"Who do you think is the greatest distance runner of all time, and why?"

Let me make sure I understand this.

You are going to pick a guy who won zero Olympic golds, set zero world records and wasn't good at cross country over someone like Bekele who won a ton of Oympic golds, set a ton of world records and was the best ever at xc, simply because Lagat ran 13:41 as a master?

You do realize Bekele ran 2:05:53 as a master last year which is a HELL of a lot better than 13:41, right?

Ridiculous. So ridiculous that maybe I should hire you as a troll as you'll piss so many people off, the boards will explode in activity.

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OMG lol I didn't know you had a sense of humor! I actually thought the last paragraph was hilarious

Bekele was 0-2 against El G in global championship 5ks. And Bekele was in his prime in those years.

While marathon and world cross are great the most significant test of a runner is the track. On the track El G is the Goat.

El Gs 1500 and mile records still stand and his double gold in 2004 was the highest achievement in distance running history considering who he defeated to do that.

Mac fleet.

Shocked that I was the first person to mention El G. He absolutely should be in everyone’s top 3.

Purely by greatness it has to be EL-G. I know he was probably doping but he definitely could have dominated the 5k and 10k on a global stage IMO.

First and only attempt at 3k world record he was 2 seconds off and it was terribly paced from what I remember.

Greatest 1500m runner ever.

5k Olympic gold and IMO would have been a better version of Farah at the 5k/10k in a competition standpoint if he focused on them. Def couldve gone sub 12:45 too

I feel like El-G did what jakob is doing, but for his entire career, in that he focused on the 1500m even though his ceiling may have even been higher at 3k-5k, and gold medal contender at 10k as well. Its hard to say bc 3:26 is insane, but the way he would "kick" from 2 laps out was just scary. I think he could've challenged 5k WR and been an absolute nightmare to race against on 10k as well

How about Ron Clark

I think it’s Eliud Kipchoge. Beat Bekele and El Guerrouj 20 years ago. beat Farah 10 years ago. Double Olympic marathon champ. he could hang with the best over any distance and he’s been around for over 20 years

Interesting nominee.

Can you provide the list of Olympic and Commonwealth races that he won???

Shouldn't take you too long to compile it.

Cheptegei is not there yet but he could end up in the discussion with a few more gold medals and a strong marathon career. Still only 26

Lasse Virén

Agreed. Emil Zatopek gets my vote as GOAT. And “Today We Die A Little” is a great read.

Mate, are you serious? Not only did he not hold the 2 mile world best, Jakob absolutely shattered it a month or so before Worlds this year. Did you not pay any attention to this track season?

Whichever fastest 100 meter guy ran a season of cross country once... 😱

I know for example Jesse Williams did cross country in high school,but you asked fastest, not highest jumper 😂

"Best Distance Runner Of All-Time." You will not find one.

I hate the marathon, yet Frank Shorter had such an effect on the American people by winning the Olympic Marathon in 1972! Let's not forget him.

USC Trojans alum Toshihiko Seko won 10 Major Marathons.

Kip Keino. Is to Kenya what Emil Zatopek was to Europe.

Miss Mary Decker. I wonder what she would have done with more conservative coaching and good role models.

Not the best, but among the best: Saïd Aouita

Olympic and WC medals in 5000, 1500, and . . . 800?!?

Has held world records in the 1500, 2000, 3000, and 5000.

The only man in history to run the 800 m under 1:44, the 1500 m under 3:30, the 3000 m under 7:30 and the 5000 m under 13:00