Looks like he's running the Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago instead:
http://www.chicagoaa.com/news/shamrock05khalid.html
I think it's a good call on his part. I just think at this point in his career it would be tough to ramp up and run two fast marathons in a year. Although I am bummed to see that he won't be racing in one of the best fields ever.
he's afraid of the big guns
nike mang wrote:
he's afraid of the big guns
It seems like he is these days.
i think he's just done; marathoners tend to be very secretive regarding their training (usually quite hard to tell when they're injured because they rarely compete). i think his body is just tapped out, prone to injury, and he can't get in any consistent, high level training.
OK. The article says that he will START his training with the Shamrock Shuffle on April 2nd. He is backing out of London today. Does that mean that he hadn't yet started his training for London? No wonder he is backing out.
i wouldn't put much stock in the wording of a press release.
Khalid's splits from Chicago (his 1st marathon in over 1 1/2 years)
02:08:44 0:29:24 0:44:23 0:59:25 1:02:40 1:14:13 1:29:33 1:45:23 2:01:41
Yeah, he is scared to run with the big guys (Rutto, etc.)! Running the 1st 30K in 1:29:33 is holding back.
Actually, each Letsrun.com poster that comes on here and makes ignorant comments critizing him, now has the perfect opportunity to line up next to him at the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago. I suppose there will be many who will test their luck ... yeah right!
If you dig back....way back...into the letsrun.com archives, you'll see that a few years ago many posters thought he was tapped out, done, fried, and would never run a good time again...then he broke the world record and defeated Tergat and Geb.
This time is similar. Father time has advanced a few years though. Is he really tapped out? I wouldn't bet against him.
you yanks should feel slighted. he receives his citizenship, and then hangs you out to dry for the major championships. however, i feel that drug testing may play a certain role in this...
yeah, but KK is getting towards that age. i wasn't one of those people who was saying it then because it was one year (2001) that he didn't run well. now he hasn't run well (world record type form; obviously he's still pretty good) in 2003 and 2004 now and he's pulled out of his first marathon this year because of injury (again). consistent training is the precusor of fast times; consistent injuries is the precursor of retirement.
So here's a question....
If he goes out and wins Chicago...But doesn't set a WR...Is he still washed up?
i think that largely depends on the field and how he wins it. i think that if he manages to run below 2:07ish and handles the field like he used to, then, no, he isn't. i just don't see him doing that. being a chicago guy, i, of course, have an affinity for him because he really has been the main reason our marathon is so well regarded in the world. i would love to be proved wrong.
i also think that KK - even at his best - could not have beat tergat and geb when they were focusing on the marathon. so, for me, the WR isn't all that important. i don't think that he is capable of running 2:05 anymore because he is not able to get the consistent training necessary to do so.