If you have followed Bekele's own comments, throughout his career, in addition to the comments of Jos Hermans, one thing becomes clear:
Bekele can get into world-beating shape faster than anyone. This makes him, by definition, the most talented runner of all time.
"Not this time, though."
Yeah, you are basically completely wrong.
It's well and good for exercise scientists, gurus, and coaches to comment on a buildup to a peak performance, such as the London Marathon. Bekele, however, has said things along the lines of "I didn't do much, building up, but my last three weeks have been very good." Paraphrasing, but close enough. He then goes on to run a spectacular time, crushing his opponents.
Of course, we know he is making a relative statement. Still, the statement is a comment on approach/consistency. This is not the same thing as being soft, you running-diary-keepers. He has the talent, and he knows how to get himself where he needs to be. You don't get to be Bekele by training like an idiot.
Is his talk a tactic, to throw off the competition? No. Jos Hermans actually says the same thing, over and over. It's shocking, to hear someone almost berating the GOAT. Behind the frustration is a fact: Bekele is the greatest talent.
It goes without saying, he is tough. But his body has, mostly, been able to do it, until now.
He thought he would try business as usual. Two hard workouts, maybe too close together. He wasn't helped by being constrained in his training. Now he is just a little too old for his body to cooperate with that approach.
Let's not make Kipchoge the be-all, end-all. His self-help-book stoical approach, combined with Nike's vast resources, has brought him to the forefront at a time when the Marathon is only beginning to be undertaken by top runners in their prime.
"Yeah, but Kipchoge is still head and shoulders up in the marathon."
No, he's only a couple of seconds ahead of Bekele... on the same course.
"Yeah, but he's still the winningest marathoner!"
Bekele has beaten Kipchoge numerous times, in the era where track was the focus. Now, marathons are the focus, and Bekele got a later start to what is an economic reality, moreso than a reality of human limitations.
Anyways, Bekele is the GOAT, that's basically what I wanted to say.