i am a big geb fan and i just wanted some predictions on how he will run it. i say the world record is once again in serious trouble for tergat. it would be great to see such a great rivalry on the track convert to the road racing scene. haile vs. tergat in london, berlin, or chicago-what a race that would be!!!
I am doubtful that Haile will be able to handle the mileage and workload required to be a top marathoner at his age and in his recent condition, but hopefully he will find a way to be healthy, but as of now it does not look good for his achilles.
" am doubtful that Haile will be able to handle the mileage and workload required to be a top marathoner at his age and in his recent condition"
I don't think the workload will be the problem as he already runs a ton of mileage. I think his body will be the kicker. His body has been beat up over the years and an achilles injury never truly goes away. I always has a way of reminding you that it's there.
Alan
Haile's ran about 130mpw for his 5ks, 10ks and halves. I'd say he can handle it just fine. And I don't think it's a volume issue -- I thought I read he got hurt tripping on the pothole on the track in Addis.
Hell, in 2001 he was running a 32mi long run (in 3hrs).
He's already run 2:06:35 in his first real go at it. I think he can go faster with just more experience.
He is older now, but he'll do less track work for the marathon. And he has handled the volume for years, I think the marathon training will be easier on his achilles.
Geb vs. Tergat coming again...
hope so, the mileage isnt a problem , lets just hope him and tergat stay healthy
mackenzie wrote:
He's already run 2:06:35 in his first real go at it. I think he can go faster with just more experience.
He is older now, but he'll do less track work for the marathon. And he has handled the volume for years, I think the marathon training will be easier on his achilles.
Geb vs. Tergat coming again...
He finished 5th in the Olympic finals, only a few seconds off the winning pace, with an Achilles that was nearly shredded. That shows you two things: amazing talent, which we all knew already, and guts. His effort at London a couple of years ago was hampered only by his over-confidence. He didn't drink or eat ANYTHING during the race and made it mile 24 (at sub 2:05:00 pace) before the wheels came off. He learned what we all learn: the marathon distance is special. He'll figure out how to take on some calories and drink. Someone of his discipline and talent will certainly know how to make a come back from the surgery. If there is a joker in his deck the joker is the question of how old he really is. The guesses range from 31-36. If he's really 36, he may have one or two shots left at a fast time. If he's 31, then his goal of being in the mix in 2008 in the marathon seems possible.
Tergat it 41, so age won't hurt Geb, and he wasn't jut a few seonds off the winning pace in Athens, he was a ways back
poll wrote:
Tergat it 41
huh? ....and....HUH?????
Haile is done. It's over.
His stride and lack of running efficiency is not going to allow him to run faster than about 2:06:00 for the marathon, even at Berlin. It's going to take him about a year to come back from Achilles surgery. He'll be lucky to be at the starting line of Berlin or Amsterdam 2005.
The next guy to break the World Record will be Evans Rutto, and he could do it in Chicago next month, assuming good weather.
I finally got to watch Evans Rutto run, on TV, running the London Marathon this year. He ran 2:06:18 in bad weather and made it look EASY. His stride is so fluid and effortless it's scary to watch.
jason
question wrote:
at his age .
isn't he younger than Tergat?
xxx wrote:
poll wrote:Tergat it 41
huh? ....and....HUH?????
Paul Tergat was born in 1969. He is, or will be by 31 December, 35 years old.
Maybe xxx is making fun of the fact that you are willing to add a few years to Haile's possible age, but you won't do the same for Tergat (since he's already relatively old). It's kind of unfair to only overestimate for one of the two.
Jason....you cannot be serious. That must have been an imposter using your name to make such a statement. Geb will be there with a WR in the next 18 months. And I'm an insider with very accurate information.
MAYEROFF wrote:
Haile is done. It's over.
His stride and lack of running efficiency is not going to allow him to run faster than about 2:06:00 for the marathon, even at Berlin. It's going to take him about a year to come back from Achilles surgery. He'll be lucky to be at the starting line of Berlin or Amsterdam 2005.
The next guy to break the World Record will be Evans Rutto, and he could do it in Chicago next month, assuming good weather.
I finally got to watch Evans Rutto run, on TV, running the London Marathon this year. He ran 2:06:18 in bad weather and made it look EASY. His stride is so fluid and effortless it's scary to watch.
jason
'Ethiopian' wrote: "it would be great to see such a great rivalry on the track convert to the road racing scene"
Um, they have already dueled on the roads over the 1/2 marathon and marathon distances (anything else?). I think you are late to the party: the duel has rivalry has already been transferred to the roads (with a brief break for Haile to finish on the track the last 2 seasons).
'Question' wrote: "I am doubtful that Haile will be able to handle the mileage and workload required to be a top marathoner at his age and in his recent condition, but hopefully he will find a way to be healthy, but as of now it does not look good for his achilles."
Actually, it was the speed work required to battle Bekele on the track that hurt Geb’s achilles. Moving up will be a good thing for him (as Mackenzie pointed out). And he has already come back from one calf/achilles problem quite well.
Jason wrote: " Haile is done. It's over." Haile is done??? Yeah right, and you believe in saving your virginity for your wedding night!
I'm not sure that the training is going to be the problem but the achilles surgery will test his powers of recovery. This has done for plenty of younger athletes than Haile.
Having raced london this year i was amazed at Rutto's 2:06. The conditions were lousy and after the race everyone looked cold and knackered as you would expect apart from Rutto who liked like who could have done it all again. I concur with Jason on this one that we could see a big run from Evans in Chicago.
Excuse me, Haile is done! I don't think so because how many people do you know who run 2:06:35 for their first marathon. As far as his age, I can't confirm he is 31 but I have seen a picture of him racing Hicham in the early 90's as youngsters and he didn't not look that older than Hicham. The one thing I have learned about Haile from 2000 Sidney Olympic, he has guts and determination. Also if I remember correctly Mirus Yefter won his Moscow Olympic at the age 41.
We are back again with this never ending age counting business. Since you guys started it, haven't we seen the 49 yrs old Ethio/Israeli runner who took the 19th positon or what about the 40 yrs old Mexican dude who run 2:08.xx to take 3rd (right after Tergat and Korir) last year in Berlin.
My point is one can be as young as 20 or as old as 90 but if he/she doesn't have the talent as well as gut (i.e discplined training) then age is not going to help anyone a bit.
So if you ran Berlin and had a good day and Haile had an off day the two of you guys should be in the same league. Congratulations on that. I can just see it neck and neck down the home stretch. Haile pulls ahead, now Jason fights back and wins at the line by a tongue.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
I think Sir Lance-a-Lot has it. It's not the mileage that damanged his achilles. It's much more likely to be the track work. The reduction in track work will probably extend his longevity and allow him to come back faster.