News11 Oct 2005


Gebrselassie is cautiously optimistic about World record bid in Amsterdam

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Gebrselassie wins the 10 Miles in Tilburg (© TTM / Jan Stads)

Less than a week before he makes an attempt at the World marathon record in the ING Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday 16 October, Ethiopian distance running ace Haile Gebrselassie is relaxed, but cautiously optimistic.

Speaking exclusively to the IAAF Internet - www.iaaf.org - from his training base in Addis Ababa, Gebrselassie says he will be satisfied with running faster than his personal best (2:06.35) set in London more than three years ago. “It would be great if I run a World record,” he said. “But I would still be happy with a personal best in Amsterdam.”

The former four-time World 10,000m and two-time Olympic champion and multiple World record breaker, retired from championship track racing a year ago after finishing in fifth place finish in the Athens Olympics 10,000m final. He had been scheduled to make his second appearance over the marathon in London last April but a recurrence of an Achilles’ heel injury meant he had to postpone his highly-anticipated return to the marathon.

Impressive run-in

On his comeback from injury, Gebrselassie has been in impressive form smashing the UK-All comers’ record over the 10km in Manchester and setting an unofficial World best for the 10 Miles in Tilburg, Netherlands in September.

“I am good shape and with no injury worries,” he says. “I have handled my training very well and everything else in my preparations has gone smoothly.”

“The weather is extremely important”

Despite his rich vain of form, Gebrselassie believes that many factors have to be in place for him to break the World record next Sunday. “The weather is the most important thing,” he said.

Weather forecasts for 16 October anticipate sunny weather with maximum temperatures expected to be around 14C, but Gebrselassie is aware of the fast changing nature of conditions in the Dutch capital. “From past experience, the weather in Amsterdam changes frequently within days or even within hours,” he says. “It is difficult to predict the weather conditions beforehand.” 

Initially, Gebrselassie’s attempt was to be spurred on by five or six pacemakers, but according to the former World 5000m and 10,000m record holder, only three runners for this job have been confirmed so far. “It is difficult to say whether they will push me until the end,” he said. “We will have to wait and see.” 

His second home

But Gebrselassie reckons that a vociferous crowd will line the streets of Amsterdam to cheer him on. “Holland is like my second country,” he said. “I have run many races in Holland and when I ran the World best for 10 Miles (in Tilburg in September), the people were running with me and I am sure they will do the same to support on Sunday.”

Learning from London mistakes

Gebrselassie also believes that Amsterdam will be an important learning curve in his marathon career. “Three years ago in London, I took only water throughout the race and at the end, I felt really cold and tired,” says Gebrselassie, who says he will be using sports drinks throughout his race in Amsterdam. “They are better than plain water. The glucose is very important.”

He added that he has already tried the drinks in training. “It proved successful,” he said. “I will pick them up at drinks stations during the race because they are vital for keeping my energy levels constant.”

New son could be nicknamed Amsterdam

Gebrselassie had more reason to celebrate ten days ago when his wife Alem gave birth to their fourth child, but their first son. “I am delighted by this,” he said. “My wife has already named him Nathan, but if I break the World record in Amsterdam, I will nickname him ‘Amsterdam’.”

Elshadai Negash for the IAAF

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