So how do you beat Jakob in a championship 5,000m?

xcfan2233 wrote:

Jakob is unbelievable at ratcheting the pace down over the final 1,000m of a championship 5,000 race, running 2:23 or under. Here are his final 1K splits for both Eugene 13:09 (15.3, 15.1, 14.8, 14.9, 14.9, 14.1, 13.7, 13.5, 13.2, 13.5 while celebrating) and Munich 13:21 (15.1, 15.3, 15.0, 14.9, 14.8, 14.6, 14.2, 13.7, 13.0, 12.8). Each 100m faster than the last over the final 900m, EL G Athens style. A 2:23 1K is 3:50 mile pace, and with the exception of Katir (+ maybe 1-2 others) that is faster than their 1,500m pr pace. How are these guys expected to negative split
~70% of their 1,500m pr at the end of the 5K?

So outside of Cheptegei rediscovering his 12:35 form how can you beat him in a championship race? I think its important you try to prevent him from controlling the race from the front, but thats easier said than done. He also might be the best time trialer in the field after seeing him dispatch most of the Olympic podium in Florence last year with a 12:48. So lets say you are the coach of the Ugandan federation next year, what do you tell Cheptegei/Kiplimo/Chelimo to do in order to beat him?

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

You need to force him into changes of pace that disrupt his rhythm and if he leads with 500m to go, in the same way with Farah, he's almost unbeatable. When he makes moves around the front of field you simply have to match his impetus and make him chop his stride to markedly accelerate to get by you. Rhythm-based pace "grinders" or "squeezers" like Jakob hate having to change their cadence and make multiple short bursts of acceleration during the race.

In that final it was obvious in the final 80m that Katir wouldn't have won this either way but I don't know why he wouldn't at least tried to make it interesting by going past him with a short burst down the back straight. You almost have to do the Coe "double kick" which is kick past someone and when they accelerate to match you and ready themselves you kick again. Obviously you need to be really good to do this but there are guys out there with the lungs to do it and the ability to train for at least attempting it.

But save for a sub 12.45 solo effort which starts at the gun it seems really difficult to beat him over this distance right now.

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

xcfan2233 wrote:

Jakob is unbelievable at ratcheting the pace down over the final 1,000m of a championship 5,000 race, running 2:23 or under. Here are his final 1K splits for both Eugene 13:09 (15.3, 15.1, 14.8, 14.9, 14.9, 14.1, 13.7, 13.5, 13.2, 13.5 while celebrating) and Munich 13:21 (15.1, 15.3, 15.0, 14.9, 14.8, 14.6, 14.2, 13.7, 13.0, 12.8). Each 100m faster than the last over the final 900m, EL G Athens style. A 2:23 1K is 3:50 mile pace, and with the exception of Katir (+ maybe 1-2 others) that is faster than their 1,500m pr pace. How are these guys expected to negative split
~70% of their 1,500m pr at the end of the 5K?

So outside of Cheptegei rediscovering his 12:35 form how can you beat him in a championship race? I think its important you try to prevent him from controlling the race from the front, but thats easier said than done. He also might be the best time trialer in the field after seeing him dispatch most of the Olympic podium in Florence last year with a 12:48. So lets say you are the coach of the Ugandan federation next year, what do you tell Cheptegei/Kiplimo/Chelimo to do in order to beat him?

You need to force him into changes of pace that disrupt his rhythm and if he leads with 500m to go, in the same way with Farah, he's almost unbeatable. When he makes moves around the front of field you simply have to match his impetus and make him chop his stride to markedly accelerate to get by you. Rhythm-based pace "grinders" or "squeezers" like Jakob hate having to change their cadence and make multiple short bursts of acceleration during the race.

In that final it was obvious in the final 80m that Katir wouldn't have won this either way but I don't know why he wouldn't at least tried to make it interesting by going past him with a short burst down the back straight. You almost have to do the Coe "double kick" which is kick past someone and when they accelerate to match you and ready themselves you kick again. Obviously you need to be really good to do this but there are guys out there with the lungs to do it and the ability to train for at least attempting it.

But save for a sub 12.45 solo effort which starts at the gun it seems really difficult to beat him over this distance right now.