Did Eliud Kipchoge beat the best 5k field ever in 2003 Paris and best marathon field ever in 2015 London?

How does this two-race combo stack up all-time for distance runners? Beating two of the greatest fields ever assembled at the respective distances like Kipchoge has done has to be at or very near the top of the list. Haile, Bekele and even Khannouchi, among others, have some impressive combos over top fields so it's probably not conclusive but hard to argue against Eliud's quality wins.

Kipchoge is one of the top 5 greatest runners in the history of the world.

worth watching again wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjlqokZ_Xgk

Remarkable that a 3:50 miler could outkick a 3:43 one.

Sally V wrote:

Remarkable that a 3:50 miler could outkick a 3:43 one.

It would be more remarkable if he outkicked him in a mile race.

Guessed him for the win. Not often I'm right - predicting marathons is near impossible. He's arrived in front of Bekele now, in the marathon.

52.43 wrote:

Guessed him for the win. Not often I'm right - predicting marathons is near impossible. He's arrived in front of Bekele now, in the marathon.

Now? Bekele only has a fourth in Chicago and a win in a relatively weak Paris debut.

Here is what Kipchoge has now:

2013 Hamburg Marathon 1st 2:05:30 (Marathon) Hamburg 21 April Marathon debut.

2013 Berlin Marathon 2nd 2:04:05 (Marathon) Berlin 29 September 1st Wilson Kipsang (2:03:23 WR)

2014 Rotterdam Marathon 1st 2:05:00 (Marathon) Rotterdam 13 April

2014 Chicago Marathon 1st 2:04:11 (Marathon) Chicago 12 October

2015 London Marathon 1st 2:04:42 (Marathon) London 26 April

Kipchoge won the 2003 5k against some great runners - but really his impressive times year after year after year on the track was what was most impressive for me back then. Now, he's doing the same thing on the roads: impressive times year after year.

Mr Consistency.

I would rank his silver in the 2008 5k as being roughly as good as his gold in the 2003 world champs. I know, it sounds ridiculous. But I think Bekele in 2008 was comparable in terms of "difficult of beating " to 2003 Bekele and 2003 El G combined. Bekele has had a storied career but 2008-2009 might have been the peak of his dominance.

Mr. Consistency is right for Kipchoge.

In terms of the original question, it's hard to know what the most competitive 5k of all time was. Bekele's 2008 5k was probably the best individual performance. The Paris 10k is a contender for best 10k of all time, and Tadese pushing the pace in 2009 as well.

But yes, Kipchoge's range over a long time period is amazing. I started a thread about this back in 2013

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=5418320&page=0

and now if anything I might put Kipchoge one rank higher in my list of all-time greats across a variety of surfaces: Geb, Kipchoge, Tergat, Bekele, Farah, Tadese, Wanjiru.

Bekele is still the best long distance track runner but Kipchoge has the versatility and endurance.

ScottEvil wrote:

But yes, Kipchoge's range over a long time period is amazing. I started a thread about this back in 2013

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=5418320&page=0

and now if anything I might put Kipchoge one rank higher in my list of all-time greats across a variety of surfaces: Geb, Kipchoge, Tergat, Bekele, Farah, Tadese, Wanjiru.

Bekele is still the best long distance track runner but Kipchoge has the versatility and endurance.

I disagree.

The difference between roads and track is negligible. They are both hard, flat surfaces. The difference between either of them and xc is greater and that's why I say Bekele is still the most versatile. Not to mention that Bekele actually WINS in his versatility while Kipchoge usually just places well.

You can't rank a guy higher than another guy he always loses to.

false and falser wrote:

The difference between roads and track is negligible. They are both hard, flat surfaces.

Tracks are not made of street-asphalt, and do not curved surfaces to enhance drainage, and they get hotter than Hades on hot summer days.

Sooooo Kipchoge was ~18yo in 2003?! That is unreal.

As Fault wrote:

Tracks are not made of street-asphalt, and do not curved surfaces to enhance drainage, and they get hotter than Hades on hot summer days.

What does that have to do with anything?

I agree that Eliud Kipchoge in one of the top 5 best runners in history. His success in his transition from the track to the marathon has been nothing short of astonishing.

I was still surprised that he shed the Kipsang the King at the end. But if Wilson has enough to beat Eliud, he would have probably dropped him before the 24 mile mark. Since he hadn't, you had to like Eliud's chances.

Met Eliud once after the Carlsbad 5000 in San Diego. The guy is such a positive and upbeat person. Always has a smile on his face and a true professional. Very likable guy. And this running form to me is the best in the business.

I was glad to see him take down Kipsang today.

Loose as a Goose wrote:

Sooooo Kipchoge was ~18yo in 2003?! That is unreal.

LOL

Sure, he was 28 then. So today he won the London Marathon at the age of 40! Amazing!

Loose as a Goose wrote:

Sooooo Kipchoge was ~18yo in 2003?! That is unreal.

You're right, that age is not real.

Sally V wrote:

worth watching again wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjlqokZ_Xgk

Remarkable that a 3:50 miler could outkick a 3:43 one.

Strength is speed baby

1-2 Punch wrote:

How does this two-race combo stack up all-time for distance runners? Beating two of the greatest fields ever assembled at the respective distances like Kipchoge has done has to be at or very near the top of the list. Haile, Bekele and even Khannouchi, among others, have some impressive combos over top fields so it's probably not conclusive but hard to argue against Eliud's quality wins.

Kipchoge out kicked El G and Bekele in a fast 5000 (12:53 range) when he was a mere 19 yo!!! He's supremely talented.

And he has been able to stay fit and apprently still lovees running & RACING. So I'm not surprised that he handled a top marathon field in his prime.

I suspect that most of the elite 1500m runners who are relatively small can preform very well in the marathon.

Yes, he did. Great race, and a bit of a Berlin 13 rematch. Kipsang got burned but he'll have the last laugh later this season. What's his next major? Would be great to see a rematch, and it would be cool to see kipchoge go for a faster time. Kimetto looked gassed and undertrained. He had no savvy or tactical ability to hang with the surges and then the big break that kipchoge and kipsang made.

false and falser wrote:

[quote]ScottEvil wrote:

You can't rank a guy higher than another guy he always loses to.

Really? Why is Federer almost always placed in front of Nadal then even though his record against Nadal is 23-10 in favor of the Spaniard. Please explain!