http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_3866039
I wonder if this is just to test the waters or if he's going to attempt to make the 2008 Olympic team in the marathon rather than the 10k??
I wonder if this is just to test the waters or if he's going to attempt to make the 2008 Olympic team in the marathon rather than the 10k??
These guys are smarter than i thought.
I think this is an excellent move for his career....if he can overcome his injury-riddled past. Running a good 10K off a couple months of consistent training is one thing....running well in a marathon is quite another.
Well if he continues to play soccer with his dog and strains his baby toe, then I am sure that it's not going to happen!!!!!!
I suppose this will start the inevitable Ritz vs. Lance threads..
Ritz, the Bronx salutes you! This could be incredible.
The NYC course is tough. What do you think he can run?
Vanny
2:13
Vanny wrote:
Ritz, the Bronx salutes you!
I'm confused, a Bronx cheer is a bad thing isn't it?
Ritz runs 2:12:00. Alan Webb chooses to also make his marathon debut in NYC at the last minute and runs 2:11:59.
webby wrote:
Ritz runs 2:12:00. Alan Webb chooses to also make his marathon debut in NYC at the last minute and runs 2:11:59.
While this has me laughing quite a bit I could see Webb using this as a training run.
Maybe pacing Ritz through the half in 1:05?
webby wrote:
Ritz runs 2:12:00. Alan Webb chooses to also make his marathon debut in NYC at the last minute and runs 2:11:59.
awesome reply - funny stuff
Awesome, I'd say he runs 2:10. Has he ever run a 1/2 before? Philly Distance Run might be a good one for him. Seems like a great move for Ritz (more long runs and tempos and probably fewer hard track workouts) and a coup for NYRR - Wittenberg is doing an awesome job getting big names to run in NYC.
That's why her organization paid out all that dough to the training groups, retainer fees.
Wow, I am surprised at how much everyone thinks he is gonna do at New York. First of all, I don't want to sound pessimistic, but the chances of him actually being healthy when the NTC marathon date rolls around is about 50-50. Secondly, I don't see how anyone can think he is going to run 2:10-2:12 i his first marathon. If he does, that would be absolutely fantastic and I certainly will be rooting for him to do it, but I don't think he will. I think if he runs anywhere from 2:15-2:20 that would be a very solid marathon debut, especially on the New York course.
Perhaps he is running to preview the course for when he has to run the Olympic Trials on it. ???
Irishguy: Damn, I'd hate to be coached by you. Here we have someone with a 27:35 10K PR, and you think he should be satisfied to debut at 2:20. Yes, New York is a tough course, but come on. Geoff Smith debuted in 2:09:08 there.
What if your fellow Irishguy John Treacy had your attitude in his debut marathon?
Salazar was a 28 minute 10k runner when he won NY in 2:09. why can't ritz run that fast in his debut?
Has boy wonder ever raced anything over 12K?
I'll bet his coach hasn't put that through his crack pipe yet.
Have to agree... Ritzenhein has selected a true marathon course, which means a very difficult marathon course. However, this may suit his strengths, as it did Salazar. I think time is irrelevent, but the experience is what is being sought. Look for a time in the 2:12:20 range and a solid debut.
Didn't Al Sal debut there in 2:09 also? Maybe it was Boston. Just looking at his stride and his toughness the marathon looks like his best event, hopefully he'll get a fast 1/2 in before hand too.
No flagpole willy prediction yet?