This thread was initially titled, "Bekele is 41 and ran 2:04" but we merged a bunch of Bekele related threads into 1 and did a hybrid title. The others were called, "IT'S BEKELEMANIA!!!!! and "41 year old Kenenisa Bekele is several minutes faster than the fastest American marathoner" and "New Masters WR for Bekele"
Throwing balls is a fkn joke compared with running at elite level. He was exerting way less than a fat old man playing golf. Running and cycling at elite is just a million times more difficult than most real sports. American football is not a real sport is almost like WWE entertainment.
I’d be interested in hearing Ritz talk about Bekele, and see if he has much reverence for him. Bekele was born in June of ‘82, Ritz in December of ‘82. When Ritz won bronze at World Juniors XC, Bekele was the winner. When Ritz ran the 12:56 AR, Bekele was the guy 20m up the track he was trying to keep a rope on (KB ran 12:52 FTW). Now Ritz is gray and hasn’t raced in 4 years, and Bekele just ran 2:04:19.
Edit/add on: Bekele was running 7:30 and winning world XC senior medals before Graham Blanks or Parker Valby were born.
Ritz has very often said glowing things about Bekele, and rightfully so. I hope this isn't some sort of underhanded way to criticize Ritz. Ritz had injury problems and yet still lasted as long as the typical professional distance runner, and longer than his contemporaties Ryan Hall and Alan Webb. Bekele is an exception to be able to continue to perform at this level at his age.
Bekele's performance is extremely impressive, but he has a long way to go to before he tops Kipchoge's 50+ record of 2:01:09.
Bekele has once again proven that he is the GOAT. People like to call Jakob the GOAT, but Bekele's international career has literally been as long as Jakob's life. Bekele destroyed the fukk out of the field in the World Junior XC race by 33 seconds when Jakob was probably only learning to crawl. Now he has run a time faster then any non African is capable of at 41. 2 master's WRs now. I'm sure he will get another. It has been 4 hard years since his WR in Berlin, but today he is still only 2:38 slower after going out at a pace that would of been considered suicidal and impossible 5 years ago without literally exploding. This would of been a WR 16 years ago, but the opening half of his race today was over a minute faster then the opening half of the WR back then. Also being only 20 seconds back at half way today is not that much. I can't wait to see Bekele run another master's WR next year
Bekele's performance is extremely impressive, but he has a long way to go to before he tops Kipchoge's 50+ record of 2:01:09.
Bekele has once again proven that he is the GOAT. People like to call Jakob the GOAT, but Bekele's international career has literally been as long as Jakob's life. Bekele destroyed the fukk out of the field in the World Junior XC race by 33 seconds when Jakob was probably only learning to crawl. Now he has run a time faster then any non African is capable of at 41. 2 master's WRs now. I'm sure he will get another. It has been 4 hard years since his WR in Berlin, but today he is still only 2:38 slower after going out at a pace that would of been considered suicidal and impossible 5 years ago without literally exploding. This would of been a WR 16 years ago, but the opening half of his race today was over a minute faster then the opening half of the WR back then. Also being only 20 seconds back at half way today is not that much. I can't wait to see Bekele run another master's WR next year
Do you honestly think when people are using the contraction "would've" that they're saying "would of?"
I’d be interested in hearing Ritz talk about Bekele, and see if he has much reverence for him. Bekele was born in June of ‘82, Ritz in December of ‘82. When Ritz won bronze at World Juniors XC, Bekele was the winner. When Ritz ran the 12:56 AR, Bekele was the guy 20m up the track he was trying to keep a rope on (KB ran 12:52 FTW). Now Ritz is gray and hasn’t raced in 4 years, and Bekele just ran 2:04:19.
Edit/add on: Bekele was running 7:30 and winning world XC senior medals before Graham Blanks or Parker Valby were born.
I think he’s gotta love it, and is probably living vicariously through him. His body broke down, but seeing an old guy taking advantage of the supershoes and taking it to the young guys...I’m sure he’s enjoying a win for the old guys.
Bekele's performance is extremely impressive, but he has a long way to go to before he tops Kipchoge's 50+ record of 2:01:09.
Bekele has once again proven that he is the GOAT. People like to call Jakob the GOAT, but Bekele's international career has literally been as long as Jakob's life. Bekele destroyed the fukk out of the field in the World Junior XC race by 33 seconds when Jakob was probably only learning to crawl. Now he has run a time faster then any non African is capable of at 41. 2 master's WRs now. I'm sure he will get another. It has been 4 hard years since his WR in Berlin, but today he is still only 2:38 slower after going out at a pace that would of been considered suicidal and impossible 5 years ago without literally exploding. This would of been a WR 16 years ago, but the opening half of his race today was over a minute faster then the opening half of the WR back then. Also being only 20 seconds back at half way today is not that much. I can't wait to see Bekele run another master's WR next year
I'm literally getting goosebumps reading this. I need to take a cold shower, literally now
I’d be interested in hearing Ritz talk about Bekele, and see if he has much reverence for him. Bekele was born in June of ‘82, Ritz in December of ‘82. When Ritz won bronze at World Juniors XC, Bekele was the winner. When Ritz ran the 12:56 AR, Bekele was the guy 20m up the track he was trying to keep a rope on (KB ran 12:52 FTW). Now Ritz is gray and hasn’t raced in 4 years, and Bekele just ran 2:04:19.
Edit/add on: Bekele was running 7:30 and winning world XC senior medals before Graham Blanks or Parker Valby were born.
I think I recall Ritz calling Bekele the best ever in an interview after breaking the 5000 AR. The interview is on Flotrack if you can access it. Of course that was 2009 and now he has had many years to reflect on their respective careers. It would be interesting to hear his perspective.