Comments on: IS TIRUNESH THE MOST BORING RUNNER IN HISTORY?

By: des

des — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:53:19 +0000

yeah, East Africans are killing it for you. Funny thing you watch sports in which you win. Well then your loss, long distance running is huge in East Africa. What next football?

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:00:36 +0000

Beauty is skin deep and is a combination for looks and your character traits like humility, truthfulness, willingness to help others, a smiling nature, the kindness you have for others, the love you share. Most of the times it is these traits that make you more beautiful than your figure or features.

By: Stewart Hugo

Stewart Hugo — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:21:24 +0000

Tiru is one of the greatest athletes in the world today. She has a blistering finish and stamina. These atributes are enough to win against all competition. Her action is a joy to watch and is entertaining even when she is out on her own as when she broke the 5000 mtrs. indoor world record. She is called the baby faced destroyer because she does just that to any opposition. As far as he media and press conferences are concerned she is a very shy young lady and speaks through interpreters

By: Frank Barry

Frank Barry — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:31:20 +0000

Apparently you feel fast times are more important than winning. You seem to want to be entertained and see records fall. Please do not subject anyone else to such tripe.

By: ayele

ayele — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:34:48 +0000

Eventhough your wish seems an honest one, your expression is not a good one. Are you the most frank person in history? I doubt you to be even for a second. I do not appreciate your choice of words. I hope that Tirunesh will not be demoralised by this expression. I admit that the Ethiopian athletes should be open to the media and communicate with journalists. Speaking English is not mandatory. They can use their native language in which they can express themselves better.
Don’t you think that she is running against time? She wouldn’t have lowered the world record if she didn’t have the courage and the confidence in herself. Do you want to watch a Dibaba leading the whole race and submit the title to another competitor?

By: bri

bri — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:41:50 +0000

The intent of racing is to win. Dibaba wins.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:44:29 +0000

Pat, Pat, Pat. I’m a little surprised that someone with your level of experience in viewership (as noted on the home page here; Munich, etc.) and participation (you are running in that picture, right?) is taking this position.
It’s a little bit like music. The young, naive teenagers find classical music a bore and would never be caught dead listening to it. Where is the blazing guitar riff, the thumping drum solo, the hypnotic base line? It doesn’t get their blood flowing.
Ah, but to the musician, to the one who has actually tried to play the violin or piano, there is nothing to compare to, say, a Mozart sonata. Only those who have tried to ascend and failed can appreciate the masterpiece, along with those that have the ability and perseverence to create them. They have moved from the realm of mere music to the realm of art.
There are a variety of weapons in running, ways to win races. Unfortunately, most runners must choose from an assortment wherein each has some shortcoming. Starting fast, surging, making a break, a long kick; all can be effective, but there is no guarantee that someone else in the race doesn’t have a better weapon.
What every runner is trying to attain by the mileage, by the intervals, the hills, the sprints, the drills, by running up sand dunes until you vomit…what every runner is working for, Dibaba has. She has IT. Since 2005, she can hang with any pace, any surge and still outkick the field (usually). She has the death ray, and every runner on the track would have it if they could. She acquired it by dint of talent, yes, but no less so by hard work. Don’t think for a second that she is coasting through her workouts on her gift.
I submit that, in a championship race, which is where she employs this tactic (because you can’t say that about all her races, and that’s where some of your argument breaks down), it would be borderline sacriligious not to bury the field on the last lap. That is her masterpiece, and the initiated, those that can appreciate it for the art that it is, rise and applaud her.
Make no mistake, Pat. The Tulus spawn the Radcliffes. Those that are hungry for the victory but don’t possess the killer kick will try to find another way to win, and someone will. It raises the level of everyone’s game.
BTW, no doubt you caught the 2005 WC 10K. That was the race where THREE Ethiopian women took off at the bell and raced the last lap all out, Dibaba winning. Even my wife, a stranger to track racing, was dumbfounded and awestruck at the beauty and power of these women.
BTW, how was it that Said Aouita won the L.A. 5K? I honestly can’t remember, but I’ll bet it was with a last lap kick, and that he didn’t lead much of the race, if any.

By: Sandro

Sandro — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:55:57 +0000

Thanks for saying it all out loud, Pat.
Flumpy, you mentioned Dibaba’s fast time in the 10000m, but if it wasn’t for Lornah Kiplagat and Elva Abeylegesse, that race would have been pretty much as boring as the 5000.

By: JON B.

JON B. — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:33:31 +0000

Dibaba’s racing tactics aside (which I agree with the majority here are quite brilliant), I do think though Pat has raised some valid points regarding athlete responsibility to the larger image of the sport. Tirunesh has become very wealthy from athletics, this wouldn’t have been possible without event/ TV/sport sponsorship. Someone in her position has an obligation to continue the positive / entertaining image of the sport to insure continued sponsorship, not only for herself but also for future athletes. The best example of an athlete who has fulfilled this role is Haile G. He is a master at showmanship who should be the role model for African athletes and how they interact with the western media and sponsors. Managers should encourage their athletes to become more engaging of the fans and media; just contrast Tirunesh to Paula R. for example. Dibaba is truly brilliant athlete, and it’s a shame that outside of us athletics enthusiasts most people wouldn’t know her from Adam.

By: Ethio Bobo

Ethio Bobo — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:06:09 +0000

I think everyone is misunderstanding Pat. He, like many people who long for action and odd stuff, wants to see either complete domination or close duels between runners. I agree.

I also expect Ethiopian runners to shake off their shy demeanor and at least open up for the media. The other day I was seeing on TV her press conference from Beijing on TV. Tirunesh had to be begged by the interpreter to elaborate her answers. She looked like she could not wait to get out of the room into her private comfort zone. I am not sure media folks can take being disrespected.

Congratulations Pat! Other people would be very afraid of telling things as they are. You tell it as it is!