2012 Olympics in London - Help or hurt our marathoners??

ttc wrote:

I do get the feeling Ritz will be a top guy for a long time. No real facts why, just gut feeling. But even if Hall is still in top form, I think Ritz will beat him in most world championship/Olympic type settings.

Point being that, Ritz will be best served by a tough course testing attrition, instead of a fast one where the Africans potentially run 2:05 or faster.

ttc - it's a different course since it will finish in the East End.

http://www.london2012.com/news/media-releases/bid-phase/london-2012-olympic-marathon-route-to-feature-much-loved.php

Cheers - AC

Neither.

Like Goucher, Ritz doesn't have the mental tools to do that well in the marathon.

hardset nipples wrote:

Neither.

Like Goucher, Ritz doesn't have the mental tools to do that well in the marathon.

This is an ignorant comment. Neither Goucher or Ritz have a problem with psychology. They have both had significant fueling problems over the marathon distance, it's never been an issue of being weak-minded. Can you give an example of why you think 'mental tools' are lacking?

Counterproductive strategy that went against what their coaches had stated was advised.

hardset nipples wrote:

Neither.

Like Goucher, Ritz doesn't have the mental tools to do that well in the marathon.

Yea, he only overachieved to a top 10 finish in '08, beating Hall. It wasn't because he was fast, but instead tough.

And nowhere near the medal hunt after the first 5K. I don't care that he beat Hall in Beijing, doesn't really mean a thing.

Rita pointed out that the first 5k that he blasted @ London was downhill, which accounts for what appeared to be an extremely fast time. He was in the second group, and didn't consider the fast opening 5k to have affected his race.

Kara ran 3 seconds per mile faster at the Chicago Half than the range that was given by Alberto to the press. She was clearly within herself at the finish, recovered well, and opened the WC with 29K of 2:26 pace racing within several seconds of the leaders before having GI issues due to the warm conditions, and fading due to a lack of fuel.

First, show me where Hudson stated what time Ritz should have run his first 5K. Second, explain to me how Kara running 3 seconds per mile faster than the low end of what Alberto suggested to the press makes any difference at all as to her 'mental' game.

You make a poor argument.

Once again the world championship proved that speed reigns at the elite level. Bekele outkicked Bernard Lagat--the 1500 Bronze medalist--for the 5k win and, moreover, Bekele best event is the 10k.

Any US marathon hopeful should be working on their 5/10k speed the next few years. Teg should have long moved up to the 10k which he apparently doesn't run and Webb might be our only hope for a 5k medal.

I hope that the next couple years of American Distance running are about speed, PR's and American records on the track.

Goucher in NYC 2008 and Ritz in NYC 2006. Ritz's opening 5K in London 2009 did affect his race, whether he considers that or not. Hudson did say that Ritz went out faster than he'd told him to. I know I saw it somewhere, maybe on Flotrack.

Neither, there's a unknown runner from the usa not named Hall and Ritz etc. who will challenge at the 2012 games in the long race...

Option D wrote:

Neither, there's a unknown runner from the usa not named Hall and Ritz etc. who will challenge at the 2012 games in the long race...

That I'd agree with.

ttc wrote:

I'm going to say 'hurt' (assuming it'll be similarly fast as the normal London course).

Whatever Hall or Rupp (on the track) have done, Ritz has proven to be our best 10K and up racer. He's our best shot at a medal at those distances. If the marathon took place on a hilly course, I'd actually give Ritz a great shot at medal'ing. He still has a shot, especially given his 6th place 10K.

Regarding Hall, he's been running very fast road races for 2 years. Is he going to be the same 2:06 type marathoner in another 3 years?? It's a fair question for anyone. I do get the feeling Ritz will be a top guy for a long time. No real facts why, just gut feeling. But even if Hall is still in top form, I think Ritz will beat him in most world championship/Olympic type settings.

Dude, you are crazy. Last time I checked, hall has Ritz by about 4 min in the marathon, and 2:30 in the half. Ritz peaking vs Hall peaking, on a course like london will be, results in Ritz getting destroyed. I am a huge DR fan, being he is a fellow Michigan guy, but Hall will put his hand in the fire, go with the pace, whatever the pace. He is getting so close to winning a big one, it is just dialing in the training. Ritz may be a better track guy, but not by much, and Hall has durability........And God.......ha ha..

Ritz will end with a lifetime pr of about 2:08:xx hall will end up 2:05:20-30