Andy Edwards and Joerg Wenig comprise the media group, Race News Service. Race News Service is a global service that provides partners, such as Running Network and RunBlogRun with content from key events around the world.
Kenenisa Bekele, oh so close in 2019 Berlin, what can he do in London? photo by NN Running Team
Andy Edwards interviewed Kenenisa Bekele after his fine win at the Vitality Big Half Marathon on March 1, 2020. Kenenisa ran 60.22, a new course record, and that gives one an indication of the shape that Bekele is in, and how he regards his upcoming duel with Eliud KIpchoge.
You see, Kenenisa Bekele has the fire again. He knows that he is gaining fitness, he knows he is making ungodly monery, and he wants, oh, how he wants, to defeat Eliud Kipchoge.
Bekele had to deal with Haile Gebresalassie during most of his track career. Even when he put down a near four minute mile in Paris in 2003, in the 10,000m, to win gold, he knew that Haile won the PR battle. So, Kenenisa Bekele listened to his manager. He improved his mastery of English, he became more talkative, and most importantly as his manager, Jos Hermans noted a few years ago, Kenenisa Bekele now respects the marathon.
Okay, an aside….
The 1968 Olympic decathlon gold medalist, Bill Toomey, told me in an interview in 1996 something I never forgot, that is appropos here, in this exact circumstances: “The one who wins is the one who covets the medal the most.”
Bekele knows that KIpchoge knows, that anyone can be beat. Who wants it more?
Even with the coronavirus, it seems that London may happen, in one way or another. The elite race could be one of the finest ever.
And Kenenisa Bekele wants one more accolade: he wants the marathon WR to add to his 5000m and 10,000m WRs.
Then, Kenenisa Bekele would be the finest distance runner of all times.
