David Rudisha, photo by PhotoRun.net
David Rudisha wants a fast time in Lausanne on Thursday. While he eyes the meet record of his friend, Wilson Kipketer, he knows that he will need the help of Mo Aman and the other top notch athletes in the field.
This is what one learns from the notes on the Lausanne Presser held today, July 8 at 10:30 AM while yours truly was having an espresso and omelette avec fromage in Paris. Now sitting in Montreux Cafe at the Garde du Lyon, I am catching up on my mornings reading.
David Rudisha is the greatest 800 meter runner of his generation. A bold racer, a gentle soul who is also a student of the sport, Rudisha inspires his competitors and fans alike.
His London race astounded me. I thought he would fold for sure, no one could take the tension of a world record pace and hold off some of the finest 800m racers in the world! David Rudisha did.
David Rudisha, photo by PhotoRun.net
With such fine racing, with such fine tuning, comes a price. Injury is only a shadow away. David has fought back for three years now. That tells one what level he was in 2012.
Now, David Rudisha is almost ready….
Some of David’s thoughts (in bold):
“Waouh, I took the “we” as a group of 800m. We push the others to reach 1:42. I believe my friends, like Mohammed Aman, we will be able to push each other.”
“Since 2012, with all my disappointment and injuries, it has been difficult to get preparation and training. I was not finishing training well, sometimes at about 70%. And this also reflects my competitions. So, it is a good way to test different tactics. But now I am in good shape and I am strong, so I will start strong and finish strong.”
“I am in better shape since my training is going well. I will not be at that level but I am getting close to it.”
“When the competition is up there, everybody is more competitive. Since 2010, we have been seeing good races, I have been able to push my colleagues. Sometimes they are in good shape, but not always confident. Finally, it results a lot in your training.”
Rudisha notes that he is coming into fine shape, but do not expect London shape–yet. Rudisha was disappointed about his DNF at Ostrava, but is over that and wants to race well for his fans and the sport.
The key for 2015? But of course, Beijing 2015.
The road to Beijing had begun!
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Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.
Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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by Larry Eder
