Greatest Record EVER.........

Right on Mr. Davis. This record is the only one ever attempted my Geb and failed. I remember the post race interview after he ran a 7:26, he said, "It is very fast" Simple, but it showed how great of a time that is. Onlt problem I have with it is that Komen, since 1997 has been running the kind of times that I do. I think it is very obvious that he was on some sort of endurance/performace enhancing drug. 12:39/7:20/7:58 for 5k, 3k and 2 miles are all ridiculous. And he ran under 12:50 many times, but all within 1996 and 1997. And the talk at the time was that he was only 20 years old. Drugs or not, the time is still amazing. MJ's 200 is ridiculous as well. I don't think I'll even live to see that broken.

I guess I think the problem is that there is no fast track races after May in the US. So if Broe goes to Europe, and then wants to run a good road race here in the US he has to fly back. Will he then return, or is his season doen after that, and a great season it was. Why is there no Farm Team invite later in the summer in Palo Alto? Sure it has been a little warm the last few days, but wind has been minimal, and we need to give our athletes the opportunity to succeed at home.

I don't know about drugs but there were a few factors that could have contributed to Komen's less than stellar form the last four years, the most important I think was how he didn't really take a break from his 97 season and ran indoors and Australian outdoors and then European outdoors in 1998. Who does that? Most elite runners don't even run indoors anymore save two races tops. So I think he burned out a little. On top of that, he got married and was starting a business in Kenya if I remember correctly so his attention was divided. I agree, he isn't running quite what he used to, though two years ago I think he was ranked #3 or so in the 3k and kept pounding out 7:30's on the circuit.

Anyway, that 7:20 in Rieti was awesome, and his indoor 3k mark was also pretty incredible.

The whole drugs thing is almost a catch 22. If someone runs fast for a long period of time, everyone says they have to be doping because it is not possible to be so good for so long. And if they only pop a few good times they must have been on drugs because they didn't follow up with great runs.

But the 2nd argument I think is weak. If an athlete is really burning it hot, there is large possibility they may only stay there one or two years. Look at the top Kenyan road racers. Most of them race all the time and don't stay at the top very long.

The story with Komen was that he supposedly comes from a very, very poor part of Kenya (relatively way worse than where most runners come from). Kim McDonald went to go visit him, drove to some remote area, then got in a jeep, and drove and drove and drove to an area that was in the middle of nowhere (I guess poverty and being in the middle of nowhere are all relatvie) and was way worse than what most athletes are in. He finally found some little hut or something and thought it was Komen's. No his was further down the road and even worse off. The person telling me this story said the speculation was that either Komen had trouble dealing with his success or perhaps didn't have quite the fire anymore.

Interesting story Wejo. Yea, Komen was truely amazing at his peak. His 1500m to 5k range was incredible. His candle burned out long ago, though. And that 7:20, Jesu christo, I'd love to see a video of that stuff. He must have been really, really motivated to run hard. I wonder if he was part of a tribe or something? How did Kim know about Komen?

...didn't el g go 7:23 or so in his 1st serious attempt??? the record is his for the taking...

TAKAHASHI, 2;21;47, IN BANGKOK, ON A HOT DAY, ALONE, NO CHEERING SECTION, NO SPIKES, NO RABBITS.

I've heard that Komen did some crazy workouts in Kenya along a trail, like 7 or 8xmile repeats and he does them in 4:14! can you believe that? its no wonder he runs so fast

That is a great workout, but keep in mind Geb handled 4:15 pace for over 6 miles during his 10k WR. Sickening...

El G ran 7:23.09 in his only outdoor 3k and won that race by over 10 tics (Limo 7:33). He also ran an indoor 3k in 7:37 but that was a strategic race. If he ever decides to run the 3k again and gets the right conditions/rabbits, look out...

I spent an afternoon with Daniel this past weekend. He said he ran a 3000m in 7:45 recently and laughed. He is actually here to visit his sister who is in college in Michigan. He has 12 brothers and sisters. It is a Kalenjin tradition to take care of the family. The road race was an idea from KIM Mgmt. in Boston. He also said he is in the process of evaluating his running career.

He was sporting crisp linen slacks, button down madras shirt, fresh PUMA trainers sans socks. Hard to imagine him in that hut in the bush. He now has a huge home, two Mercedes, and a SUV.

i normally do not post on message boards because they are a lot of trash talk but i think this sugject was good enough to post. anyway i read an article in sports ilistrated when Komen was on his hot streak and it said that the only reason he ran was to make money. so i think he got all his money in those two years 96-97 and into 98 and really did not have the motivation anymore because he had already earned what he wanted. just a thought...

tron

All Time?

That's a no brainer.

19.32

...of all time? I'd give it up to Methuselah, who supposedly busted out 968 or so years, ask Geb or Komen to touch that one.

Coach! I hear you, thats 3:40's back to back! I'm in full throttle downhill with a tailwind on rollerblades being pull by a NASCAR to run ONE 3:40! El.G has the closest shot if anyone does If Geb had problems...26:22 10K? I'm speechless?

26:22 is only marginally better than Tergat's 26:27. Tergat has 10 performances under 27:20! Whoa.

So Randy, can add you to the very small "I think Komen was clean" list?

Tergat, Komen, Geb.....all great runners; all set records on flat oval tracks in spikes on cool European evenings, huge crowds and fast rabbits.

(1) Have you ever run 42km in Thailand? Without anyone cheering for you? Without rabbits?

TAKAHASHI RULES.

jason

Michael Johnson's 19.32 is the best record ever. No one has ever been remotely close to that record, but think about the 7:20 by Komen. El G has run 7:23 and there are 4 people within 4.5 seconds of that mark. I see 7:20 broken before 19.32. Only Frankie has gone faster than 19.72, a record that stood for 17 years, and he had to be pulled by Michael to do it (what an amazing run for him though... 19.68 may be the best 2nd best best performance for any event... well... next to Komen's 12:39 and Maybe Tergat's 26:27).

Michael

Wow Tergat is a garbage disposal!