We got an email from Valerie McLean the race director of the Olympic Trials in Birmingham confirming that world record holder Khalid Khannouchi has announced his plans to run the 2004 US Olympic Trials in the Marathon.
He confirmed this to some of the press when he announced he was running this year's LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.
That's great. It was assumed by everyone, nice to hear the confirmation. Now I will have someone to lap me out there on that multi loop course, ha.
Don't think like that Chad. You'll be ready.
Really. What's he got that you ain't got?
let's see bigger and more mitoconria. Probably the ideal runner's body. And probably very good medicine. Err I mean caffine, darn, I mean coffee. It's just not coming out right today.
Don't worry Jason I am a very positive person, it was a joke.
What do you mean by...positive?
You don't know what positive is? It is the opposite of negative. I have confidence, I don't really get nervous about races because I know I am as ready as I can be each and every time. When you are already under 2:30 for the marathon it takes some confidence to take another 7:40 off your time, that's what I did last time out. Most people tell themselves they can only take a minute off here or there, I don't really think that way. I know where I can get and I go after it.
Your comment made me sneeze coffee outta' my nose!
Miles and Miles :
If you don't get nervous about races then you're not human!
Sorry, Gus. I'm also working on a caffiene positive this morning!
Miles is so positive that he's dissin his own trials performance before he's even run the qualifying time!
Thats a guy with a real positive attitude if you ask me :-)
the only reason Khannouchi he is running is for the $$. He cares less about putting on the Red, White and Blue.
I'd say it's more for his legacy and making the history books for KK. With an Olys in his medal cabinet he will undoubtly be the greatest marathoner of all time.
Guess I am not human, because I don't get nervous for every race. I get nervous at Marathons, but that's about it usually. Not everyone is wired the same way, believe it or not.
Jayson@thebeach wrote:
the only reason Khannouchi he is running is for the $$. He cares less about putting on the Red, White and Blue.
You don't know that at all. He may not care for all I know about running for the us. But isn't running a self centered activity anyway? What would you care more about, your own success or the success of "team USA"? And who cares more about being an american citizen on average, the one who was born here, or one who becomes a citizen on their own?
Hector Matos wrote:
Miles and Miles :
If you don't get nervous about races then you're not human!
Not really...If you trust your training and preparation leading up to a big race, getting out there and doing it is almost a second thought. The real work is in the training, then you just go out there and do what you've been training for months to do. If you know you've put in the work, why stress?
I do all my nervousness during training. I'm in the same boat Miles was last year, trying to go from 2:29 to 2:22. I'm all nerves about that time difference, getting my times down by fall, all that. But come October I'll either be ready or not, come race day the nerves will be gone because (barring an unfortunate day on the race course) the outcome will be largely decided already.
If so why is he not running the WC this year. I was at the Worlds in 2001 when he droped out. So he could make money another day. But Eddy and Josh stayed in there so we could get a team score. And Eddy said all he wanted to do is run in one more event for U.S.A.
Also i know Meb and Abdi is a very good friend and every time they get a chance to race at the world level and put on the team uni it means more.
Khalid will run at the Oly in 2004 and at mile 18 when 3rd place is gone he will drop out for another pay day.
He could make a lot more money running another event. He dropped out at Edmonton because he had horrible blisters on his feet and couldn't keep going. He'd go London (or Boston) and then Chicago if he was just looking for money.
As I have mentioned...KK runs the Trials in tights and trainers, and wins the Trials confortably. Honestly, at this point, who else is aiming for the Trials? Dan Browne. Culpepper and Meb are 10,000 guys I would assume. Can David Morris get the magic back? Peter de la Cerda always seems to run well for the big races...haven't heard from him lately, but he is a great competitor. Rod's running Chicago. And of course, can Ryan Shay keep improving. Jummy Herald can't be overlooked either.
Any others that I am missing? Wejo, are you running 26.2 at the Trials???