Kenenisa Bekele Going for the World Record in the Marathon.... in Dubai in Less Than 2 Weeks

If Bekele simultaneously holds the 5000, 10000, and marathon records, will that make him the undebateable GOAT?

Were he to set the WR, would this finally crown him the greatest long distance runner the world has ever seen? WR's over 5000 and 10,000; 11 world xc champs; 3 Oly gold and 1 silver; 5 world track championships. Hard to beat that curriculum vitae. I also believe his last race against mo farah was over 13.1, vanquishing the deaf Brit and an aged Gebreselassie in the process.

He is already GOAT.

DNF for Kenenisa.

Damn! I say he gets it!!! I hope there's a way to watch this live (for free).

So does he actually get an appearance fee or are they sticking with just high prize money?

Too bad Kipchoge won't be there :/

handelandj wrote:

Damn! I say he gets it!!! I hope there's a way to watch this live (for free).

Last year they flew a few drone cameras and streamed the entire race, I think.

You could really see how flat and desolate the course was, apart from a few skyscrapers looming in the distance.

Hopefully they'll do the same and stream for free this year.

Pajama Aden wrote:

Were he to set the WR, would this finally crown him the greatest long distance runner the world has ever seen? WR's over 5000 and 10,000; 11 world xc champs; 3 Oly gold and 1 silver; 5 world track championships. Hard to beat that curriculum vitae. I also believe his last race against mo farah was over 13.1, vanquishing the deaf Brit and an aged Gebreselassie in the process.

Oh boy.

I expected great things from Kenenisa Bekele…and Kenenisa DELIVERED GREAT THINGS.

BINGO BEKELE!!!

Take that Alberto, Phil Knight and the Stupid-Sub 2:00 Marathon Project!!!

What does Alberto think about this news?

I hope this doesn't take the attention away from Galen's Boston marathon race and half-marathon record attempt…(which would be the not-really-that-fast-American-half-marathon record)...while Kenenisa Bekele is going for the MARATHON WORLD RECORD…to go with his 5K WORLD RECORD (12:37.35)…and his 10K WORLD RECORD (26:17.53).

(This will now be a total of 3 WORLD RECORDS by Kenenisa Bekele.)

…I feel like I am going to pass out ...

Take your Ritalin.

I did pass out but it was only for a few minutes.

Update Kenenisa Bekele:

Expect Kenenisa Bekele to win DOUBLE GOLD AT 10K AND MARATHON at the 2017 World Championships in London.

Kenenisa will be running against the recently knighted, pudgy, and out-of-shape Brit Sir Mo Farah in the 10K.

(Mo was completely destroyed by Scot Callum Hawkins in his last race.)

Whoa man. Bekele's never winning another 10K championship.

To an earlier question: he's maybe the GOAT now. But in the marathon, it would be more meaningful to me for him to take down Kipchoge at their best than to set a WR, especially in Dubai.

WR in the marathon just not as impressive as multiple big wins. His Berlin run was insane; one or two more like that and he's in the conversation with Kipchoge for greatest marathoner.

rjm33 wrote:

I did pass out but it was only for a few minutes.

Update Kenenisa Bekele:

Expect Kenenisa Bekele to win DOUBLE GOLD AT 10K AND MARATHON at the 2017 World Championships in London.

Kenenisa will be running against the recently knighted, pudgy, and out-of-shape Brit Sir Mo Farah in the 10K.

(Mo was completely destroyed by Scot Callum Hawkins in his last race.)

I know Jos Hermans said last summer (before Berlin) that Bekele wanted to race London 2017 in the 10,000m and beat Farah...but as much as I'd like to see that, I'm sure he is just focused on the marathon...

Although considering how early this is in the year, I suppose it would give him time to actually prepare for a 10,000m unlike last years failed last ditch attempt at making Rio

Bekele runs sub 2 and makes the Nike project worthless. You heard it here first.

Asjfkfjciix wrote:

Bekele runs sub 2 and makes the Nike project worthless. You heard it here first.

It has already been decided that Bekele is running the 10K and marathon at the World Championships. People who do not believe that are not expecting great things from Kenenisa Bekele…and do not have any faith or belief in Bekele.

They are pathetic, sad, pudgy, out-of-shape people. They are frequently British.

Even if Bekele just breaks the world record and only runs 2:01 or 2:02…it still obliterates the stupid sub-2:00 marathon projects…in combination with our anti-Nike boycott.

Why didn't nike select bekele for their sub-2 project? I feel he has more potential than the 3 they picked. Did he not want to do it or something??

rjm33 wrote:

...in combination with our anti-Nike boycott.

Oh great idea! Let's harm the one sponsor that has been breathing life into this sport for decades. Again, great idea. I'm sure New Balance and Sketchers are willing to fund everything.

Geb had more world record at one point than him and has won more titles.

dfsadf wrote:

Why didn't nike select bekele for their sub-2 project? I feel he has more potential than the 3 they picked. Did he not want to do it or something??

This is a good question. A related one is why are Kipchoge, Bekele and almost definitely Kipsang (expect an announcement soon) running other races instead of the London Marathon? The London Marathon gets all the top dogs, every year. Not too hard to see that if they had Kipchoge vs. Bekele this year it would totally overshadow the London World Championships marathon. With Coe in charge there's a little cooperation at work, everyone races elsewhere, London gives the World Champs a boost and the whole world will watch an epic classic in August.