Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie in the men's 10,000m final (© Getty Images)
In his latest journal for the IAAF internet Haile Gebrselassie looks to 2004 and brings us up to date with all that has been happening since his last race:
Back into full training
“I took just one week’s total rest after Brussels (5 September), and then for the last two months was back into a mild period of training. Now this week I have again returned to the hardest period of work, two times a day. In fact I have just this moment come home after my second run of the day (5.45pm) and I am about to shower and eat.”
Great Ethiopian Run and Loroupe’s Peace Run
“I have no plans in place for any road races in the near future and so my next start should be indoors next year…. Of course I am involved in the Great Ethiopian Run (30 November) which is organised by Richard Nerurkar, and I will be there to give my assistance. This year there should be about 18,000 people taking part, and it really is now becoming a very significant event.”
“I have also been very happy to hear from Tegla (Loroupe) about her Peace Run (13 December) in Kenya which is a fantastic idea, I was so delighted to hear about the efforts she was making. Peace is worth a lot. As yet I don’t know how much I will be involved but yes I certainly offer my support to such an event.”
Tergat’s run in Berlin
“One of the events which has made me so happy in recent weeks has been my great friend Paul Tergat’s record run in the Berlin Marathon. This made me so very happy.”
”Especially when the last two Olympics are concerned I have felt that he was a very unlucky person. Of course I was always very glad to have won but they were such great races and if two gold medals could have been offered then he would deserved one too, as they were very close contests.”
“I have the greatest respect for Tergat and he is a good friend. This is what sport should really be about, making friends and not enemies. It should help the growth of relationships. There is always intense rivalry on the track but off it there should always be time for friendship.“
A two hour Marathon!
“When Paula (Radcliffe) made her incredible run (2:15:25) in London all I could say was ‘Wow’. Suddenly the women were catching up with the men, so I am very glad to say that Tergat has managed to widen the gap again to a respectable margin, ” said Gebrselassie laughing loudly.
“Seriously, what Tergat did in Berlin has made the possibility of a two hour Marathon quite logical. I cannot believe it will be long before such a time is run.”
Haile.
