:

You can’t have someone on a bike encouraging and coaching you along. That’s considered “assistance”. Total BS.

I laugh at everyone saying 10K and HM translate to a faster marathon. No they don’t. Marathon predicts marathon. He’s not a marathoner. Sorry Jos, no big marathon pay days for you from Bekele.

Bekele is trash at the marathon. He was only able to run 2:03:03

Jos Hermens gave him at least two bottles from the bag he had with him as he rode on the back of the motorbike. There were at least two guys on bicycles next to the lead pack with JURY on the back of their shirt/bib - therefore KB should have been DQ'd for talking the bottles from Hermens. And at one point KB was pointing at Hermens and telling him to give him the bottle

fritsiexx wrote:

Bad preparation from Bekele, according to Hermens.

Preparation only started 7 weeks ago, whereas Kipchoge trains 5-6months.

I watched the live coverage and the commentator told already in the beginning of the race that Bekele has been only in 80-90% shape in last two years because of injuries. That commentator had spoken to Hermens and Canova and mentioned that Bekele is even now not in 100% shape but because he is such a talented athlete they expect him to do well.

observer111 wrote:

And at one point KB was pointing at Hermens and telling him to give him the bottle

that was after the 15km mark when he missed the bottle from the table. I don't know what happened but probably his bottle wasn't there. Everybody else had a drink except him. Then he was showing and yelling that he needs the bottle. It was not shown in the coverage how he got the bottle but 2km later he had it.

Colorful excuses wrote:

Dirt For Desert wrote:

He only started preparing for this marathon seven weeks ago.

Utter BS.

I don't believe it even as a huge fan of his. He just ran a 10-mile race earlier this year. He definitely had train longer than seven weeks. I think Hermans said that just to save his face.

Bekele moved to the roads too early in his career. He was still on top of the world and decided to step off the track even though he's more of a 10k/xc specialist. Well it turns out, he isn't as good over half marathon. Now he can't really cope with not being the world's best so he can't finish any races. Kind of understandable, as a world record holder, you don't want to just be another elite, but that's the level Bekele is out now.

George213 wrote:

[quote]Colorful excuses wrote:

I think Hermans said that just to save his face.

Another entry into the LRC Inarticulation Hall of Fame.?

Wolf's Bane wrote:

Bekele moved to the roads too early in his career. He was still on top of the world and decided to step off the track even though he's more of a 10k/xc specialist. Well it turns out, he isn't as good over half marathon. Now he can't really cope with not being the world's best so he can't finish any races. Kind of understandable, as a world record holder, you don't want to just be another elite, but that's the level Bekele is out now.

The last time Bekele was at the top of his game was 2009 when he again dominated the 5000 and 10000 at the World Champs.

Since then, he has had a handful of "ok" races, off the top of my head, the 26:43 WL in 2011 when he had essentially not raced in almost 2 years, the half marathon in 2013(?) when he beat Farah and an over the hill Geb, his debut marathon in Paris where he ran 205 flat, mostly solo, and the exceptional and unexpected 203 flat in Berlin, which is now two years old.

So we're talking 9 years now where Bekele having a great race is more of an exception not the rule. But the guy has the mentality of a champ, after all he has a ridiculous amount of hardware. He even said himself a couple years ago that he didn't want to run with "weaker runners" when referring to 206 marathoners. That says all you need to know there.

Bekele will keep trying to be or run with the top dogs and he will keep getting dropped or DNF.

Actually, I don't think it'll be much longer. He will try a spring marathon, and if it's another DNF, he will retire.

He got the bottle from one of the other runners. I can't remember the name of the lad. At least, that was what the commentators mentioned.

Just another bizarre twist to Kenny's day thanks to Jos. wrote:

Did Kenny accept one of those drinks Hermens was offering him?, if he did he would have been disqualified anyway, seem to remember reading somewhere that drinks, gels, etc taken along the way form other than the official stations was not allowed. You'd think Hermens would've known this.

Remember he was allowed to do it with Gebreslassie back in the day, but not allowed now.

At one point in the broadcast, the announcers made a big deal about how Bekele had missed his bottle at an aid station. The telecast then went to a different shot. When it returned to Bekele, he had a bottle in his hand.

Just another bizarre twist to Kenny's day thanks to Jos. wrote:

Did Kenny accept one of those drinks Hermens was offering him?, if he did he would have been disqualified anyway, seem to remember reading somewhere that drinks, gels, etc taken along the way form other than the official stations was not allowed. You'd think Hermens would've known this.

Remember he was allowed to do it with Gebreslassie back in the day, but not allowed now.

thats what i thought actually ive never seen anyone been dqed for 'outside assistance' but it is a rule i wondered if he was told he was getting dqed so dnf

alsal wrote:

Just another bizarre twist to Kenny's day thanks to Jos. wrote:

Did Kenny accept one of those drinks Hermens was offering him?, if he did he would have been disqualified anyway, seem to remember reading somewhere that drinks, gels, etc taken along the way form other than the official stations was not allowed. You'd think Hermens would've known this.

Remember he was allowed to do it with Gebreslassie back in the day, but not allowed now.

thats what i thought actually ive never seen anyone been dqed for 'outside assistance' but it is a rule i wondered if he was told he was getting dqed so dnf

Most likely he simply couldn't accept defeat. He's never a gracious person.

Sprintgeezer wrote:

George213 wrote:

[quote]Colorful excuses wrote:

I think Hermans said that just to save his face.

Another entry into the LRC Inarticulation Hall of Fame.?

Rofl, you're right.

observer111 wrote:

Jos Hermens gave him at least two bottles from the bag he had with him as he rode on the back of the motorbike. There were at least two guys on bicycles next to the lead pack with JURY on the back of their shirt/bib - therefore KB should have been DQ'd for talking the bottles from Hermens. And at one point KB was pointing at Hermens and telling him to give him the bottle

Drinks and food should simply not be allowed during the marathon or in any serious distance race. The race should be about testing your body's limits only - not your body plus all the extra food and water given to it during the race. Ron Hill ran many of his marathons without drinking any fluids or eating energy gels so it can be done. It's high time to scrap the marathon records and start over with a proper set of rules.

Having drinks and food before or after the race has finished is fair enough of course.

Gebrselassie is a former world record holder with a best of 2:03:59 but his most recent marathon performance was a fourth-place 2:08:47 in February. As David Monti of Race Results Weekly pointed out yesterday, Gebrselassie’s last five marathons have consisted of dropping out three times, that 2:08 earlier this year and one withdrawal before race day.

https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20837882/is-haile-gebrselassies-marathon-career-over/