On I went, out of the wood, passing the man leading without knowing I was going to do so. Flip-flap, flip-flap, jog-trot, jog-trot, curnchslap-crunchslap, across the middle of a broad field again, rhythmically running in my greyhound effortless fashion, knowing I had won the race though it wasn't half over, won it if I wanted it, could go on for ten or fifteen or twenty miles if I had to and drop dead at the finish of it, which would be the same, in the end, as living an honest life like the governor wanted me to. -Alan Sillitoe, "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner"

Friday, January 7, 2011

How did I not know this already?!?

Khalid Khannouchi and his wife are splitsville.

I know what you're thinking - the same thing I thought when I read this.  But let me tell you:  back off, ladies, he's all mine.


I've had a soft spot for that guy ever since I first ran the Chicago Marathon in '02.  As most of you know, the course starts in downtown Chicago, heads north for a few miles before heading back downtown and then swinging west/south.  You're back downtown, near the start, just about 10m into the race.  In '02, this meant that I could hear the announcers declaring that the race had been won... as I was not even halfway through.

We're meant to be.  Not only did we run that race together, but I've even been to Meknes, where wikipedia tells me he was born.

Me in Meknes, but Michael Bayified.
But you know what?  At 5'5", he's maybe a little short for me.  On the other hand, I did read that Geb is 5'7."  I know he's married and all, and I'm no homewrecker, but let's just say that if something ever happens... dibs.
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14 comments:

  1. MichaelFri Jan 07, 07:50:00 AM EST

    Hey don't knock out shorter guys :) You should go for the guy who is free though, not that you're asking my advice. Although now you are much closer to Geb geographically at least ...

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  2. TFri Jan 07, 07:53:00 AM EST

    Doh. I meant Meb. I wonder how tall Geb is...?

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  3. TFri Jan 07, 07:53:00 AM EST

    OUCH. He's 5'4". Meb definitely wins the height wars.

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  4. TFri Jan 07, 07:54:00 AM EST

    And no offense meant to short guys :) Evidently they make absolutely amazing runners.

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  5. MichaelFri Jan 07, 08:35:00 AM EST

    Well both Meb and Geb are married ... Glad you meant Meb, he's more my type too, although up close I think world class runners, both men and women, are too skinny for me. Not that I've had any offers. And if Kara Goucher was single ... sigh. But she's 5'7'' maybe you need to become a lesbian!

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  6. TFri Jan 07, 09:30:00 AM EST

    I"ve thought about lesbianism. Have you seen Shalane Flanagan? She's hot!

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  7. MichaelFri Jan 07, 12:38:00 PM EST

    She is hot!!! I guess a boy can dream...

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  8. MikeFri Jan 07, 02:14:00 PM EST

    Kara Goucher, Anna Willard, Lauren Fleshman, and Shalane Flanagan. In that order. Yes, I've thought about this a lot.

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  9. UnknownFri Jan 07, 06:50:00 PM EST

    Anna Willard's Anna pierce now. Married too. But wasn't Khalid's wife his coach? Sorry, obvs I didn't read the article yet. And yeah, I wasn't into the whole Shalane thing till I saw her running NYC this year, and then I was all, damn! (So was Mr. D... "who's the cute American girl?")

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  10. TFri Jan 07, 08:01:00 PM EST

    Khalid's wife was and is is coach, evidently. So I'm prepared for some jealousy issues there, but I think we can work through it.

    And Mike(s)? The problem with women runners can be summed up with Joan Benoit Samuelson. Sometime between age 25 and 45 they go from looking adorable and way younger than they are to looking prematurely older than they are. The lack of body fat and sun wrinkles, I'm guessing. Which is obviously why Khalid should be into me, as I'm holding my own so far (if I do say so myself).

    Dang. I really want to get me one of those skinny runner dudes now.

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  11. AnonymousSat Jan 08, 11:33:00 AM EST

    No mention of Ryan Hall yet? Isn't that omission in violation of the rules of run crush list formation?

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  12. TSat Jan 08, 11:45:00 AM EST

    Ryan Hall is very cute, but ever since he gave his coaching over to God, I'm not so sure I'm into that.

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  13. AnonymousSat Jan 08, 12:55:00 PM EST

    Tell Ryan Hall you're Jesus and maybe he'd bang you!

    Wait a minute. I didn't think that one through.

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  14. TSat Jan 08, 05:47:00 PM EST

    See, having just (re)watched Hamlet 2 on the treadmill the past two days, the song "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus" seems appropriate right about now.

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