I’d declare total war on The Pusher man
Last week the Hamilton Spectator wrote an article about me running in the upcoming Around The Bay 30km. In that article it’s mentioned that course record holder, Alene Emere Reta, is planning on racing again. Alene Reta has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and consequently served a two year ban. Reta says he took the drugs by mistake, given to him for asthma from a doctor. It’s a shame Around The Bay, and other big races, don’t have drug testing. Some road races have drug testing, I was tested after both of my last two races in 2011 (Zoo Run and STWM). Also, being on the National team I get tested from time-to-time without notice, as recently as last Saturday.
So how do I feel about racing Alene Reta? It’s a good thing he’s racing, that way I’ll have someone to race because I don’t particularly like time trials. Of course I would be happier if there was drug testing at the race. And there’s no evidence that Alene still takes performance enhancing drugs or if he does that an in-competition test would catch him. In 2010 when he set the ATB course record (1:32:22) the day before he ran a 10km in 28:26 (yes, one day earlier).
This past week I ran the challenging parts of the course a couple of times. I will continue to train on the course here and there for the next month in hopes to get comfortable on the rolling hills and the killer hill at 26km. The good thing about the hills is that I broke Reta on a hill when I last raced him in a 1/2 marathon in 2010.
Good luck to Dylan Wykes racing the Lake Biwa marathon on Sunday. If Dylan runs under 2:11:29 we could have 3 marathoners going to the Olympics this summer.
Random Kenya photo. Running with Primos and Pieter while the other Belgians harass and take photos from a car.
FLOAT ON 
reid i agree about testing…..someone of his ability can NOT run a 28:26 10km on saturday and a 1:32 30km sunday…SOLO without drugs…he’s not that good…MUTAI,YES! my opinion is,no races should allow him or anyone else to run in their race if their is prize money and no testing…..i would bet all the rice on china he hasnt run a tested race since he came back from suspenison! i dont think you have to worry…all being equal, you will bust his ass before valley inn! good luck, i’ll be chearing from barbados!
Reid – welcome to the bay…if its tough day, the reaper will be waiting…;)
It’s a shame this one didn’t work out for you in the past scheduling but it’s good to see ya this time. It’s always been a fav of us average guys as a prep for the Spring marathons. We’ll be rooting for ya to kick Reta’s arse.
Other than that, totally agree with the testing…the Road 2 Hope could learn a thing or to as well… timing mats anyone?
Good luck and I must say that I respect you alot because I don’t even ask myself if your clean or not. That is good for our sport
He only goes in races without drug testing, raced under false names while banned, and
enters races under different names with different ages. Anabolics for recovery and EPO
for red blood cells. It isn’t right.