Laufguru Renato Canova war für längere Zeit in das Training von Kenenisa Bekele eingebunden. Die Zusammenarbeit mit dem Superstar der Langlauf-Szene war nicht einfach, da Kenenisa immer wieder von Verletzungen heimgesucht wurde. Nach seiner Aufgabe beim Dubai Marathon im Januar 2015 war sogar unsicher, ob Bekele seine Karriere überhaupt würde fortsetzen können. Erst in diesem Jahr mit seinem Comeback beim London Marathon deutete sich an, dass eine einmalige Karriere vielleicht doch noch nicht zu Ende ist.
Alle seine Aktivitäten konzentrierten sich – auch nach der Nichtnominierung für den Olympischen Marathon – auf den Berlin Marathon, wo er eine großartige Leistung auf das Berliner Plaster legte. Im folgenden lesen Sie einige Anmerkungen von Canova zu diesen aktuellen Entwicklungen, die der Meister auf der Webseite von LetsRun.Com präsentierte. Die Ausführungen sind hier, wie von Renato in Englisch verfasst, wiedergegeben.
Coach Renato Canova beim Dubai Marathon. (c) H. Winter
I had the opportunity (and the fortune) to work with Kenenisa after Chicago 2014, till Dubai 2015. He was completely out of shape, and with big problems in his calves and tendon. However, in spite of his physical problems, he was able to train with good continuity, also if with a volume far from what I consider optimal for a top marathon, and in his last two workouts already showed the possibility to run well under 2:04 in Dubai. Only the new injury could stop him from running under that time.
After that period, we tried for about two months to continue training, going in the gym and running in the water of a pool, but the problem didn’t disappear.
From the beginning of April, he quitted running. Only after several months, an equipe of doctors and physios from Glasgow University, under the guide of dr. Yannis Pitsiladis, took care of Kenenisa, working with him on daily basis, and step by step his physical situation became better.
What he did in London was unbelievable. People didn’t believe what I wrote (he ran 2:06, with 1:27:23 the first 30 km, with less than two months of specific training, after 11 months without any running activity !), but this was what really happened, and I think now everybody can believe what I explained after London was true.
He is not yet at 100% as fitness, and of sure not at his top as training.
This means that can have big chances for running 2:02, if his body structure can stay under control, and there are not other injuries.
Today we could see the most amazing marathon all time, with two different interpretation : the “Kenyan”, always used by Wilson Kipsang and other athletes such as Patrick Makau and Kimetto, with athletes trying a “break” far from the finish line, running some km very much faster than the average pace, more instinctive, and the “European”, based on the continuous even speed at average pace, based on a more rational feeling. Kenenisa likes running in this way (also on track, he always preferred to run at even pace till the final sprint), and also Eliud Kipchoge prefers this interpretation.
When I worked with him, I discovered a person of great heart, very kind and friendly, with top personality and very deep values, and, frankly, I found immediately a strong feeling with him as person. For this reason, it’s really ridiculous to think about doping when we speak about athletes of this level. They have a so strong personality, and so much confidence in themselves, that never want to have any external aid, because is not that they want to win : is that they DON’T WANT TO LOSE, and this happened also today, when after 28 km he seemed to struggle a little, when Wilson launched the first attack. But, for an athlete like Kenenisa, who never had good finals in the marathon previously run, every time was able to fill the gap using an even pace, this was an injection of confidence for the ability to run all the marathon at high level. Kenenisa had some moment of psychological difficulty, but at the end found in his tank so much energy that he finished the last 2195m in the best final ever : 6’08”, showing that in the final km probably is still the strongest athletes in the World.
I don’t want to forget the incredible race of Wilson, too.
Like with Kenenisa, I had the opportunity to work with Wilson in the past, and I know his talent, his mind, and also his loyalty and his character.
Honestly, I didn’t think him able to run again in 2:03, after the last 3 marathons without good results (I think he was too much disturbed by the fact to be the President of PAK, with fights with AK, that didn’t allow him to prepare with proper focus). He is one of the greatest all time, and till now is the only one able to run 3 times under 2:04.
All my admiration, my respect and my friendship for athletes, and men, like them, that can maintain the values (also moral) of athletics at the highest levels.