Haile Gebrselassie wins the 2008 Dubai Marathon (© c)
Ethiopia’s World Marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie today announced that he will compete in the 2008 Lisbon Half Marathon on 16 March 2008.
The 34-year-old, who ran the second fastest marathon in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon last week in the United Arab Emirates, will target Sammy Wanjiru’s World Half Marathon record time of 58.33 as he aims to improve on his own 58.55 career best over the distance.
“It would make me happy if I can break records every week,” joked the affable former two-time Olympic 10,000m champion.
“But it is not an easy task. Last week in Dubai, I did everything perfectly according to my plans, but I was not able to break the record.”
Until this year, times achieved in Lisbon’s downhill course are not ratified by the IAAF/AIMS. But Gebrselassie revealed that the course will be altered this year in order to fit his record ambitions.
“We are discussing with organizers,” he said. “In Lisbon, I will try everything to run as fast as I can. But I do not want to say I am going there to break any record.”
Asked about his plans for the 29th Beijing Olympics, Gebrselassie declared that he will be visiting the Chinese capital to assess the marathon course and weather conditions.
“I want to make all major decision after my visit,” he said. “At the moment, I am doing all my planning very roughly, but I will make a concrete decision after visiting the course.”
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
