Sub Max wrote:
Also your thoughts on Kamworor's race today please!?
Firstly, i want to say Kamworor did a great race, he averaged 3:07/km in the race and 3:04/km if you exclude the first lap, which is very fast.
He got beat by 2 crazy good runners. Jacob Kiplimo blossomed during the last 6 months, he is an absolute monster. He is yet to prove consistency, and his endurance might lack compared to others, but he is an enormous prospect and if he can keep this shape and have an injury-free build-up, he can run 26:3x in Doha already (condition permitting).
As for Joshua Cheptegei, what can i say, arguably the most talented runner out there. He had his training disrupted in the last year 2 times. First by a naggling knee injury and secondly by a very scary car crash. After the first setback, he came back and broke the 15k WR, running 41:05 in Nijmegen (Zevenheuvelenloop), which features 7 slopes, 1 of them being really hard actually (1km at 3-3.5%).
That is 57:47 half marathon pace, considering the lack of ideal preparation, and pretty bad pacing as he ended up alone after 6k and front ran it to the tape, it's within common sense that given better pacing, an injury-free block of training and flast fast course(Ras,Berlin,Valencia,Copenhagen) he could break 58' for the half. I see Joshua if he can finally have a training block without any issues to win the 10,000m in Doha and run under 26'30 if it will be a crazy fast race which i think it will if it's won't be too hot.
It would make sense for him to run the 10,000m in Doha, then have a go at the Half WR 3 weeks later and Valencia before drawing his season to an end another 3 weeks later by defending his title in Nijmegen ( Zevenheuvelenloop ) where he is the undisputed king of the race, 4-time defending champion.
Geoffrey's training was spot on, Patrick even modified some of the group runs for him and Rodgers Kwemoi. The latter wasn't in great shape and it proved too much for the young guy, but he will take his revenge one day.
I also have to point out that the Ugandans were better suited to this course as in Kapchorwa the area is a lot hillier than in Iten/Kaptagat, it's almost as tough as it gets. Congratulations to Joshua, Jacob, Geoffrey, a well deserved podium and a great race ! Looking forward to London now.