The reason why Haile Gebrselassie is the great marathon runner 1) Haile Gebrselassie has most sub-2:05, sub-2:06, sub-2:07 and sub-2:08 marathons. Runners with multiple Sub-2:05 (no one else have multiple 2:05) Name Number 1 2 3 Haile Gebrselassie 3 2:03:59 2:04:26 2:04:53 Runners with multiple Sub-2:06 Name Number 1 2 3 4 5 Haile Gebrselassie 5 2:03:59 2:04:26 2:04:53 2:05:29 2:05:56 Samuel Wanjiru 3 2:05:10 2:05:24 2:05:41 Tsegaye Kebede 3 2:05:18 2:05:19 2:05:20 Khalid Khannouchi 3 2:05:38 2:05:42 2:05:56 Runners with multiple Sub-2:07 Name No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Haile Gebrselassie 10 2:03:59 2:04:26 2:04:53 2:05:29 2:05:56 2:06:08 2:06:09 2:06:20 2:06:35 2:06:52 Samuel Wanjiru 6 2:05:10 2:05:24 2:05:41 2:06:24 2:06:32 2:06:39 Tsegaye Kebede 6 2:05:18 2:05:19 2:05:20 2:06:10 2:06:40 2:06:43 Runners with multiple Sub-2:08 Name No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Haile Gebrselassie 10 2:03:59 2:04:26 2:04:53 2:05:29 2:05:56 2:06:08 2:06:09 2:06:20 2:06:35 2:06:52 Jaoud Gharib 7 2:05:27 2:06:55 2:07:02 2:07:16 2:07:19 2:07:49 2:07:54 Khalid Khannouchi 7 2:05:38 2:05:42 2:05:56 2:07:01 2:07:04 2:07:10 2:07:19 2) The average of Haile’s top 5 performances as well as the average of top 3 performances since 2008, are fastest in history. Fastest marathon runners based on the average of their top five performances Haile Gebrselassie Time Race Place Date 1 2:03:59 Berlin 1 28 Sept 2008 2 2:04:26 Berlin 1 30 Sept 2007 3 2:04:53 Dubai 1 18 Jan 2008 4 2:05:29 Dubai 1 16 Jan 2009 5 2:05:5 6 Berlin 1 24 Sept 2006 Average 2:04:57 Tsegaye Kebede Time Race Place Date 1 2:05:18 Fukuoka 1 6 Dec 2009 2 2:05:19 London 1 25 Apr 2010 3 2:05:20 London 2 26 Apr 2009 4 2:06:10 Fukuoka 1 7 Dec 2008 5 2:06:40 Pa ris 1 6 Apr 2008 Average 2:05:45 Samuel Wanjiru Time Race Place Date 1 2:05:10 London 1 26 Apr 2009 2 2:05:24 London 2 13 Apr 2008 3 2:05:41 Chicago 1 11 Oct 2009 4 2:06:24 Chicago 1 10 Oct 2010 5 2:06:32 OG – Beijing 1 24 Aug 2008 Average 2: 05:50 Fastest marathon runners based on the average of their top three performances since 2008 Haile Gebrselassie Time Race Place Date 1 2:03:59 Berlin 1 28 Sept 2008 2 2:04:53 Dubai 1 18 Jan 2008 3 2:05:29 Dubai 1 16 Jan 2009 Average 2:04:47 Tsegaye Kebede Time Race Place Date 1 2:05:18 Fukuoka 1 6 Dec 2009 2 2:05:19 London 1 25 Apr 2010 3 2:05:20 London 2 26 Apr 2009 Average 2:05:19 Patrick Makau Time Race Place Date 1 2:04:48 Rotterdam 1st 11 Apr 2010 2 2:05:08 Berlin 1st 26 Sept 2010 3 2:06:14 Rotterdam 4th 5 Apr 2009 Average 2:05:23 3) Haile recorded the fastest marathon for 33, 34 and 35 years old; He has the fastest marathon for age group 30 to 34 as well as 35 and above. Fastest Marathon by Age – Men Age Time Name Nat DOB place Race Date 18 2:06:15 Bazu Worku Hayla ETH 15 Sept 1990 2 Paris 5 Apr 2009 20 2:05:23 Feyisa Lelisa ETH 1 Feb 1990 4 Rotterdam 11 Apr 2010 21 2:05:24 Samuel Wanjiru KEN 10 Nov 1986 2 London 13 Apr 2008 22 2:05:10 Samuel Wanjiru KEN 10 Nov 1986 1 London 26 Apr 2009 23 2:05:19 Tsegaye Kebede ETH 15 Jan 1987 1 London 25 Apr 2010 24 2:06:14 Patrick Makau KEN 2 Mar 1985 4 Rotterdam 5 Apr 2009 25 2:04:48 Patrick Makau KEN 2 Mar 1985 1 Rotterdam 11 Apr 2010 26 2:04:27 James Kwambai KEN 28 Feb 1983 1 Rotterdam 5 Apr 2009 27 2:05:42 Khalid Khannouchi MAR 22 Dec 1971 1 Chicago 24 Oct 1999 28 2:04:55 Geoffrey Mutai KEN 7 Oct 1981 2 Rotterdam 11 Apr 2010 29 2:05:15 Martin Lel KEN 29 Oct 1978 1 London 13 Apr 2008 30 2:04:27 Duncan Kibet KEN 25 Apr 1978 2 Rotterdam 5 Apr 2009 31 2:04:56 Sammy Korir KEN 12 Dec 1971 2 Berlin 28 Sept 2003 32 2:05:48 Paul Tergat KEN 17 June 1969 2 London 14 Apr 2002 33 2:05:56 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18 Apr 1973 1 Berlin 24 Sept 2006 34 2:04:26 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18 Apr 1973 1 Berlin 30 Sept 2007 35 2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18 Apr 1973 1 Berlin 28 Sept 2008 36 2:05:27 Jaouad Gharib MAR 22 May 1972 3 London 26 Apr 2009 37 2:06:55 Jaouad Gharib MAR 22 May 1972 3 London 25 Apr 2010 38 2:07:12 Carlos Lopes POR 18 Feb 1947 1 Rotterdam 20 Apr 1985 .