Title says it all, Meb wins the San Jose Rock n Roll half marathon, breaking apart from the pack after 10Km and by himself at 10 miles to the finish.
Either he's "too fast for being in marathon shape" like Geb supposedly ran (and Ritz and Hall would've been fine at a fall marathon since their half marathon times were "slow"), or he's going to destroy Ritz at NY and likely be the top American on Nov 7th.
When Meb is healthy, he's still one of the best marathon racers out there.
Ritz will be good, he's shown he has the speed.
But for now, I don't think you can count Meb out for NY and assuming he stays healthy he will have to be given strong consideration for the 2012 trials.
meb is in shape, this is for sure. he's still one of the favorites in NYC in my book
Don't you think we're sick of hearing about LA kids like Meb winning marathons and medals ? Who cares if USC & UCLA alums have won 10 major marathons. ?
What was Meb's time in this race last year for comparison purposes? He looks strong and ready to defend in NYC we know he'll give it his all!
about the same. 61 flat i think, might have been some change in there but remember it was around 61-real low. he's looking better than i thought, should be good into central park, him haile dathan and maybe 2-3 others. can't wait!!!
Shutuppa You Face wrote:
Don't you think we're sick of hearing about LA kids like Meb winning marathons and medals ? Who cares if USC & UCLA alums have won 10 major marathons. ?
Wow, you live in LA which happens to have a lot of great runners through the years. You have nothing to do with these runners, you just happen to live in the same place. The runners are great, you are a sad little man.
Did anyone mention LA, UCLA, or USC? I can't find that reference in this thread except in your off topic post. But now I'm curious. What 10 major marathons have their alum won?
Shutuppa You Face wrote:
Don't you think we're sick of hearing about LA kids like Meb winning marathons and medals ? Who cares if USC & UCLA alums have won 10 major marathons. ?
Meb's a San Diego kid, who went to UCLA. That doesn't exactly make him an LA Kid.
Mebrahtom does indeed look good from this 1/2 marathon run and most importantly he said he's training has been consistent and he's satisified with it.
The monkey wrench in his NY title defense will be Haile and he's decision to attack the course record of 2:07:??. That means Mebrahtom is gonna have to go out alot faster than he anticipated or let Haile go and hope the Ethiopian legend has a bad day. What do you think Mebrahtom and his coach will decide strategy wise?
yeah all else being equal, remember that haile dropped a 59:30 in his "tune-up," so meb is still an underdog, but i think he'll give him a good run.
I remember in August when Meb decided not to run Falmouth the day before the race. Looks like he knew what he was doing and kept himself healthy!
I think Ritz may be in some trouble if he's been battling injury. From what the elites have shown over the past couple years, the training now has to be consistent and healthy for them to really tear it up well.
As for Haile and going after the record, he obviously has the talent to run. The question then is the training and how that has gone. Regardless, he's obviously one of the odds on favorites to win.
Can't wait to see that race next month.
Assuming he feels at all decent race morning, you have to think Geb is going to destroy that entire field.
yep, pretty dang impressive. i saw him speak right before the race. wish i could have seen him come through the chute. but by the time i was finished, he probably already flew back home.
btw, very nice, well run race. very fast course too. i will be in NYC next month as well. can't wait to be part of all this excitement!
1 geb (distance running god who is impossible not to love
2 dathan (white american)
3 everyone else
that's the order
ken bob wrote:
1 geb (distance running god who is impossible not to love
2 dathan (white american)
3 everyone else
that's the order
Dathan doesn't exactly have history on his side as far as AlSal's success with coaching marathoners. It will be an uphill struggle for him to break 2:10 at best. Based on GNR, he'll probably be looking to break 2:12.
He'll probably run with Geb as long as he can again and then die horribly, and after the race he'll claim just like he did at the World Half Marathon championships that "I could have gotten second but I race to win. That's the point" (he finished third).
Michael Scott wrote:
Assuming he feels at all decent race morning, you have to think Geb is going to destroy that entire field.
Yeah, I consider it Haile unlikely that he can be stopped.
You read the same slams from 1 or 2 of the same clowns about LA being the T&F Cap. Who gives a damn that Meb, Deena, and Ryan grew up in LA. Who cares a that a UCLA & USC alums have won 10 major marathons ? I want you people to focus on Nike, OTC, Portland, and Eugene. Eugene is the ONLY Track Town USA. Oregon is the future for our sport. LA sucks !