think about it wrote:
Imagine comparing PRs side-by-side, concluding that the faster runner is better, and then getting swarmed by a bunch of angry whiners who insist that time doesn't matter. What a bizarre thread. Could Mo have run faster? Most likely, but let's not get carried away. He probably would have gone under 12:50 but not by much. If he was ever in low 12:4x shape an attempt would have been made. People who insist he never chased fast times seem to forget he broke 3:29 on two occasions.
Mo wouldn’t announce a WR attempt unless he thought he was in 12:35 shape.
He ran fast over the 1500 when he knew he was in British record shape. He said so to Steve Cram before the race.
If he ran a 5k at WR pace and then got out kicked by someone hanging on like Barega to Kejelcha then he loses his fear factor entirely.
Most likely a WR attempt would have resulted in him failing with 12:42/12:43/12:44 which would be a miserable failure and not worth it. He already had all the European records.
PBs only matter to amateur runners. To world beaters it’s NR/WR or just don’t bother. Win Olympic gold instead.