Hicham El Guerrouj is nervous about World Champs

As stated by several posters, El G is supremely talented physically. No one said he couldn't kick. The point is, he can't dominate people kicking the last lap like he can running fast the whole way with pacesetters. Certainly he kicked well in '97 but he LOST the race. He DID NOT dominate. If he had pacesetters, no doubt he would have won easily. Also, having the ability to kick and the NERVE to wait till the last lap to use it are two different things. I don't think El G could mentally handle the uncertainty of that tactic (which requires supreme confidence in one's kick), not unless he had to, like in an Olympics or World Championships. As shown over time he never CHOOSES to use that tactic against 1500 runners.

Skuj wrote:

Um, heck no, your post is very informative, but.....

How are we "all incorrect regarding El Gs kick", based on what WE have said?

I mean to say that because El Guerrouj chooses in general not to leave it to the kick does not mean he doesn't HAVE a fantastic kick.

Remember that he had something of a nervous breakdown before Sydney, admitting he "can't handle the pressure"? Why would someone like that leave the outcome of the race to the final 26 seconds? If I had nervous attacks about winning races, I'd run away from everyone early. But El Guerrouj CAN outkick ANYONE. And that 1997 race was an instance not of poor kicking ability, but of laziness in the final 50m. If you see the race, it is obvious; he eases up purposely and deliberately, at the last moment sees Andersen coming, tries again but is too late. That is not a good example of his "lack of kick."

Hicham's kick is underestimated, by the way he's run 47-48 and 10.8-11.4 or so atleast in 100/400 before, I'm trying to find out where he ran those times, of sure in training though, not a race

ghost wrote:

8. ... but in training he does more and suffers more than any other runner.

That's not true. I've taken the last year off and then when out and put in 18 last week. I went through more pain and suffering than any other runner.

big game wrote:

if he really wants motivation he should get a poster of the 2000 oly final, where noah out-kicked him for the gold..

Go read number 11 again, and tell me where the 2000 olympics were held.

El Guerrouj did a workout in the dark shining his headlights up the hill for 20 x 350 uphill at 62 400 pace. 10 x 1000 in 2:29-2:31. 12 x 400 in 53. He suffers more than anyone. Insane training.

Michael Bautista wrote:

Hicham's kick is underestimated, by the way he's run 47-48 and 10.8-11.4 or so atleast in 100/400 before, I'm trying to find out where he ran those times, of sure in training though, not a race

I bet he ran those times at the same place Lance Armstrong ran his marathon and other races. In somebody's head. Not saying he isnt able to do that though.

NO, they are real times that El G did run, those are his pr's, as repeated by Anyss on my website forum, he knows Hicham personally. I am in contact with Anyss, Hicham, and his friend Salim.

"You are correct, the point is, El G usually leads from the start, he never runs in the pack. After two Olympic losses, plus losing to Lagat, he changed his tactics."

El G never leads from the start. In grand prix races, he follows a rabbit until the last 600m when the rabbitt drops out. In the 96 Olympics when there was no rabbitt, he didn't lead, he ran mid-pack until 500m to go when he moved into second and tripped on Morceli. In 2000, he followed a rabbit for the first 800m, then took the lead with 700m to go because the rabbitt slowed from a 54 to a 60 on the 2nd lap. The point is that El G didn't change tactics in the Atehns 1500m; he moved into the lead with 700m to go, as he does in most races, as he did in Sydney in 2000.

All those comments about Hicham's fragile psyche and his great need for absolute perfectionism reminds of a quote from a great movie:

"A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it."