Jakob Ingebrigtsen will toe the start line tmw assuming all the other runners in the 1500 heats are "idiots"

Your thread title makes zero sense based on what he said. Is he only going to toe the line if all the other runners are idiots? It should just say “Jakob will toe the start line tmw in the 1500 heats with idiots”

Although he comes across badly in this piece of journalism, the gist of it is this:

Runners sometimes do erratic and risky things, especially in the heats of the 1500, and this is what he refers to as "idiots". When this is the baseline mindset, as in he expects "one or more idiots" to adversely affect anyone going for the "optimal energy saving Q race" (hugging the line for 1450m), then you can only blame yourself if something goes wrong when you still try getting the Q that way.

This is why he runs wide in the start and moves up to control from the front a little later. Risk/reward. He can afford to spend a little extra to avoid the "idiots", but he could've worded himself differently.

Jakob confirms to be a lovely person. But it stills doesn't change things: ethiopians will smash him in the 5.000m.

Translating this for rojo (not the actual text but the intention):

From what I read in Norwegian (but also from the English translation tbh), the main point is not that everyone else is an idiot but that Jakob needs to be prepared that people do stupid things. He cannot blame it on others if things go wrong because he knows beforehand that these will happen: People may fall, cut in, destroy their own race by surging too hard or too early—whatever happens, Jakob needs to handle this and not destroy his own race just because other runners do stupid things.

Is he saying, "In a race of idiots, I will be #1" ?

Bet not

Actually the title DOES make sense, especially if you used a comma: Jakob will toe the start line tomorrow, assuming all the other runners are idiots. You are getting confused as to who is doing the assuming. If Jakob is doing the assuming, which is the meaning attended, then his toeing of the line is not contingent on whether they are idiots or not. Jakob is correct that humans make mistakes BUT and that all are imperfect in execution, but his arrogance is interesting as it seems he is simply pointing out how flawed everyone is compared to the ideal.

In other words, I have only myself to blame if I can't race clean and pass through the Heats with minimal fuss. I'm sure Yared, Tim, Mo. Josh and a few others think the same. Jakob's a cocksure bloke who, like the others, probably harbours a grain of nervousness and uncertainty.

This feels correct.

If you assume someone, and maybe several people, will do stupid things, you are ready for them to do stupid things and hold yourself responsible for how you react when they do.

That is much more race-ready and positive than thinking, "Everyone else is a smart racer and will only do smart, predictable things."

Right. They will smash him just like they did last year. Wait, were they even in the race? Didn't notice...Yeah, that's how bad the spanking was on the Ethios

Yeah, ok, cool, but have you considered that rojo likes clickbaits?

They smashed him so bad he had to take a few water breaks en route to his win

God I hope someone trips him

Like they did at worlds last year, LMAO to a delusional person!

Typical Norwegian arrogance.

This also seems a reference to the final last year. Cheruiyot and Kipsang raced like idiots launching suicidal attacks again and again trying to take the lead from Jakob, destroying their chances at a medal in the process. Jakob spent a lot of energy surging every time they attacked because he was overcommitted to leading wire to wire.

No big deal. It's a heats and chaos quote. This has been obvious for a long time. It's the reason Jakob immediately goes to the back in heats. It's like auto racing in that if there's supreme idiocy and crashing it's most likely to happen at the start.

Once things settle a bit Jakob swoops around and steadily advances.

Laros seems to view things the same way. It's the tactic he uses also, especially in U18 and U20 level where he knows he's much the best.

We haven't seen Jakob approach his potential in the 5K yet. His win last year was so dominant. His casual water breaks were incredible at that pace.

Yes, and the Norwegian interpretation: He assumes that everybody else will run like idiots, so he better stays out of trouble.