Breaking: Jakob may not run 1500 at Worlds

snowflakes wrote:

Primate1 wrote:

The indoor WR in the mile was held by Kejelcha (a 5000 / 10000 guy who also had the half-marathon WR) for a while before Naguse and then Ingebrigtsen broke it. So some good 5000 runners can run very fast 1500s in a time trial setting. And citing Ingebrigtsen’s indoor wins against limited competition is of limited value. He didn’t even medal in the 1500 in the Olympics.

I don’t think there is any debate that he is better at the 5000 than the 1500 in championship races. Gourley or Nader would be thrilled to get one gold medal, but Ingebrigtsen wants two medals per championship (he really wants two gold medals). So while he does identify himself as a 1500 runner, and he is a great 1500 runner, it is perfectly rational to consider whether the 5/10 might be a better route for him to achieve that two gold medal goal.

It is also rational to stick to winning DL 1500s and WC 5000s. It should be about his priorities and what he prefers.

This is a reasonable take. Not sure why you are being downvoted. Mo Farah showed that with great miler speed you can be unbeatable in the 5000/10000. Ingebrigtsen has shown that he is far better in the 3000/5000 than the 1500. That may extend to the 10000 in terms of championships.

RunLuppa wrote:

(Full Translation)

In a daze before the start of the World Cup: - A hope until it really doesn't work

Jakob Ingebrigtsen has no idea if he will run the 1500 meters in the World Championships on Sunday. He opens up to NRK about the uncertainty that has characterized him.

- I have worked hard and long to try to make this happen. That belief exists until I stand at the start – or not, says Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Ingebrigtsen is in a good mood when he takes NRK to one of the many temples that characterize the Japanese city of Kyoto, where he has held his last training camp before the World Cup.

- There are historical buildings and temples here, almost on every corner. It's cool how it's such a big part of Japanese culture.

Tourists flock to the traditional city with the goal of experiencing authentic Japanese culture.

Despite the fact that the Norwegian runner also appreciates the historical aspect, he is really here with only one goal in mind: Getting ready for the World Championships in Tokyo, which start this weekend.

The Sandnes runner has been out with an Achilles injury since March, and the World Championships will therefore be Ingebrigtsen's first outdoor competition this year - if he makes it.

Because it is still uncertain whether he will compete in the 1500 meter attempt on Sunday night.

– I have hope until it really doesn't work. And as long as there is enough time, there is still hope, even if it is going very badly. Now we are here and doing the best we can, but we don't know, he says.

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Approaching competitive form:

Ingebrigtsen explains that he has had a very different approach to training, also around the testing and training camp system.

– Everything has been turned upside down a bit. In isolation, it's exciting to be thrown into something that you have to do completely differently. But we would have liked to have been a little closer to what we have control over, he says.

But he reportedly received good answers during the last week at the training camp in Kyoto – together with his brothers Henrik and Filip.

– So maybe it's a bit coincidental, but it's been getting better and better in recent weeks. And in the last week we're getting closer to something I can compete with in terms of form, explains Ingebrigtsen

Still, he adds that he has no idea what it will mean in terms of sport. He will only know that when he actually starts the competition.

– I'm very excited. There are a few extra nerves and a few extra questions that you have about yourself and your own form about what basis you have, he says.

– I just have to try to get the best possible result in Tokyo. But we won't know until it happens. We are just as excited as everyone else about what it will be, Ingebrigtsen continues.

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Incredibly difficult:

Ingebrigtsen points out that the injury period throughout the summer has been difficult.

– The biggest challenge in a difficult situation, where there is a lot of uncertainty, is that everything goes back and forth, he says.

During one training period he felt good, but then he suddenly experienced worse periods. It has been going back and forth like this all summer long.

– It makes it incredibly difficult to plan anything. That uncertainty about taking one step forward, two steps back, and then taking three steps forward and then two steps back.

Firstly, he is excited about whether he will feel ready enough to compete in the 1500 meters, and secondly, he is excited about what he will actually compete with.

– It's hard to say. Because especially in our training, we don't get much feedback on how our form is, what we've done and what's working, he says and continues:

– That's what makes it a little extra nervous before a season opener, because then you get the first answer to how good shape you actually are and what effect you have actually had from the work you have put in.

Ingebrigtsen is registered for both the 1500 and 5000 meters in the World Championships. In the latter event, he has won two World Championships gold medals and one Olympic gold medal in the previous three seasons.

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Tricked into throwing in the towel:

He says that the uncertainty has taken a lot out of him – both for himself and the rest of the supporters.

– It's not so much because of myself that I'm here – at least not that prepared – but at the same time, maybe I'm the only one who has had a goal of being in the World Cup.

When the team around him said that it might not be a good idea to go to the World Cup, he spoke out against it.

– The others probably thought it was a good idea to throw in the towel a long time ago. But now we're here, and we're trying, and we'll see what happens.

Ingebrigtsen highlights his brothers, his wife Elisabeth, and physiotherapist Steffen Vasbø as some of the supporters who have helped him to the World Cup.

– We don't know what it means in terms of sport when we are here, but we try to do as well as we can today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and then suddenly it's – basically – a trial heat.

– For me, this is both the start of the season – and the highlight of the season. It will be very different. The plan is to take one race at a time and do each step as well as we can. Then it's just a matter of using the answers you Find out more, and taking your confidence where you have the opportunity.