*Can the Great Geb set the one-hour record on the track?? (and can he run the fastest unofficial 1/2 marathon ever??) *

Yes

Barrios will have his record smashed! Firstly, he was a 27:08 10,000 m man. Geb is a 26:22 10,000 m man (not now but can still break 27). Haile has shown that he is just as outstanding in the longer distances as he was over the 5km/10km. This record is ancient and deserves to go. Your point about this being an unofficial attempt at the fastest half marathon is absolutely spot on.

Looking forward to another Haile Gebreselassie world record and I think there is something else going on to.

Oh yeah, Mottram vs Bekele in the 5,000 m. That should be something special. Go Craig!

60secsurge wrote:

Barrios will have his record smashed! Firstly, he was a 27:08 10,000 m man. Geb is a 26:22 10,000 m man (not now but can still break 27). Haile has shown that he is just as outstanding in the longer distances as he was over the 5km/10km. This record is ancient and deserves to go. Your point about this being an unofficial attempt at the fastest half marathon is absolutely spot on.

Looking forward to another Haile Gebreselassie world record and I think there is something else going on to.

Oh yeah, Mottram vs Bekele in the 5,000 m. That should be something special. Go Craig!

Good points. And it is Mottram vs TARIKU Bekele , correct? (brother Kenny is not running, is he? Even without Kenny B. running, Mottram will have his hands full with more than T. Bekele, as there are many top Africans running)

Has anyone heard any rumblings of Haile trying to cover 13.1 miles in 58:30 en route to his one hour record, in an attempt to also run the fastest 1/2 marathon ever?

Yeah, Kenenisa is not running (just Tariku) but most of the rest of the best are. Mosop, the two Songok's, etc.

Winning time likely to be around 12:55. Not exactly a bold prediction. Don't reckon Mottram is ready to break 12:50 (how many guys ever are?) but I'll say he'll run second or third. Hopefully save his best for Osaka.

There's a second aussie in the race, Collis Birmingham. Sure, he'll be off the back by 3,000 m but it will be nice to see another Australian mixing it with the best from Africa. If he goes sub 13:25, that would be fantastic (he's a 13:34 runner). Maybe he should sprint the first 800 m so that commentators can discuss Australian team tactics! Interesting to see that Morocco are still in the wilderness. Only one entrant, Khalid El Amri, a 13:06 runner who is 30 years old! Seems like a long time since the days of Hissou, Lahlafi, El Guerrouj, the Boulami's, etc.

gebgebgebgebgeb

is this race today???

I think Geb will break the 1 hour mark, and run 13.1 miles in 59:00. Man, that's a lot of laps on a track. What are we talking, over 52 laps? Damn, this will be the Geb solo show for an hour in front of all the fans. Running on and on and on all by himself. And people think watching the 10k makes you dizzy, watching all the runners go round, and round and round. But this will something else.

when is the race? wrote:

is this race today???

I think Geb will break the 1 hour mark, and run 13.1 miles in 59:00. Man, that's a lot of laps on a track. What are we talking, over 52 laps? Damn, this will be the Geb solo show for an hour in front of all the fans. Running on and on and on all by himself. And people think watching the 10k makes you dizzy, watching all the runners go round, and round and round. But this will something else.

It is today, but apparently no one cares that much.

(and do you think that if NBC were to show the race, that they would show all 52+ laps? :-) )