800 star Emmanuel Korir claims he's " not allowed to do any kind of training" in El Paso. Isn't this a false statement?

He can't go to Kenya, now. He'll be quarantined for two weeks the moment he gets back.

Used to live in El Paso, and all HS/middle school tracks are locked up behind fences, so since the schools are closed, I'm sure there is no access to any of their tracks. Only place there with no track behind a fence is the one at Ft. Bliss.

Here on a visa = not going to risk arrest by running on a closed high school campus track.

I'm a little surprised Ereng hasn't given him a copy of the key for the UTEP track, but maybe he can't even go on campus as a non-student, non-faculty, non-staff. He has no real racing prospects before December, anyway, he might as well head back to Kenya.

Maybe he's already been targeted by white locals yelling at him to stop running? This is happening across the country with people freaking out at anybody exercising.

I don't know.

If he is making fake statements about COVID that would make him fit right in here.

AT THESWOOSH wrote:

Maybe he's already been targeted by white locals yelling at him to stop running? This is happening across the country with people freaking out at anybody exercising.

Not a lot of white locals there, just sayin.

If he can gain access to Bliss with a visitor pass, he could work out on their track. They also have an indoor track on post.

All tracks are locked in my area. Hasn't stopped me from hopping it, but I'm no Olympian...

Sure it would preferable to have a track but there are plenty of flat, empty roads in West Texas for him to do workouts on. It’s not like he’ll be competing anytime soon

I'm looking at a satellite image. That big ole mountain in the middle looks fantastic to run on, only it states, "Franklin Mountains State Park Temporarily Closed." The other side of the ridge says that it is Castner Range, Fort Bliss Military Reservation. So, that's closed too. If he went north into NM, he'd find the Dona Ana Range Complex temporarily closed as well. North of that White Sands National Park is closed temporarily. There's no mention of whether San Andres National Wildlife Refuge is closed. In short, lots of places to run are closed.

Today is the international day of Health and Fitness.

So he can do his training.

https://youtu.be/U9g7FsVD4ew

zxcvzcxv wrote:

I'm looking at a satellite image. That big ole mountain in the middle looks fantastic to run on, only it states, "Franklin Mountains State Park Temporarily Closed." The other side of the ridge says that it is Castner Range, Fort Bliss Military Reservation. So, that's closed too. If he went north into NM, he'd find the Dona Ana Range Complex temporarily closed as well. North of that White Sands National Park is closed temporarily. There's no mention of whether San Andres National Wildlife Refuge is closed. In short, lots of places to run are closed.

Yep! This is what I've been saying for a few weeks now. People who live in areas where all the trails are open are super lucky. Its really hard to be motivated to put in a hard workout on roads and sidewalks and especially hard to put in a long run. Without the trails, I doubt anyone is getting in any good runs in El Paso.

I too am trying to train in El Paso right now. All city and county parks were closed April 1. Tracks (including UTEP) and ballfields closed prior to that. We have huge (1000- 2000 acre) open space preserves with runnable trails, but those are also closed. Some of the dirt canal paths are still open (9 miles west of UTEP), but the nice levee bike paths etc. Are closed.

With UTEP closed, a student-athletes would not have access to the state-of-the art gyms with their Woodway treadmills that can get down to sub- 4:00 mile pace.

The roads are open, but there has been some backlash against runners here as elsewhere. I was yelled at for running without a mask.

And for those who jump to conclusions, El Paso is +/- 20 (twenty) % caucasian, and anyhow runners of all colors/ages/ etc. Are very accepted in "normal times." This is a friendly, international city.

Good luck and courage to all runners!

I am training freely where I am in Texas. Yes, tracks are closed, but that doesn't stop you. I was running repeat sprints yesterday and one of the good 1/2 marathoners passed going opposite directions. I've known him since he was a kid.

"Life is at its worst but I have to try my best to survive,” said Korir.

. . .

"I have nothing to look forward to. No one had expected this pandemic,” added Korir.

. . .

He said he is facing the most difficult time of his life with the only move allowed being a trip to the grocery store.

What a whiner. He deserves U.S. citizenship immediately.

This seems to mostly back up his statement since it appears most good places to train are closed, but given he doesn't have races anytime soon, I would guess he would be more in a base or maintenance training phase where that would be less of an issue. Even though roads aren't ideal to run lots on, he could still get good training in. Saying he can't train at all appears to be a lie. Even if he has to lower his mileage or measure out distance on the road or grass somewhere to do workouts, he can still train even if it's less than ideal. Many people are in the same situation right now and any major championships won't be until 2021 anyways.

Cant imagine he "can't train". I'm on the east coast with plenty of CV and more people have taken up running than ever. I need to run at odd times or in new places to avoid crowds. Its nuts.

I know it varies locally but tracks here that are typically accessible.. are still accessible.

Go run dude.

AT THESWOOSH wrote:

Maybe he's already been targeted by white locals yelling at him to stop running? This is happening across the country with people freaking out at anybody exercising.

You obviously never been to El Paso.

wants to be back in Kenya so much - fine go and don't let the USA door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Avocado's Number wrote:

"Life is at its worst but I have to try my best to survive,” said Korir.

. . .

"I have nothing to look forward to. No one had expected this pandemic,” added Korir.

. . .

He said he is facing the most difficult time of his life with the only move allowed being a trip to the grocery store.

What a whiner. He deserves U.S. citizenship immediately.

do the Army loophole and he'll be racing at the trials