This is what Farah needs to do if he ever wants to mix it up with Kipchoge

Bekele is finished. We have to face that. Mo got to change coach to one of the worlds three best marathon coaches, Canova,Sang or JS if he will run 2:02-2:03 .

POTD

Les wrote:

Nope. Bekele's "experience and PRs" didn't help him get selected for the World Championships team in 2013. Bekele was chasing 10ks to run all over the world in an effort to impress the selection committee with a fast time. Didn't work then. Bekele has one fast marathon time, but is so erratic and Ethiopia has so many good, younger marathoners that I doubt they'd take a chance on Bekele.

Ahhh you're right and thanks for the correction. It was the 2013 WC team I was thinking of, not the 2016 Olympic team. Regardless, he got shafted.

Kipchoge only loses in Tokyo if he has the flu AND food poisoning AND a broken leg.

...says the guy who probably couldn’t run 1-mile at 2:05:39 marathon pace. GREAT thread

milermb wrote:

Wouldn't rule out a medal for Farah in 2020. He will probably never run 2:03/2 but the Olympic gold will be won in a time much slower than this.

Despite a very early start time it will be hot and humid, there won't be any pacemakers so expect a slow first half; then the race gets into the area where Farah is at his best - the half marathon and below.

A slow first half would give Mo an advantage over the GOAT marathoner that once out-kicked El G and Bekele? If Kipchoge and Mo ran a 10000 right now, I would go with Kipchoge. Off of any pace, Kipchoge could wait until the last 5K to make his move and still win in Tokyo.

Say Whaaaaaattt? wrote:

...says the guy who probably couldn’t run 1-mile at 2:05:39 marathon pace. GREAT thread

And yet here you are, adding more trash to the trash thread. Well done!

thetruthhurts wrote:

Sure, heading off to Ethiopia and training with some decent runners hasn't been terrible for Mo, but running 2:05/2:06 isn't going to cut it if he wants to challenge Kipchoge in Tokyo or even medal. He should go back to Salazar and train with Rupp if he wants to really step it up. It was under that setup that he was the best in the world, and having the best coaching, best training partners, best recovery resources (cryotherapy, etc.), and best strength training will be what it takes to bridge the gap to Kipchoge. Sure, he may very well still not be able to challenge Kipchoge, but he certainly won't do it if things stay the same.

Agreed. Crawl back to Salazar, lick his scrotum, beg for forgiveness and get back into the program if you know what I mean. ;)

doctorj wrote:

thetruthhurts wrote:

Sure, heading off to Ethiopia and training with some decent runners hasn't been terrible for Mo, but running 2:05/2:06 isn't going to cut it if he wants to challenge Kipchoge in Tokyo or even medal. He should go back to Salazar and train with Rupp if he wants to really step it up. It was under that setup that he was the best in the world, and having the best coaching, best training partners, best recovery resources (cryotherapy, etc.), and best strength training will be what it takes to bridge the gap to Kipchoge. Sure, he may very well still not be able to challenge Kipchoge, but he certainly won't do it if things stay the same.

Agreed. Crawl back to Salazar, lick his scrotum, beg for forgiveness and get back into the program if you know what I mean. ;)

Like that movie?

doctorj wrote:

thetruthhurts wrote:

Sure, heading off to Ethiopia and training with some decent runners hasn't been terrible for Mo, but running 2:05/2:06 isn't going to cut it if he wants to challenge Kipchoge in Tokyo or even medal. He should go back to Salazar and train with Rupp if he wants to really step it up. It was under that setup that he was the best in the world, and having the best coaching, best training partners, best recovery resources (cryotherapy, etc.), and best strength training will be what it takes to bridge the gap to Kipchoge. Sure, he may very well still not be able to challenge Kipchoge, but he certainly won't do it if things stay the same.

Agreed. Crawl back to Salazar, lick his scrotum, beg for forgiveness and get back into the program if you know what I mean. ;)

I think "the program" is more closely associated with Jama Aden and Farah's increased time spent with him beginning around 2014.

thetruthhurts wrote:

if he wants to challenge Kipchoge in Tokyo or even medal.

Is Kipchoge even going to Tokyo?

Face it, no matter what happens there, nobody is "mixing it up" with him, even if he tanks and someone beats him. "Mixing it up" means hanging in one of his fast races.

The olympic marathon is nothing, nada, meaningless.

Your wrong, again. They are able to get by with potato farming. They will also get paid well to look after the land and the drug supply of their colleagues who have already started to race. Lets say we have 2 Kenyans, Buck(aged 17) and Earl(aged 28). Earl will be started to roll into the money as a "junior". He will share some of his money with Buck so doesn't have to live in poverty for the next few years. Earl will pay Buck to look after his land, potatoes, drug logistics etc. Then when Buck "comes of age", he will start making money from races. He will help support his younger friend(lets call him Laurence) until he also "comes of age".

Bad Wigins wrote:

thetruthhurts wrote:

if he wants to challenge Kipchoge in Tokyo or even medal.

Is Kipchoge even going to Tokyo?

Face it, no matter what happens there, nobody is "mixing it up" with him, even if he tanks and someone beats him. "Mixing it up" means hanging in one of his fast races.

The olympic marathon is nothing, nada, meaningless.

I'd really disagree with you on that statement, Malcolm. The chance to be Olympic champion (and one of only 3(?) double oly marathon champions) is an extremely sought out and honourable achievement in the majority of the world.

Loughborough wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

Is Kipchoge even going to Tokyo?

Face it, no matter what happens there, nobody is "mixing it up" with him, even if he tanks and someone beats him. "Mixing it up" means hanging in one of his fast races.

The olympic marathon is nothing, nada, meaningless.

I'd really disagree with you on that statement, Malcolm. The chance to be Olympic champion (and one of only 3(?) double oly marathon champions) is an extremely sought out and honourable achievement in the majority of the world.

The majority of the world hasn't ran sub 2:04. Haile Gebreselassie would be a member of that majority if he hadn't skipped the olympic marathon. Do you think he'd trade?

Face it! oly marathon is a B race.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Loughborough wrote:

I'd really disagree with you on that statement, Malcolm. The chance to be Olympic champion (and one of only 3(?) double oly marathon champions) is an extremely sought out and honourable achievement in the majority of the world.

The majority of the world hasn't ran sub 2:04. Haile Gebreselassie would be a member of that majority if he hadn't skipped the olympic marathon. Do you think he'd trade?

Face it! oly marathon is a B race.

I don't know Haile personally; but it's always a possibility. Having lived in that part of the world (Kenya) for two years, a gold medal in a 3rd world country makes an athlete achieve rockstar status. Winning the Olympic marathon as an East African even more so. My memory fades over the years. What was the reason HG gave for skipping the marathon? Wasn't it the smog? I enjoy the discussion and respect your opinion; but am going to stick with my initial feeling that the Oly marathon prestige usurps chasing more money for EK at the moment.

Know what you mean? wrote:

doctorj wrote:

Agreed. Crawl back to Salazar, lick his scrotum, beg for forgiveness and get back into the program if you know what I mean. ;)

Like that movie?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v4MiqwYE-5k&feature=youtu.be

Bingo!

Dirty Secret wrote:

doctorj wrote:

Agreed. Crawl back to Salazar, lick his scrotum, beg for forgiveness and get back into the program if you know what I mean. ;)

I think "the program" is more closely associated with Jama Aden and Farah's increased time spent with him beginning around 2014.

Hell yeah! :D

Where is the drug mentioned in the title of this post?

milermb wrote:

Wouldn't rule out a medal for Farah in 2020. He will probably never run 2:03/2 but the Olympic gold will be won in a time much slower than this.

Despite a very early start time it will be hot and humid, there won't be any pacemakers so expect a slow first half; then the race gets into the area where Farah is at his best - the half marathon and below.

It is accurate to say that the Tokyo Olympic marathon will be won in a time slower than 2:07 or 2:08. This certainly does increase Farah's chances. But the theory that Farah will win gold based on his track speed is flawed. Farah's speed is only (nearly) unbeatable in the final 100m. If you watch all his 5k/10k races, it's only the final 100m that he sprints ahead.

In Tokyo, it's not like the race is going to start in 2:08 pace and finish in 2:08 pace (if it were, then I'd give him a good chance of basically drafting for 42,095meters, and then kicking for 100m.)

In reality, it's going to start in 2:10 or 2:12 pace, and stay that way for the first half (coming through the half in around 1:05 or 1:06. Then it'll slowly wind up. The winner will be the one that can cover the final 2 or 3 km in sub 2hr marathon pace. This still favors Kipchoge. Farah could potentially grab the silver or bronze.

Banana Bread, KB will not make the Ethiopian team.

BOOM. You're welcome everyone.