How do you beat David Rudisha?

Is he unbeatable?
After two world records in a year that he finished undefeated; I was thinking yes, nobody seems to be able to compete with his power and strength over two laps...

However I came up with two potential methods in beating Rudisha; (so take note Michael Rimmer)
1. For a 400m specialist in a fast race; with a fast, but competitive first 400m, Rudisha would tire from the pressure of others, but remain ahead because of his strength. Take the first lap very slowly, adrift of the field, then launch a full out 400m sprint on the last lap. Even Rudisha would stuggle to match a 45 second last lap.

2. Would need the co-operation of the officails and other runners; all the runners start much slower than usual, and the offical only starts the trackside timer with 50m already completed. Rudisha would then apparently complete the first lap in about 30seconds, and with a huge gap back to the pack, he would think he had started far to quickly. Being disconcerted he would then take the next 200m cautiously, allowing the pack to catch up, and then overtake him with their momentum and energy saved from jogging the first lap.

Any other ideas or is he just too good??

Try tying his ankles together.

The first fundamental factor with every athlete is to be fully fit and sharp so that you can cope with everything that comes up, as well as being tactically sound over such distances.

Rudisha has been dogged by a persisting injury of late so I wouldn't be surprised if he suffers a defeat or two on the way when he resumes racing. But if he's fully fit, he's going to be too tough to defeat, particularly in fast pacemade races on the circuit.

But nothing is impossible since it also comes down to tactics and if he gets something wrong at a crucial stage of the race then he could go down. Although already a low 1:42 man, he still failed to make the final in Berlin two years ago, so there's something tangible to that effect.

I recall how Seb Coe lost over 800m in Moscow, Nounedin Morcelli crashing out of the medals over 1500m in Barcelona or Hicham El Guerrouj overtaken down the home straight in Sydney when they looked invincible but got their tactics wrong or someone else felt most inspired on the day to pull off the unbelievable. So history shows that anything can happen.

I remember a one Mark Richardson beating Michael Johnson one time.

If the best don't run their best, they can be beaten.

camerajuan wrote:I remember a one Mark Richardson beating Michael Johnson one time.

If the best don't run their best, they can be beaten.

Actually, both Mark Richardson and Iwan Thomas ended great Michael Johnson's long unbeaten streak (stretching nearly 10 years) over 400m in Oslo that day back in 1998 and Richardson ran from the inside lane - really think he could have gone sub 44 if in a more central lane or a more 400m performance conductive track than the old Oslo one (tighter bends - longer straights).

David Rudisha's early season keeps on a bumpy trail as he's been forced to pull out of Ostrava as well:

http://www.iaaf.org/IWC11/news/newsid=60130.html

Trip him up.

Seriously I dont think it matters what tactic you use. If he remains discilplined in his race he will win. I cant see him losing for another year unless he loses form.