Bekele reviews the coup d’état

Yesterday evening at the Thales FBK Games, Kenenisa Bekele did what few runners have ever arguably managed to do, that is to defeat a fully fit Haile Gebrselassie at one of his specialist World record distances, the 5000m and 10,000m.

In essence, the 20 year-old carried out what can only be described as a coup d’état with respect to ‘the Emperor’s’ distance running throne. Bekele might not yet have a very long or distinguished track pedigree but he is certainly the world’s most potent distance running force of the moment.

A matter of hours after his assured 26:53.70 to 26:54.58 victory over Gebrselassie, the IAAF internet caught up with Bekele who was watching a video replay of the race, while enjoying a small glass of beer in the bar of the meeting HQ hotel.

Yes, you did read that right, Bekele likes to enjoy an occasional cold beer after he has competed, and having taken his win in oppressive temperatures (+27c or more) it was certainly a small reward which he richly deserved.

Kenenisa Bekele’s race review –

“Had conditions not been so warm I am sure we three (Bekele, Gebrselassie and Sileshi Sihine) could have run a lot faster. Before the race my aim had been 26:25, and I think in cooler temperatures we could all have gone that fast.”

We agreed to help each other

“The conditions were so hot that before the race we agreed to help each other after the pace makers had dropped out, and that was the reason why I briefly (for one and half laps) took the lead shortly after the midway point was reached.”

“It was the only time I took the pace because I am not that experienced, and after that short time period in front I became afraid because I did not know what might happen after 7 or 8km. That is the only reason why I did not take up Haile’s offer to come to the front again later on. I just simply made the decision that as I had never run this race (10,000m) before I would not risk anything. So I decided to just hold on and wait until the last possible moment before making my move.”

Haile is quite a tough guy

“I did not know if my tactics were putting any extra pressure on Haile. All I knew was that Haile is quite a tough guy (Bekele smiled broadly at this moment recognising that this vast understatement of Haile’s tenacity was a good joke) and that made me afraid of what he could do.”

“I had assumed that Haile’s sprint speed might not be quite what it had once been but I was still afraid that even that pace might be too much for me.”

I do not feel as confident racing at altitude

Referring to his recent defeat over 5000m at the Ethiopian Championships to Sileshi Sihine (third in Hengelo 26:58.76 PB), Bekele wanted to point out the difference between that performance at altitude in Addis Ababa, and his race at sea level in Hengelo.

“It is difficult to run at altitude, I do not feel as confident, as I am not so sure how my body should be feeling. This is not the case at sea level, where I am more confident how my body should feel during a race, and at what pace is comfortable.”

I thought this race would be too difficult for me

“Hengelo was my first 10,000m and my first race against Haile, and so originally I believed it might be too difficult for me. But this gave me the extra push I needed, and the training I did before this race was very strong and intensive.”

“This race today has given me the confidence for track racing. Before I was unsure but now I know I have the ability to do well, just as I have done at cross country.”

The rest of 2003 and Paris

“At the moment I do not know for sure where I will race next but my plan is to compete in Oslo and Rome, and then for the Paris World Championships I have yet to decide what distance I will run. I have the qualification time now for the 10,000m but the 5000m I have yet to get. Then there is also the schedule of races to look at to see what is possible, also they will be my first World Championships, so I have to be careful not to do too much.”

For the full race and entire meeting report from Hengelo click here

IAAF