What is Bekele's Excuse This Time?

The conditions were not terrible. In contrast to other years, no sun exposure.

A huge plus. Of course pool and wet asphalt is not ideal.

I feel like Bekele is becoming very desperate. He does not have a lot of time left and he wants to win big marathons, but he is pushing himself too hard. 90% might be good enough for most marathon races, but it's not against Kipsang and Kipchoge.

I agree that it's bad for his brand, he should have withdrawn and ran Chicago, where he has a much better chance of winning.

My prediction is that he will enter Dubai and London next year and not win either. It's a shame to see such an amazing athlete not reaching his full potential.

Bekele has become a habitual drop out in the marathons. With today's DNF, I can say he is finished. He may not even race another marathon. Most likely he has lost motivation and the fact he has to face a strong and very motivated Eliud Kipchoge.

Interesting... wrote:

I feel like Bekele is becoming very desperate. He does not have a lot of time left and he wants to win big marathons, but he is pushing himself too hard. 90% might be good enough for most marathon races, but it's not against Kipsang and Kipchoge.

I agree that it's bad for his brand, he should have withdrawn and ran Chicago, where he has a much better chance of winning.

My prediction is that he will enter Dubai and London next year and not win either. It's a shame to see such an amazing athlete not reaching his full potential.

I wouldn't write him off just yet, but I'd pick my next marathon very carefully. Be the marquee name and let organisers build the competition around you rather than join an already stacked field. Go Mo Farah on them and have the field watered down if necessary because going so long without is not only damaging for such an excellent brand, but quite demoralising as well.

No big mystery here. He wasn't in condition to run 2:03 although he could hang for a while. The way the race was set up it wouldn't have made sense to run at a pace he could actually handle.

Not good for his "brand"? OK. Interesting perspective.

I'll agree it was disappointing that Bekele slowed down after the half, and then Kipsang simply stopped at 30 K, like he was a pacemaker. I was looking forward to a three-way battle through to the late stages of the race.

Kipchoge certainly did not disappoint -- what a beast! Adola was a pleasant surprise, giving us the battle we all wanted to see, up to 40K.

rekrunner wrote:

Not good for his "brand"? OK. Interesting perspective.

I'll agree it was disappointing that Bekele slowed down after the half, and then Kipsang simply stopped at 30 K, like he was a pacemaker. I was looking forward to a three-way battle through to the late stages of the race.

Kipchoge certainly did not disappoint -- what a beast! Adola was a pleasant surprise, giving us the battle we all wanted to see, up to 40K.

What I mean by brand is that his marathon career has too many losses. Someone of his stature should be competing for the win in every race. Similar to Kipchoge, Kipsang and Keitany.

I don't mean legacy, as nothing he does will have any impact on his track career, he is already the track GOAT. I think El Keniano might think that his losses impact his track career, but they don't.

i actually think Kipchoge ruined the race. He had the pacers go for a suicidal pace in the first 5k which in turn messed up the pacing of both Kipsang and Bekele. Had the pacers followed Kipsang's advice to go just a bit faster in the first half, we might have seen the WR already.

Interesting... wrote:

What I mean by brand is that his marathon career has too many losses. Someone of his stature should be competing for the win in every race. Similar to Kipchoge, Kipsang and Keitany.

Gebrselassie also had a lot of marathon losses.

zzzz wrote:

Interesting... wrote:

What I mean by brand is that his marathon career has too many losses. Someone of his stature should be competing for the win in every race. Similar to Kipchoge, Kipsang and Keitany.

Gebrselassie also had a lot of marathon losses.

Geb did lose (most were DNF, especially the ones near the end of his career seemed like money grabs). However he did manage to win 9 marathons and string together a good streak of Berlin and Dubai wins (with the 2 world records).

I think Bekele should focus all his attention on London next year and not run Dubai.

Well he is at the tail end of a long career, and struggled for years with injuries, and there is not much margin in the marathon for anything to go wrong. I was hopeful we would see at least a 2-way sprint at the finish, and even hopeful he would be able to overcome the mid-race gap, because there cannot be too many more races left in him, and his performance last year certainly showed he still has the potential.

Interesting... wrote:

What I mean by brand is that his marathon career has too many losses. Someone of his stature should be competing for the win in every race. Similar to Kipchoge, Kipsang and Keitany.

I don't mean legacy, as nothing he does will have any impact on his track career, he is already the track GOAT. I think El Keniano might think that his losses impact his track career, but they don't.

The excuse is simple: He wasn't going to get the world record today. 90% is not going to intimidate the world's greatest marathoner. why beat yourself for an extra 12km anyway?

Kipchoge is just so focused, strong and consistent, it's crazy. What he accomplished in the last 4 years is truly remarkable.

His only loss was against Kipsang in what was a world record at the time (2:03:23).

He won everything since then, including a course record in London, a win in Berlin with his insoles flapping about and an Olympic Gold in a "semi tactical" affair.

8 wins out of 9 marathons doesn't happen by accident.

I still think that if you put the Kipchoge who ran 2:03:05 in London in Berlin the same day a 2:02:35 or so would likely be the current world record.

But it's all speculation and the wr is still for the taking from either one of those 4 guys (you need to count Adola after today).

I'm sick of watching him drop out. I'd rather grind out a 2:12 marathon after blowing up running 61 through halfway than drop out (not that I could do either...)

He strikes me as a bit lazy. Not bothered to put the full work in. Turns up and gives it a half bash.

Hermens has said as much previously, saying he used to be able to get into top 5k shape off three months training and that he can't expect to do the same in the marathon.

I'm going to write him off going forward - would rather watch Kip, Farah, Kamworor, Adola etc. now anyway

They say it was 98% humidity.

yyy wrote:

The conditions were not terrible. In contrast to other years, no sun exposure.

A huge plus. Of course pool and wet asphalt is not ideal.

Interesting... wrote:

rekrunner wrote:

Not good for his "brand"? OK. Interesting perspective.

I'll agree it was disappointing that Bekele slowed down after the half, and then Kipsang simply stopped at 30 K, like he was a pacemaker. I was looking forward to a three-way battle through to the late stages of the race.

Kipchoge certainly did not disappoint -- what a beast! Adola was a pleasant surprise, giving us the battle we all wanted to see, up to 40K.

What I mean by brand is that his marathon career has too many losses. Someone of his stature should be competing for the win in every race. Similar to Kipchoge, Kipsang and Keitany.

I don't mean legacy, as nothing he does will have any impact on his track career, he is already the track GOAT. I think El Keniano might think that his losses impact his track career, but they don't.

That's not what I meant at all. I'm thinking the same as you. People like him and Eliud have a certain reputation and aura which could be dented by too many losses. Kipsang stopped inexplicably at 30K but at least he has that impressive win in Tokyo this year. Bekele started three marathons in 2017 and lost all three. Yes, the marathon is a tough event and a streak like Kipchoge's is unlikely to be repeated, but at least make sure you get one win under your belt to keep the fans interested.

And Kipsang was throwing up after stopping. I really believe it just wasn't his day and when your stomach is f***** with 12k to go there is nothing you can do. I really felt for this guy as he comes off as very nice and humble person.

Bekele is only interested in the WR, nothing more. He wants the record before he retires. If he sees in

The middle of the race it's not gonna happen, he pulls out. As simple as that.

What's his excuse? It's a MARATHON. Not a 1500, 5k, or 10k. You get very few shots and everything has to line up for any marathon, but especially for one at this pace. No excuse needed to be brave and take on the best and go out at that pace. You even ask this? Everyone talks of Ovett and Coe dodging each other--Bekele does zero dodge here and you are lambasting him?

In a marathon one doesn't know until mid race how the day will go. And you can't do many (like the 1500, 5k, 10k, even the half). The sting can last months if it does not go well, for all the great training. Add in weather and more. No excuse needed. He's a great runner and today was not his day. And yes, he was up against one of the best runners who ever lived and the best debut ever. Me, I respect him for putting it out there. And even more respect to Kipkoge the amazing and Adola the newcomer, for sure.

What's your excuse for asking this question when you could focus on these top two finishers?

Kipchoge is the GOAT of the Marathon. Great debut by Adola. Bekele won't quit until he breaks Geb's Marathon time. Does not look good for him.