Kenenisa Bekele, photo by PhotoRun.netBekele withdraws from Tokyo Marathon
TOKYO (JPN): Kenenisa Bekele has pulled out of the Tokyo Marathon on 3 March due to a stress fracture. “Bekele has a stress fracture and it takes time to make sure it will heel for 100%. He is very motivated to get fit again and focus on a new goal, but unfortunately he will need more time for that,” read a statement from the organisers. Other withdrawals include Kenya’s Marius Kipserem from the men’s race and Ethiopia’s Feysa Tadese and Japan’s Yuka Ando from the women’s race.
runblogrun opines: In Bekele’s last marathon, he dropped out with 2k to go. He has been less that a big hit with marathon directors, who pay him loads of money to see him fail spectacularly. Mr. Bekele has the talent to run a 2:02 marathon. It is all about his body holding up to the training. At one point, his manager, Jos Hermans, noted that Bekele did not respect the marathon. Today, it is all about his body reminding him that 42.2 kilometers at 2:52-2:54 is something only a few can do. We applaud Bekele pulling out. He needs a great performance now. Only he will know when that is coming.
