A day after breaking the World record at the real, Berlin Marathon (30 Sep), Haile Gebrselassie came to the press conference, looking happy, relaxed as usual and talking about his feelings and future goals.
“I am still overwhelmed by this tremendous race. But it is difficult to describe my feelings. You have to break a World record yourself to understand how that feels – go for it”, said Gebrselassie when asked about his mood a day after clocking 2:04:26.
At the runners’ party on Sunday night as per tradition the winners, Haile Gebrselassie and Gete Wami (Ethiopia/2:23:17), and top finishers were present. “I just had one beer mixed with a soft drink – but I did not even empty the glass”, said the Ethiopian, when reporters wondered what he drank when celebrating his victory.
Gebrselassie will now head back to Addis Abeba. His next marathon will be in Dubai in January. “Then of course there are the Olympic Games coming up, where I want to run the marathon. But I am even planning further ahead. It is my goal to come back to Berlin to run the World Championships’ marathon in 2009.”
Having now broken 24 World records or World bests, the 34-year-old indicated that his appetite for records is still there. “Getting back the half marathon World record is a goal. But it remains my secret where and when I will go for this. I know that there is a fast half marathon in Berlin in the spring but the timing does not fit so good for me next year.”
Also Gebrselassie says that the 2:04:26, with which he improved Paul Tergat’s (Kenya) time from Berlin 2003 by 29 seconds, will not be the end of the story.
“I believe that I can run 2:03. I had said that before but could not do it on Sunday. But I am convinced that I can achieve such a time in Berlin.” Gebrselassie added: “I think Berlin offers the best conditions for a World marathon chase – the course, the weather conditions, the spectators. So I think that when World records will be broken in the future it will happen in Berlin.”
Asked if he believed that one day the two hour-barrier will be broken in the marathon Haile Gebrselassie said: “Yes, of course. That will happen. But I do not know when – may be it will take 20 years or may be 40. For now I am happy that I have finally broken the World marathon record since my name is now on this record list. And in a 100 years people will still see that and say, ‘ah this was Haile Gebrselassie’.”(IAAF)
“I am still overwhelmed by this tremendous race. But it is difficult to describe my feelings. You have to break a World record yourself to understand how that feels – go for it”, said Gebrselassie when asked about his mood a day after clocking 2:04:26.
At the runners’ party on Sunday night as per tradition the winners, Haile Gebrselassie and Gete Wami (Ethiopia/2:23:17), and top finishers were present. “I just had one beer mixed with a soft drink – but I did not even empty the glass”, said the Ethiopian, when reporters wondered what he drank when celebrating his victory.
Gebrselassie will now head back to Addis Abeba. His next marathon will be in Dubai in January. “Then of course there are the Olympic Games coming up, where I want to run the marathon. But I am even planning further ahead. It is my goal to come back to Berlin to run the World Championships’ marathon in 2009.”
Having now broken 24 World records or World bests, the 34-year-old indicated that his appetite for records is still there. “Getting back the half marathon World record is a goal. But it remains my secret where and when I will go for this. I know that there is a fast half marathon in Berlin in the spring but the timing does not fit so good for me next year.”
Also Gebrselassie says that the 2:04:26, with which he improved Paul Tergat’s (Kenya) time from Berlin 2003 by 29 seconds, will not be the end of the story.
“I believe that I can run 2:03. I had said that before but could not do it on Sunday. But I am convinced that I can achieve such a time in Berlin.” Gebrselassie added: “I think Berlin offers the best conditions for a World marathon chase – the course, the weather conditions, the spectators. So I think that when World records will be broken in the future it will happen in Berlin.”
Asked if he believed that one day the two hour-barrier will be broken in the marathon Haile Gebrselassie said: “Yes, of course. That will happen. But I do not know when – may be it will take 20 years or may be 40. For now I am happy that I have finally broken the World marathon record since my name is now on this record list. And in a 100 years people will still see that and say, ‘ah this was Haile Gebrselassie’.”(IAAF)
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