That’s why Kipchoge (and to a lesser extent Bekele) are real enigmas. Geb had great longevity too. I don’t see any other current candidates, maybe Cheptegei if his marathon career picks up.
I have a bad feeling about Jakob and am invested. Would appreciate if someone could post every time he posts on Snapchat
LOL. You name three of the most obvious dopers ever. Longevity? The protection those three received, for the good of the sport mind you, was absurd.
Kipchoge and Bekele did have really long careers, but their top notch careers on the track were no more than six years long. Bekele won track medals over a six year span (7 seasons), from 2003 through 2009 (8 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, plus World Indoor gold), while his xc medals were over an seven year span, 2001 through 2008, 12 golds and 1 silver). When he shifted to marathon, it was after struggling with speedwork because of achilles issues. His longevity was amazing, winning xc medals in 2001 and running 2:01:41 at Berlin in 2019. Kipchoge won gold over Bekele and El G in 2003 in the 5000m (only three other track medals outdoors, one bronze indoors), two marathon Olympic golds in 2016 and 2021, 18 years after his world outdoor gold, and only one xc medal in U20, when he may have been too old already. But on the track he could only really compete with the best from 2003 through 2007 or so, and achilles issues led him to go to the marathon when he was still young in track years.
Kipchoge was very good through 2010. The slow Worlds was bad for him in 09 but he ran 7:28 for 3K early in the year. In 2010, he was also good running 12:54, 12:51. But yes achieving more than 8 years of a high level on the track is unusual. For Jakob it’s 2018 through we’ll see.
Jakob went to South Africa a few weeks ago but was only there for about a week. Traveling from Norway to South Africa takes roughly 24 hours, so it’s unlikely he would make that trip if he planned such a short stay.
In recent weeks, he has posted several photos of his Coros watch after workouts, but only shows average and maximum heart rate. It’s fairly obvious this data comes from elliptical sessions rather than running.
When Jakob is fit, his social media team usually posts weekly content of him running. That hasn’t happened at all in 2026 so far.
Conclusion: He’s injured.
1) Technically what you have a hypothesis, not a theory.
2) Your hypothesis is not without merit
3) Is there some way it could be tested and verified/falsified? (e.g. why can't Team Ingebritsen just confirm it? Would admitting having an injury not take or some of the pressure or am I missing something here?)
P.S. Dullstroom in SA is a nice high altitude training camp venue for a variety of national and international runners of different distances. Not sure if they went there for a proper camp, to check it out if they like it for future reference, went for a training block but decided ít's not for them; he got injured (again), same or differently and left to get treatment.
Jakob went to South Africa a few weeks ago but was only there for about a week. Traveling from Norway to South Africa takes roughly 24 hours, so it’s unlikely he would make that trip if he planned such a short stay.
In recent weeks, he has posted several photos of his Coros watch after workouts, but only shows average and maximum heart rate. It’s fairly obvious this data comes from elliptical sessions rather than running.
When Jakob is fit, his social media team usually posts weekly content of him running. That hasn’t happened at all in 2026 so far.
Jakob went to South Africa a few weeks ago but was only there for about a week. Traveling from Norway to South Africa takes roughly 24 hours, so it’s unlikely he would make that trip if he planned such a short stay.
In recent weeks, he has posted several photos of his Coros watch after workouts, but only shows average and maximum heart rate. It’s fairly obvious this data comes from elliptical sessions rather than running.
When Jakob is fit, his social media team usually posts weekly content of him running. That hasn’t happened at all in 2026 so far.
Conclusion: He’s injured.
1) Technically what you have a hypothesis, not a theory.
2) Your hypothesis is not without merit
3) Is there some way it could be tested and verified/falsified? (e.g. why can't Team Ingebritsen just confirm it? Would admitting having an injury not take or some of the pressure or am I missing something here?)
P.S. Dullstroom in SA is a nice high altitude training camp venue for a variety of national and international runners of different distances. Not sure if they went there for a proper camp, to check it out if they like it for future reference, went for a training block but decided ít's not for them; he got injured (again), same or differently and left to get treatment.
Only part can say with certainty is they didn't go to Dullstroom to check it out as in the show they already went there and seemed regular . So they know all about it!
Update: Jakob’s been in Oslo for about a week now. He’s posting a Snapchat pic every day from a training studio I know is in Oslo. I just think it’s a bit weird he’d rather stay there than go home to Sandnes. Why would he need to be in Oslo that long? My guess: injury treatment.
Update: Jakob’s been in Oslo for about a week now. He’s posting a Snapchat pic every day from a training studio I know is in Oslo. I just think it’s a bit weird he’d rather stay there than go home to Sandnes. Why would he need to be in Oslo that long? My guess: injury treatment.
Business happens in Oslo, not Sandnes. Perhaps he is doing business, finding the extra 1% in his training, meeting a Nike rep, visiting Filip or buying a new car.
Update: Jakob’s been in Oslo for about a week now. He’s posting a Snapchat pic every day from a training studio I know is in Oslo. I just think it’s a bit weird he’d rather stay there than go home to Sandnes. Why would he need to be in Oslo that long? My guess: injury treatment.
Business happens in Oslo, not Sandnes. Perhaps he is doing business, finding the extra 1% in his training, meeting a Nike rep, visiting Filip or buying a new car.
If that’s true, I’d be even more concerned. A runner at his peak should be fully committed to training—not spending an entire week in another city handling business or shopping for a car. He should be putting in serious work at altitude right now alongside Almgren.
Business happens in Oslo, not Sandnes. Perhaps he is doing business, finding the extra 1% in his training, meeting a Nike rep, visiting Filip or buying a new car.
If that’s true, I’d be even more concerned. A runner at his peak should be fully committed to training—not spending an entire week in another city handling business or shopping for a car. He should be putting in serious work at altitude right now alongside Almgren.
Lol shut up mate, I hope you're saying that tongue in cheek. Almgren is racing a 10K in late February. Jakob is not dropping into a race until May/June. He isn't going to be at altitude for any entire 3-4 months.
Plus runners have a lot of free time.
This post was edited 51 seconds after it was posted.
Jakob sent a Snap from inside an airplane taxing at Oslo Airport at 9:40 a.m. today. This is consistent with an Air France departure to Paris, which aligns well with a direct onward flight to Cape Town with KLM. Both his wife and children were with him.
This may be a shot from the hip, but it’s always fun to speculate 🙂
