Greatest Runner of All Time?

Alan Webbs Triceps wrote:

1. Kenny B

2. The OG El G

3. Eliud MK Kipchoge

1. Molly Huddle *swoons*

EDIT

1. Kenny B

2. Haile MF Gebreselassie

3. (tie) The OG El G & Eliud MF Kipchoge

Alan Webbs Triceps wrote:

1. Kenny B

2. The OG El G

3. Eliud MK Kipchoge

1. Molly Huddle *swoons*

Here is a poem I wrote for Molly, anyone meets her or knows her let her know I wrote this poem for her:

I was only a hobby jogger

When I discovered letsrun

I love letsrun so much

I've read all the top threads and articles

I pray to Wejo and rejo every night before I go to bed for the running knowledge that they have annoited me with

Letsrun is love I say

Letsrun is life

The girls rejected me for the Auschwitz body I have from high mileage

I knew they are just jealous for my devotion to running

And I rejected girls so that I have more time in the day to run

I'm crying now and my feelings hurt from being lonely because I have never had a girlfriend because of my devotion to running

I'm lying in bed now it's really cold

But a warmth is now moving towards me

And touches me

And it's Molly Huddle

And she whispers into my ear

And says this is my track

He grabs me with her feminine hands

And puts me on my hands and knees

And whispers into my ear this is my track

She has me do some stretches

She surges ahead

And we have a hard 10 mile hilly fartlek run

I surge up the hill

I want to say please Molly

And she roars now like Alan Webb at the 2004 Olympic trials

My dad walks in

He smiles in approvment

She looks at him in the straight into his eyes

And says

Just run baby

Molly runs off into the woods

Letsrun is love

Letsrun life

Do we know of any runner, from anywhere,who broke 4:00 in the mile quicker than Ryun did. He broke 4:00 within 20 months of taking his first step running.

Lasse Virén

A Finnish former long-distance runner, winner of four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. Virén recaptured the image of the "Flying Finns" promoted by runners like Hannes Kolehmainen, Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola in the 1920s. He was elected Finnish Sportsman of the Year in 1972 and 1976

Senior-Lazarus_Long wrote:

Lasse Virén

A Finnish former long-distance runner, winner of four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. Virén recaptured the image of the "Flying Finns" promoted by runners like Hannes Kolehmainen, Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola in the 1920s. He was elected Finnish Sportsman of the Year in 1972 and 1976

Agree with your choice.

What he did at the '76 Olympics surpasses what the great Zatopek did in the '52 Olympics, if one analyzes the details.

And now, prepare for the incoming scud missiles about blood doping from the peanut gallery, lol.

Topic wrote:

Title says it all. Who is your pick for greatest distance runner of all time and why? I think there is a strong argument to be made for Bekele, Komen, and El G (with Geb and Kipchoge as honorable mentions), but ultimately El G is the GOAT due to his untouchable world records and dominance. It's possible that this topic has already been beaten to death, but I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts.

The strike against El G is that it took him until his third Olympics for him to get a gold medal. And even in 2004 he won his races in dramatic fashion by the narrowest of margins. Compare this, for example, to Bekele's pure domination in the 2008 Olympic 5000m. Of course El G is on the shortlist of possible GOATS, but for me this is enough to pick someone like Bekele. Range of events also goes in favor of Bekele.

I'm also not sure El G's world records are untouchable (at least if we adjust for drug testing between eras). I don't think anyone would have been surprised if Kiprop had broken his 1500m record at his peak.

Gen didn’t excell in world xc. So how could you say he excelled at every level? Did geb ever win the distance double at the Olympic Games like Bekele. And last time I checked, Bekele had the fastest marathon p.r beating Wilson Kipsang in the process. All geb’s fast times were set up for him to win. He had no other strong competitor in his races to challenge him. So far as the time being, it’s bekele

I'm going with Eliude Kipchoge. I know, not your typical answer. But seriously. He was always a serious competitor on the track. He even stole a 5000m world title from Bekele and El G. Finished behind both of them the next year in the 5000. Finished right behind Bekele in 2008. But more importantly, his marathon career has been unlike any other. He has only been beaten one time and it took a WR to beat him. He's one 9 out of 10 of his marathons. Then he has also ran the fastest marathon ever by a long shot (and yes I know it wasn't a legit WR but still). Kipchoge wins when it matters, is very consistent, and can do extraordinary things during his races. He isn't just kicking to win.

said aquita got to be up there . Olympic gold 5000, 4 years later Olympic bronze in 800 ( ran 800 final injured so pulled out of 1500- hot favorite to win 15 ) . second man to break 3.30 and first man to break 13 . 10000 debut 27.22 and looked more than capable breaking world record that day which was low 27 at the time . could run 45 point for 400 . A rediculous range of speed and endurance

You forgot SAID AOUITA during his peak won 115 out 119 races, first man to run sub 7:30 and sub 13. Only man EVER ti defeat four different Olympic Champions at their speciality fanging from 800m tpo 10000m.

Gebrselassie has certainly had more success on the road than Bekele, but it should be noted that KB has run a handful of quality marathons and has the 2nd fastest time in history. I don't think his lack of road wins has hurt his legacy much considering the slew of medals he accrued in track and XC and the WRs he set that still stand today.

I understand the reasoning behind picking Bekele over El G. He has more medals and superior range, performed better in the Olympics, and holds a few very strong WRs of his own. I go back and forth between the two, but for me, El G narrowly beats out Bekele for the GOAT title.

Regarding your other comments:

Adjusting for drug testing is useless because we don't have enough information to create an adjustment that would be anything more than arbitrary. Considering Kiprop was unable to surpass El G's mark, it seems improbable that anyone else will come close in the near future, unless by some miracle Ingebrigtsen continues to improve at an inhuman rate. And, even if El G's 1500 and mile records end up falling within the next 10 years, I suspect his 2k mark will still remain a WR.

Stellar track times across the board and an unbelievable career in the marathon (plus a decent amount of hardware and Olympic success), but I'd be hard-pressed to rank him any higher than 4th or 5th all time. Nevertheless, I'm a huge fan and look forward to seeing him break Kimetto's record.

That 2003 WC 10k when Geb put the hammer down with Bekele passing him on the final turn to register 12:57 for the second 5k. No other runner in history hangs on to that pace. It's between those two. Geb had lost track speed by that point, so who knows how he would've done in his prime.

Wxccfta wrote:

Gen didn’t excell in world xc. So how could you say he excelled at every level? Did geb ever win the distance double at the Olympic Games like Bekele. And last time I checked, Bekele had the fastest marathon p.r beating Wilson Kipsang in the process. All geb’s fast times were set up for him to win. He had no other strong competitor in his races to challenge him. So far as the time being, it’s bekele

Dude, please. Bekele never set the WR. Got beaten at the London Marathon by Daniel Wanjiru

Geb fast times were set up for him to win? lol..by whom the pacers? That's what pacers do. Berlin and London are always set up for runners to go out fast. In 2 of his berlin wins he went up against Abel Kirui.

He is the first runner to break 2:03.

Like I stated, Bekele is the greatest XC and Track runner of all time, but distance as a whole body of work, where ROAD RUNNING IS MOST IMPORTANT - it is haile G. hands down.

Haile was even a best at 10k road distance.

Bekele failed at the road, and now he can barely finish races. His agent even called him out and said that he was not taking his training seriously, which is why he sucked on the road.

Sucked on the roads are you driven crazy by your own favor for Haile. Bekele may not have lived up to his potential in tge marathon but victories over Mo and Haile in one of the greatest 1/2 ever, fast debut win, 2nd fastest marathon ever over one of tge greats...sounds lije a career on the roads many would die for just not Bekele true potential.

Bekele narrowly beats out Haile as GOAT and that comes from someone who love both of their careers!

how has nobody said GALEN RUPP???!! he holds the American Record after all...

rfmaioral wrote:

the question is "Greatest" and not "Best" which implies more than world records and medals. My answer is Emil Zatopek, and am very surprised he was not cited before.

He was.

1955 wrote:

lets finnish it wrote:

Paavo Nurmi for his total domination of the opposition : 9 Olympic golds, 22 world records and a 121 race winning streak. Perhaps most impressive of all, he was never beaten in his 14 year career at either XC or 10000m.

I can't believe no one else has said/seconded this. I know, he was a long time ago & those were different times, but, seriously, look at his record and try to make a case that anyone was better.

We have.