You have to love the fact that the number one distance track runner in the world competes.
So many Americans always shying away from competition.
Jacob runs XC and has even run half marathons. Sad to say US will likely send another "B" to world cross even when held in our own country. Is everyone afraid to travel to Florida?
Injuries are part of the sport. Mantz and Fisher got hurt, so harsh to say shying away. Hoping Jakob wont “shy away” from World XC as usual, but if he runs World Indoors vs Hocker…no complaints. Doing neither deserves scrutiny, but few athletes will do both.
You’re really going to say this after the season Jakob just had? His first priority should be getting healthy for outdoors. Anything he does this winter is a bonus.
You’re really going to say this after the season Jakob just had? His first priority should be getting healthy for outdoors. Anything he does this winter is a bonus.
Hes running Euro Cross and do you really think hes doing nothing until Rabat/Oslo DL? No he will at least run some indoor races
Yeah I think that's the fair statement, however, I'll make a counter point by saying that since he ran U20 World XC in 2019, the last 5 years have been loaded with global championships (and pandemics), which isn't conducive to adding World XC to the schedule (especially in locations like Australia).
2020 - Covid 2021 - Olympics
2022 - WC
2023 - WC
2024 - Olympics
2025 - WC
2026 is the first year in a while where there are no global championships, making World XC more possible.
There is literally an indoor and outdoor track world championships this year, plus the outdoor European Championships
Uhh, you can't put World Indoors and some made up World Athletics event in the same group as Olympics and World Championship.
I'm afraid Jakob is too greedy, and that he can’t escape this spiral of trying to get back from injury — longing for the monster form he used to have, combined with being just a bit too addicted to competing, and ends up with another injury. Look at his brother Henrik.
I'm afraid Jakob is too greedy, and that he can’t escape this spiral of trying to get back from injury — longing for the monster form he used to have, combined with being just a bit too addicted to competing, and ends up with another injury. Look at his brother Henrik.
I hope i'm wrong.
I agree that there’s a danger of Jakob being too greedy. Here’s his own reflections around the injury situation, from 2025 November 30:
Jakob just withdrew from the euro cross country… not a good sign. Not injury-related, but anyway… it’s something about the spiral…
still… I hope I’m wrong.
LRC note. Friendly reminder. Pelase provide a source. Here is an article from European Athletics:
"Jakob has had a very good training period at altitude in recent weeks and has decided to skip the European Cross Country Championships in order to focus fully on the 2026 season. We support the decision and look forward to the upcoming season," said Norwegian Athletics Association sports director Erlend Slokvik as quoted by NRK.
Jakob just withdrew from the euro cross country… not a good sign. Not injury-related, but anyway… it’s something about the spiral…
still… I hope I’m wrong.
Source? I'd like to read it
I just did a Google News search for Jakob and found it.
He posted yesterday that ran a good 25*400 session. I actually think this is a wise decision for him if the intent is to continue to focus on training and staying healthy.
I just did a Google News search for Jakob and found it.
He posted yesterday that ran a good 25*400 session. I actually think this is a wise decision for him if the intent is to continue to focus on training and staying healthy.
I dunno.
He was planning on running it and has now changed that plan. He gives no real reason. Disappointing. Although clearly track is the priority. I was excited about the Euro X country race...now not so much
Ok well really there are only two possibilities here:
1) He took my advice from the 1st page of this thread and realized that his goal of breaking the three big WRs (1500, Mile, 5000m) is far more important than yet another European XC gold where he risks yet again another achilles inflammation. Good for him if this is true!
2) His achilles is inflamed again and his season is F'ed again. Now if it's this, we won't know for sure until like February. Hopefully it's not and by the looks of the article it seems like it's 1 so maybe a good sign.
Ok well really there are only two possibilities here:
1) He took my advice from the 1st page of this thread and realized that his goal of breaking the three big WRs (1500, Mile, 5000m) is far more important than yet another European XC gold where he risks yet again another achilles inflammation. Good for him if this is true!
2) His achilles is inflamed again and his season is F'ed again. Now if it's this, we won't know for sure until like February. Hopefully it's not and by the looks of the article it seems like it's 1 so maybe a good sign.
I don’t think he would be training like he has been at altitude if #2 was the truth.
I just did a Google News search for Jakob and found it.
He posted yesterday that ran a good 25*400 session. I actually think this is a wise decision for him if the intent is to continue to focus on training and staying healthy.
I dunno.
He was planning on running it and has now changed that plan. He gives no real reason. Disappointing. Although clearly track is the priority. I was excited about the Euro X country race...now not so much
It is kind of weird...he posted on instagram alluding that he might race soon. Erlend Slokvik said he is doing it to prepare for the 2026 season so if it truly is that then great! But yes, very weird.
Ok well really there are only two possibilities here:
1) He took my advice from the 1st page of this thread and realized that his goal of breaking the three big WRs (1500, Mile, 5000m) is far more important than yet another European XC gold where he risks yet again another achilles inflammation. Good for him if this is true!
2) His achilles is inflamed again and his season is F'ed again. Now if it's this, we won't know for sure until like February. Hopefully it's not and by the looks of the article it seems like it's 1 so maybe a good sign.
I don’t think he would be training like he has been at altitude if #2 was the truth.
Yes but things change very fast. Did you watch Ingebrigtsen:Born to run S2? He literally woke up one day and his achilles was inflamed. There is a slight chance that this may have happened again and Slokvik had to announce swiftly that Jakob won't be racing. Nevertheless, I slightly doubt it.
I don’t think he would be training like he has been at altitude if #2 was the truth.
Yes but things change very fast. Did you watch Ingebrigtsen:Born to run S2? He literally woke up one day and his achilles was inflamed. There is a slight chance that this may have happened again and Slokvik had to announce swiftly that Jakob won't be racing. Nevertheless, I slightly doubt it.
Unfortunately I have been unsuccessful figuring out a way to watch it from the U.S. The VPNs I have tried to have been detected with prime.
I have no idea if this is the reason for his withdrawal, but I can say that his shape at the camp in Sierra has been modest. The sessions clearly have been slower than usual.
I have no idea if this is the reason for his withdrawal, but I can say that his shape at the camp in Sierra has been modest. The sessions clearly have been slower than usual.
No way to verify, but what we do know is Jakob relishes winning at European XC. He does it at every opportunity, and then takes the Indoor season seriously, too. This year would hold even more significance as Europe showed out at Worlds in Jakob's absence between Almgren, Gressier, and Kimeli.
So now we have him skipping an event he loves at a prime spot to show he's still the man in Europe. I see they are spinning it as preparing for the 2026 season, but the BS detector is up. Often, this is the rationale we hear before learning of a setback/injury that is the true reason why athlete X is skipping an event you'd think they'd do. Think Grant Fisher.
If he doesn't hype the return in advance and open up on February 19th in Lieven, it's time to get very worried about the long-term situation here. As it stands now, we're not there yet.
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
