Ritz Interview from RW 9.12.06

Reminds me of the casual way some other track guys have treated the distance in the past (Schiebler?). It does, however, seem like he is doing the marathon specific training required to run well.

Only one way to find out.

Actually, you're right. Hudson/Ritz do seem overconfident. Maybe Ritz will show the attitude's justified, but for now they are acting like he's cut from that perfect marathon cloth, as you state. The marathon's one tough race.

Go run down those Kenyans man, GO USA, GO USA, About time we may have a True American challenge this Kenyans who are imported...Go get em Ritz my money and heart is on you bro...

Everybody thought that Salazar was too confident before his first marathon and he won it in 2:09. His 10K PR is only about 10 seconds faster than Ritz.

Ritz has no intention of finishing!!!!!!!!

Anemic wrote:

It strikes me cold, even as a huge Ritz fan, that he seems to be treating the marathon with a tad too little respect and the race itself sounds nearly like a done deal. Am I reading too much into it ? I just do not detect any trepidation in the interview and it's more like, "I'm just not sure how fast I'm going to run it. Might run with Tergat & check that out while I'm doing this race." Many first timers come across with a lot more wait & see perspective, and respect for the distance.

I read that article twice, and cannot figure out how you could possibly come to that conclusion? He appears focused and has positive and realisitic expectations -- something that ALL competitive athletes should have going into a competition.

malmo wrote:

I read that article twice, and cannot figure out how you could possibly come to that conclusion? He appears focused and has positive and realisitic expectations -- something that ALL competitive athletes should have going into a competition.[/quote]

Maybe you don't agree. But to say you have no idea how the thread starter came to his conclusions is a bit much.

If you think it's necessary for an athlete to be overconfident, then say so, because Ritz sure seems that way. He's never touched even a half-marathon and has focused on the marathon for only a few months. Yet he's talking of running step-step with 2:04'er Tergat. WTF else does Ritz need to say to be overconfident?? Maybe it is good to be that way going in, but don't pretend like you have no clue what the thread starter's talking about.

Meb was also foolish to try and run with Tergat in the Olympics. What was he thinking.

Of course, Meb had already finished a couple of marathons at that point, so he knew what he was up against.

slow wrote:

Meb was also foolish to try and run with Tergat in the Olympics. What was he thinking.

Well give us an example of what Ritz WOULD say to be overconfident. If you think he should be overconfident then say so.

Salazars 10k pr. when he ran and won his first marathon in 2:09 was right around 28 minutes. Culpeppers 10k pr is about the same as Ritz's and he debuted in 2:09. It is very realistic to think that Ritz can run at least that fast. I read the article too and don't think he sounds over confident. I like the part when he says he considers himself a distance runner and is not giving up on the track. Reminds me of Steve Jones.

ttc wrote:

If you think it's necessary for an athlete to be overconfident, then say so, because Ritz sure seems that way. He's never touched even a half-marathon and has focused on the marathon for only a few months.

Again, you are offering your thesis as proof that your thesis true. I've read that article a third time now, and I cannot find where any resonable person could come to the conclusion that Ritzenhein is over-confident. His feet are firmly on the ground.

I agree with malmo about 66% of the time, including this one.

"Dathan Ritzenhein: Well, as of right now, everything's gone so well and we think that our preparation has been such that we can go out with the leaders if we decide to do that and it wouldn't be a mistake. I'm in a race, the Great North Run, on October 1 in Newcastle in England (a half-marathon) and Paul Tergat, (Hendrick) Ramaala, and (Stefano) Baldini will all be there. And so I'll be able to stack up against them in a half-marathon five weeks before the marathon. And so if I can run fairly close to them in that, then I think it's definitely conceivable that I would be able to go out with them in the marathon in November."

Not cocky, and he's using the Great North Run as a test. That's just smart preparation. He even qualified his plan with the word "if."

You guys are just lame. Stop being that way.

i think the problem is that the original poster seems to think that the great north run is the new york marathon. he's testing a racing plan at his warm-up half marathon. that's what you're supposed to do.

This is an interesting thread, on perceptions.

My perception of Ritz (again, big fan) in this interview was that he lacked any of that "Woah it's a big long tough race, and anything can happen, and I just want to shoot for a sub 2:1x and if I feel good after 2x miles I'd like to let it rip but so many talented runners have been so humbled by the marathon I just want to get this first one out of the way to see what it's about for me." He kinda says something like that but not exactly.

He isn't coming across as cocky per se, he sounds well prepared I guess but we aren't hearing much about what workouts he's been up to. I think he is not giving The Marathon it's due respect in the interview. Most marathoners agree that it's not you versus me for 26.2, it's you & I running shoulder to shoulder, against The Marathon, a beast worthy of frightful respect on a good day and far worse on a bad day.

The other thing was how EASY the marathon training is for him. That's great if so (& look out world if it really is that easy for him), and unusual, but for many people including track stars it's a challenge. He says he is only running 110 mpw. I would have assumed that he would have jacked it up quite a bit from his usual volume (shoot he did around 80+ up to 100 mpw as a high schooler!) That's another perception thing. Most people try to see how many miles they can withstand in marathon training, for fear if they don't. Heck Ritz has been running large volume for so many years already, he's quite like a Tiger Woods and this all may prove to be very easy for him. Perhaps he has no reason to fear the event.

Finally I'll add that it is realistic for him to focus on a 2:10 debut or faster, and a debut AR if there is such a mark, and to focus on some particular individuals to help him get there (Tergat ? Ramaala?). Those kinds of tactics may play out publically between now and then and it is a looong time yet before the NYCM, which I believe is among the very last of the huge fall marathons.

Ritz, there are so many lessons that the marathon teaches us, prepare yourself as well as you can, toe the line and let it rip. I admire your confidence in yourself which will serve you well in the tough patches.

There would only be one main reason why Ritz would "overestimate" his fitness and that would be the immortal and notorious Brad Hudson who at one time declared Ritz to be capable of a sub 2.04 marathon, which, I'm sorry if I offend anyone, is absolutely absurd.

If ritz makes it to the marathon, uninjured, his best chance at succeeding would be to approach it with a realistic goal; running/racing with Tergat and company is NOT realistic, and quite frankly, ridiculous, and somewhat disrespectful to his opponents.

Judging your marathon fitness from a half marathon (which would be his longest road race to date) is setting yourself up for disaster come the new york. There is a huge difference between the two distances, and really not comparable at all.

Hudson is misleading this fine young runner and it's sad.

so let me see... if i can paraphase this.. if he can hang with the big dogs in the half.. then it is possible he can hang with the big dogs in the marathon..

well being his first marathon.. uh no i don't think he's going to hang with the big dogs

he'll be lucky if he finishes around 2:11

seriously

i remember all you guys sucking BK's balls about his first marathon and you know what happened to him..

history will repeat itself..

I think Ritz has a great mindset right now, and the physical preparation seems spot-on from everything I have seen and heard. I have no doubt about the fun he is having now, and the spring in his step on most days. The only question I have is how well Hudson is preparing him for the mental battle ahead when he hits the Park. Ritz and Hudson speak very little about the Mental Game.

and 2:11 would be great for a debut. that's how he should look at this race, not to run with the worlds best