Run faster 5k-10k

[jodie]

Mo better get his arse on hey ?

[Matthieu O’Halloran - "M@"]

Hey well Mo Farah definetly got his 5000m world title well earned.

He played with fire a bit by leading a tight dozen field with 400m to-go.
But held on greatly!

I love how the ONLY geek racing with compression socks on the track 10 000m final.
Got lapped 
But he can probably lap me easy himself!

Cant beleive the 22 year old that wins 10 000m.
He looks like hes 42 

[jodie]

the eurosport commentary is both useless and hilarious
'he is supposedly 22'.......good job it was about a kenyan not an american - he would be sued, hung and quartered

[Matthieu O’Halloran - "M@"]

Hey jodie its definetly a predicatment in African distance running.
Their real age.
Because un-fortunatly, many of them dont even know their real age...

But when its time to race international, they need a birth-certificate.
As theres no record of their birth in their village in the bun-docks!
So they are influenced, sometimes by coaches or friends or even familly to be "younger"

Think about it from an un-priviledged familly's perspective.
If their 25 year old son can become JUNIOR world champion.
Then for sure their life will improve.
As the training/racing oppertunities for that "junior" athlete to fully develop.

Versus the 25 year old African next door.
Who can run the same time for 10 000m, but WONT have the minor funding to develop.
And reach is full potential because he doesn't have a world title to his name.

Look at Daniel Komen, I meet the guy in 2007.
I will vouch that hes older than his 31 years.
His career lasted about 18 months at the age of 21 or 21 years old.
Yea right, the guy was really 28-29 at his peak as he been training for years before that.

Same with Bekele.
People are saying he finished, done, wash up @ 29 years old.
Hes REALLY 35+ years old.

These are 2 of the easiest examples.
And definetly synical speculation on my part.
But the people in the know, know about his issue and just turn their head or go with it.

This is not a very big problem once they start to race senior.
But definetly can take away from real junior runners...

[jodie]

Yeah it would be a little peeving to be beaten by a 26 year old at junior world champs.  It is probably more prevalent in the men's racing because the women develop earlier and therefore the margins between juniors and seniors are narrower however if probably happens.

Bekele does look older than that you are right.

Is it wrong that I don't feel that angry about it?   Some african runners are so disadvantaged in life by western standards that a little age discrepancy (because they don't know their birthday) kind of pails into insignificance.  However looking at a world junior silver medalist , second to an older guy my argument would fall flat.  It doesn't matter anyhow at senior level.

Except in gymnastics......when the opposite happens-then it really matters , more significantly for women and much more morally wrong for the athletes.

Anyway Matti, how old are you saying you are?  Your wise words and (slightly) receding hairline may portray a man more mature than his years

[Matthieu O’Halloran - "M@"]

Hey jodie touché