If male 14:00/29:00 type runners can run 2:08:00-2:10:00, and multitudes have done so, it is perfectly logical for a woman to run 2:11:53, with the same under distance credentials.
Think about just the benefit of shoes in racing and training. First- what do the doubters think a woman is capable of running? Take that time and subtract the % the shoes give in a race. Then the training effect- how much faster are your workouts in the shoes? How many more workouts can you do because you're recovering from workouts faster (because of the shoes). Now, what time does that bring the runner down to? Of course we're going to doubt performances because so many runners (especially Kenyans lately) are getting popped. One other thing- I'm old enough to remember when the talk was around- what times will they run when sub 4:00 milers run the marathon. They started to and times dropped. Now, we have 54.xx 400 runners and 1:59 800 runners moving up.
The people who believe Assefa is clean are the same people who believed in Lance Armstrong. They want to believe in "miracle" performances. And in both cases --- Nike in Armstrong's case, and adidas in Assefa's -- both athletes are being cynically used by giant sports brands as the faces multibillion-dollar global marketing campaigns.
Just as with Armstrong, nothing in Assefa's story makes sense: the fact her Berlin WR represents only her third marathon; the fact she had never raced in this event before last year, and yet yesterday cut 22 minutes from her time for her first marathon. The fact that at 29 is she magnitudes faster than her mid-20s, which is when she should've been at her biological peak. Assefa is a cheat, and the more we cheer on her "world record" the more we are encouraging other runners to stain the sport further and wreck their bodies by taking dangerous PEDs. It might take years, as it did in Armstrong's case, but Assefa will eventually be unmasked as a cheat.
The people who believe Assefa is clean are the same people who believed in Lance Armstrong. They want to believe in "miracle" performances. And in both cases --- Nike in Armstrong's case, and adidas in Assefa's -- both athletes are being cynically used by giant sports brands as the faces multibillion-dollar global marketing campaigns.
Just as with Armstrong, nothing in Assefa's story makes sense: the fact her Berlin WR represents only her third marathon; the fact she had never raced in this event before last year, and yet yesterday cut 22 minutes from her time for her first marathon. The fact that at 29 is she magnitudes faster than her mid-20s, which is when she should've been at her biological peak. Assefa is a cheat, and the more we cheer on her "world record" the more we are encouraging other runners to stain the sport further and wreck their bodies by taking dangerous PEDs. It might take years, as it did in Armstrong's case, but Assefa will eventually be unmasked as a cheat.
Why do you even watch sports when you have this psychotic view of it?
The point of marathon running is to do it as fast as possible. Sports companies such as Nike and adidas provide support and resources to get them to do that. But you, the viewer, sees the results and gets upset because they ran too fast? What is it you hope to get out of watching this or any athletic competition?
The people who believe Assefa is clean are the same people who believed in Lance Armstrong. They want to believe in "miracle" performances. And in both cases --- Nike in Armstrong's case, and adidas in Assefa's -- both athletes are being cynically used by giant sports brands as the faces multibillion-dollar global marketing campaigns.
Just as with Armstrong, nothing in Assefa's story makes sense: the fact her Berlin WR represents only her third marathon; the fact she had never raced in this event before last year, and yet yesterday cut 22 minutes from her time for her first marathon. The fact that at 29 is she magnitudes faster than her mid-20s, which is when she should've been at her biological peak. Assefa is a cheat, and the more we cheer on her "world record" the more we are encouraging other runners to stain the sport further and wreck their bodies by taking dangerous PEDs. It might take years, as it did in Armstrong's case, but Assefa will eventually be unmasked as a cheat.
It's not like that- the people who believe she is clean are giving her the benefit of the doubt until she fails a test.
I don't know what you do or what education you got to do it (maybe you're just sitting in a room in your mom's house angry at the world because you are a loser) but if people started saying that you cheated your way through school based on no evidence you probably would think it's wrong.
Why do you even watch sports when you have this psychotic view of it?
The point of marathon running is to do it as fast as possible. Sports companies such as Nike and adidas provide support and resources to get them to do that. But you, the viewer, sees the results and gets upset because they ran too fast? What is it you hope to get out of watching this or any athletic competition?
A lot of fans may want to see fast times sure, but also cleand and FAIR competition. It's a race, with prize money and accolades, not a time trial. If someone is doping then it is not an honest competition.
The people who believe Assefa is clean are the same people who believed in Lance Armstrong. They want to believe in "miracle" performances. And in both cases --- Nike in Armstrong's case, and adidas in Assefa's -- both athletes are being cynically used by giant sports brands as the faces multibillion-dollar global marketing campaigns.
Just as with Armstrong, nothing in Assefa's story makes sense: the fact her Berlin WR represents only her third marathon; the fact she had never raced in this event before last year, and yet yesterday cut 22 minutes from her time for her first marathon. The fact that at 29 is she magnitudes faster than her mid-20s, which is when she should've been at her biological peak. Assefa is a cheat, and the more we cheer on her "world record" the more we are encouraging other runners to stain the sport further and wreck their bodies by taking dangerous PEDs. It might take years, as it did in Armstrong's case, but Assefa will eventually be unmasked as a cheat.
It's not like that- the people who believe she is clean are giving her the benefit of the doubt until she fails a test.
I don't know what you do or what education you got to do it (maybe you're just sitting in a room in your mom's house angry at the world because you are a loser) but if people started saying that you cheated your way through school based on no evidence you probably would think it's wrong.
And how much time did she cut from her second marathon? They said she was sick for her first marathon but ran just to get the experience of the race.
If you are winning major marathons, you are doping. It is that simple. I have never seen so-called fans of a sport that are so uniformed and delusional. And it is the usual suspects that always come up with "well you see, it is ashually logical...."
Someone please design a "team astro" t-shirt with those two sentences emblazoned on it.
I'll buy one if LRC's indomitable town crier of doping obtains employment with WADA or one of its affiliates and works to directly address the scourge that afflicts our sport.
So you aren't actually disagreeing with him; you are only urging he do something about it. Like you are?
Why do you even watch sports when you have this psychotic view of it?
The point of marathon running is to do it as fast as possible. Sports companies such as Nike and adidas provide support and resources to get them to do that. But you, the viewer, sees the results and gets upset because they ran too fast? What is it you hope to get out of watching this or any athletic competition?
A lot of fans may want to see fast times sure, but also cleand and FAIR competition. It's a race, with prize money and accolades, not a time trial. If someone is doping then it is not an honest competition.
The people who believe Assefa is clean are the same people who believed in Lance Armstrong. They want to believe in "miracle" performances. And in both cases --- Nike in Armstrong's case, and adidas in Assefa's -- both athletes are being cynically used by giant sports brands as the faces multibillion-dollar global marketing campaigns.
Just as with Armstrong, nothing in Assefa's story makes sense: the fact her Berlin WR represents only her third marathon; the fact she had never raced in this event before last year, and yet yesterday cut 22 minutes from her time for her first marathon. The fact that at 29 is she magnitudes faster than her mid-20s, which is when she should've been at her biological peak. Assefa is a cheat, and the more we cheer on her "world record" the more we are encouraging other runners to stain the sport further and wreck their bodies by taking dangerous PEDs. It might take years, as it did in Armstrong's case, but Assefa will eventually be unmasked as a cheat.
Sadly, it is highly unlikely that she'll be officially unmasked as a cheat. See El G + Bekele + Bolt + Radcliffe.
And even if she would screw up some time down the road by misjudging the glowing time, this record will continue to stand. See Kiprop + Kipsang + Shelburrito etc. etc. etc.
Last year a selected list of 46 prominent athletes were tested repeatedly in Ethiopia and abroad. Result: All passed with flying colours.
People doubting the legitimacy of this 2:11:53 performance by Assefa have been influenced by perennial rumor mongering.
I've never heard of a single prominent (or not) athlete from Ethiopia being busted for Peds.
All the E Germans were doping. So how many did you hear of were busted? There is more testing now, but not necessarily in all countries and out of competition. And most drugs are masked so they escape detection. The easiest thing to do is to dope and get away with it. Those caught are rare exceptions. Dumb or careless.
How many E Germans were busted? So it is with Ethiopians.
Ethiopia has never had a culture of doping up until now, and that is unlikely to change. As a barometer (just one example) when Yomif Kejelcha moved to the U.S to run under Salazar, and improved his mile indoor time, he was monitored and followed that entire year, and came out as clean as Conner Mantz during the latter's mission in Ghana. Just one example, admittedly. What about all the dozens upon dozens of young Ethiopians running 2:03:00-2:06:00 in Dubai every year? Nothing on them either. Honest country, honest people, in their vast majority. Their devotion to Christian faith (see their rituals post race) might have something to do with it. Some of them are Muslim also - big haram to cheat, especially in Ethiopian Muslim culture where honesty/integrity are inextricably linked and applied. I've been to Addis and Assella. Seen it with my own eyes. Honest people, mostly. People who steal in the markets in Addis often get quasi lynched. They hate cheaters.
What do dopers look like? You can recognise them in the markets? Are they conducting their doping in plain public view, so you would know they are doping? Of course they aren't doping - you don't see them doing it. (Um - do we actually observe anyone doping?) It must also be comforting to you that the devout do not dope - although WADA doesn't seem to take that view, as it never assumes the religious are clean and tests everybody regardless.
There is no drug on Earth that is going to give you that improvement. If there was and it was undetectable, everyone would be on it.
They likely soon will be. However peds are not sold generally at your local pharmacy; they are made, distributed and sold in secret, with the view of giving an athlete an edge over their competition. Currently she has the edge but as it's an arms race soon someone else will.
If male 14:00/29:00 type runners can run 2:08:00-2:10:00, and multitudes have done so, it is perfectly logical for a woman to run 2:11:53, with the same under distance credentials.
Think about just the benefit of shoes in racing and training. First- what do the doubters think a woman is capable of running? Take that time and subtract the % the shoes give in a race. Then the training effect- how much faster are your workouts in the shoes? How many more workouts can you do because you're recovering from workouts faster (because of the shoes). Now, what time does that bring the runner down to? Of course we're going to doubt performances because so many runners (especially Kenyans lately) are getting popped. One other thing- I'm old enough to remember when the talk was around- what times will they run when sub 4:00 milers run the marathon. They started to and times dropped. Now, we have 54.xx 400 runners and 1:59 800 runners moving up.
Sorry to disillusion you but it is almost all due to doping, which improves all the time. It's a business.
A lot of fans may want to see fast times sure, but also cleand and FAIR competition. It's a race, with prize money and accolades, not a time trial. If someone is doping then it is not an honest competition.
Sports will never be fair. Once the race is over, you don’t need to question what happened. The guy who crosses the line first won, and that’s that.
Do you people who want fairness and equality in races just want to see everyone cross the line holding hands and share the medals? Real Harrison Bergeron hours over here.