posted Nov 25, 2008

Given that a British winner is highly unlikely, I'll go for Ramaala on the grounds he has had advice from a British coach for most of his career.

Tenuous? Yes. But at least we could claim a British connection to the winner!

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posted Nov 25, 2008

Unbelievably great field. Lel out-sprinted Wanjiru last year and at the GNR. However when Wanjiru went from the front in Beijing, he dropped Lel. So I reckon Wanjiru will try to break Lel during the second half of the race - this will make a good race.
Out of that bunch, my support will go to Röthlin.

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posted Nov 25, 2008

Long distance running is the only event with credibility in athletics

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posted Nov 26, 2008

eboateng... is that because you are naiive enough to think that distance runners couldn't possibly be on anything?

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posted Nov 26, 2008

FH - agreed. It annoys me how so many uninformed spectators think that the sprints are so much dirtier.

In some ways I feel the distance doping situation is actually morally worse. I am no medic, but as I understand it EPO will be of a benefit in endurance performance regardless of what training you do, whereas the typical "sprinters drugs" only allow the athlete to work harder, and therefore improve. I know that's very simplified summary, and I don't want to imply that taking drugs that benefit sprints performance is somehow OK - it's just another element that annoys me further about constant condemnation of the sprints.

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posted Nov 26, 2008

I'd be fairly certain in saying their are more drugs cheats in distance running than there are in the sprints

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posted Nov 26, 2008

I fully agree.

EPO is a much harder drug to detect as the time it's detectable is so low. Quick injection, a few days in the mountains, jobs a good'un.

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posted Nov 28, 2008

eboateng - google "Paula Radcliffe EPO cheats out" for the relevant image and try telling me that you think long distance running is clean. Ask yourself why PR would go to those lengths to hold up a home made sign at a major championships...
Next you'll be telling me that a near 40 year old lady from Eastern Europe can win Olympic gold at the marathon and be credible especially when the previous eldest female olympic marathon winner was only 30 and the eldest male to have ever won olympic gold at the marathon was 37?

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posted Nov 28, 2008

Unfortunately, any suspicion concerning those who have tested clean has to remain just that, "suspicion"!

Whilst it may seem unlikely that a 40 year old woman could win the Olympic marathon it cannot be said to be impossible, anymore than some guy winning both 100 and 200 and setting outstanding world records in both at the same time! What odds could you have got on that? 500-1, perhaps? Or maybe even 1000-1?.... it was so unlikely.

Chronological age and physiological age are not necessarily the same. She may have been nearly 40 but her body may have been as capable as Paula's 6 years younger?

But the fact remains she has not been tested positive for any PED so what ever anyone thinks, she's the Olympic Champion and that's what she'll go down in the history books as………………….. unless, something comes up in the future to prove otherwise!!

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posted Dec 1, 2008

We appear to have wandered off the original subject! However, if you want to make a comment about Dita, at least give her credit for trying to win the race. I didn't notice anyone else who deserved Olympic Gold.

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