If you were Canada's Reid Coolsaet - would you focus on the Olympics or go for the 40-year old Canadian record?

Who?

He can just try to do both. Many guys have done the Olympics and then closed out the year with a fast Marathon.

Olympics would be my pick.

I'd do the Olympics and then CIM in the fall. CIM is fast and he wouldn't have to deal with the jet lag issues of Fukuoka.

Kiprop is facing the same deal with the WR and he also chose the Olympics.

Even if he got the record, no one will remember if someone else (Dylan or some new guy) beats it a few months after. Being an Olympian, however, stays forever.

He's making the right choice.

I'm Canadian and never hear of this guy.

former canuck runner wrote:

I'd do the Olympics and then CIM in the fall. CIM is fast and he wouldn't have to deal with the jet lag issues of Fukuoka.

He's making the right choice.

Are you daft? CIM isn't a record-legal course, it's point to point and net downhill. Plus, anybody trying to run 2:09 would be running alone the whole race at CIM.

I get that for 2016 it's an either/or scenario in terms of a primary goal, but I also believe after watching Coolsaet's career from a distance for some time that he is a pretty durable athlete. Especially to still be looking for personal best times at 36. It isn't like he just stepped up and only has 2-3 marathons under his belt.

To that end, I think it makes sense to focus on the Olympics from a purely economic perspective. It is what sponsors understand. He could put Ciele hats on the map globally at the Olympics if he has a great day (https://cieleathletics.com).

I think he has the pedigree to bounce back from whatever effort he puts in for Rio and run a solid race 6 months later chasing the record. He appears to be a tough guy and I don't doubt he will eventually have his day. Maybe he will be 38 when he finally has his day, so he still has time.

Dylan Wykes posts all of his workouts on Strava and whoever made the point that he could step up and take the Canadian record the week after Coolsaet finally breaks it also has a point. Wykes put in a training block in NM in the fall and was crushing some incredible workouts and long runs.

For both of these guys, running for Canada is an honor, but also an investment. Logically they need to focus on the Olympics to maximize economic opportunities to fund their careers and make chasing their dreams feasible.

Lopes style wrote:

He can just try to do both. Many guys have done the Olympics and then closed out the year with a fast Marathon.

Shorter followed up Munich with 2:10 at Fukuoka two months later. I'm with you. It's not an either/or kind of thing.

Why not just run 209 for the record at the Olympics and medal in the process? If he breaks the record, it likely won't last even half as long as Draytons mark anyways.

Maybe because it's completely unrealistic to believe that he could run a 2:09 in the Olympics. And he clearly knows that.

Olympics there is always another race to go for the time.which he may not get anyway

My first posting on here!

He should do both, but maybe look at the olympics realistically that he wont medal but then again look at the likes of Jon brown & Charlie speeding both finishing well up the olympics and we have seen that African runners don't often perform in races!

Why not?? wrote:

Maybe because it's completely unrealistic to believe that he could run a 2:09 in the Olympics. And he clearly knows that.

Why?

Mr. Owl wrote:

Who?

Just some guy who runs over a minute per mile faster than you at every distance from 1-26.2 miles.

I guess that's a long list for you. Sorry.

Rory Sneyd wrote:

I'm Canadian and never hear of this guy.

Thank you for demonstrating your own ignorance. Next!

Pretty sure Rory is making what is known as a funny since he probably actually personally knows Reid.

I understand that Reid thinks it's unrealistic to break the record at the Olympics because of the heat factor . However two other pasty white guys (Spedding and Treacy) ran their best times in a hot race in LA.

They prepared to do that though, particularly Treacy.

athlete identifier wrote:

Mr. Owl wrote:

Who?

Just some guy who runs over a minute per mile faster than you at every distance from 1-26.2 miles.

I guess that's a long list for you. Sorry.

It is a long list, but you're not on it, Pokey.

Mr. Owl wrote:

athlete identifier wrote:

Just some guy who runs over a minute per mile faster than you at every distance from 1-26.2 miles.

I guess that's a long list for you. Sorry.

It is a long list, but you're not on it, Pokey.

Irrelevant.

He should run the olympics, then Dubai. Rio in the winter will be fast. Dubai is a record worthy course. The only matter is if Coolaset is in shape to break the record or not, my brain tells me he won't quite get it.