Teg is still a better 5k runner than Ritz

in terms of CC races, Teg is clearly better.

Uh huh. Like there's been some sort of LAW against Teg running a 12:56 or something?

Teg doesn't run sub 13.

Bored Out of My Mind wrote:

Uh huh. Like there's been some sort of LAW against Teg running a 12:56 or something?

Do even realize that a lot of runners have a goal other than the fastest time possible. You may have heard of it, its called "trying to win a race" or short of that "trying to win a medal". It requires smart racing tactics and very fast closing speed.

Or lets put it this way. If and when Ritz races Lagat, Teg, or even Rupp in the 5K, the latter 3 will be more than happy to have Ritz try to run the pace he ran in Zurich when he was drafting off the East Africans. Their chances of winning the race will be so much the better.

Yeah I "even realize" that. I also realize that in a sub-13:00 race, Ritz was at one point closing to within about 2.2 seconds of Bekele. I don't recall Teg doing that.

This entire thread is completely ridiculous anyway. Teg runs one race, the 5000 (with the occasional 3000). Ritz marathons and 10,000s and in his first serious 50000 in a very long time (I'm not counting Toronto as "serious"), he pulls this off.

Why are we even comparing these two guys anyway?

We're comparing these two guys because one of them won the USATF Champs 5k and the other one set the 5k AR. Ritzenhein alluded to the hopes of trying to beat Bekele at 5k in the future, which obviously tells you that he's not done with the 5k, which means that he and Tegenkamp are going to have to duke it out for 12.5 laps again. Probably multiple times before their done with their running careers.

Bored Out of My Mind wrote:

Yeah I "even realize" that. I also realize that in a sub-13:00 race, Ritz was at one point closing to within about 2.2 seconds of Bekele. I don't recall Teg doing that.

This entire thread is completely ridiculous anyway. Teg runs one race, the 5000 (with the occasional 3000). Ritz marathons and 10,000s and in his first serious 50000 in a very long time (I'm not counting Toronto as "serious"), he pulls this off.

Why are we even comparing these two guys anyway?

To the original poster, the fact that Tegenkamp may have quicker leg turnover doesn't necessarily mean he's a better 5k runner. I would say Tegenkamp has done better in tactical races because he had the leg turnover to cover certain moves and finish fast, but to be honest, after Ritzenhein's last 2 races, I'm not as sure that Tegenkamp's turnover is still better than Ritzenhein's. Ritzenhein's last coach hardly ever had him race anything shorter than 5k, and the one time he did he ran 8:11 for 2 miles, the same time Webb and Goucher ran. Tegenkamp owns it now at 8:07. I think Ritzenhein could probably run 3:35-3:37 right now, but it would still be interesting to see Teg and Ritz duke out a 1500m or 3k together. Hopefully they'll both enter a fast 3k or 5k before the end of their season.

I think we could have 5 American runners under 13 minutes in the next year or two: Lagat, Ritzenhein, Tegenkamp, Rupp, and Webb.

it's input- not imput.

and anytime anyone ends their post with 'you heard it here first' it's begging to be drowned into the background wash of 'you heard it here first'-threads whos only hope it seems is to follow up with the 'i told you so'-thread.

If Tegenkamp is the better 5k runner, then he'll have to prove it. The last time Tegenkamp beat Ritzenhein at 5k was 2007. It's almost 2010. Times are changing.

Bored Out of My Mind wrote:

I also realize that in a sub-13:00 race, Ritz was at one point closing to within about 2.2 seconds of Bekele. I don't recall Teg doing that.

LOL. Can you recall one week ago? Teg ran in a race against Bekele and was well closer than 2.2 seconds to Bekele going into the final turn. Drop the bong get some rest.

If Teg is still a better 5k runner, he needs to prove it. He has the opportunity to do that this week.

Teg has yet to build on his 13:04 and 2007 fourth place finish. He appears to be in pretty good shape this year but his kick disappeared in the WC final.

I'm just the idiot sideline observer, but I think Teg and Solinsky need to race more. Teg probably has a sub-13 in him and Solinsky probably has a 13:05, but they give themselves so few opportunities to get out there and actually do it. I'm hoping Ritz's run gives them a little wake-up call. Running 13:0x every couple years isn't going to make you the best in the country anymore. Especially with some of the young guys we have working their way through the ranks.

LOL, Ryan, no Teg did NOT do what I said a week ago. The key phrase was "in a sub-13:00 race."

Now YOU can drop the bong. Please pay attention next time.

And btw, the Sub 13 minutes is irrelevant so don't argue it. The fact is that the Berlin race wasn't sub 13.00. To win races you have to deal with that. The whole point is that big time races very often don't go fast. Unless Ritz forced it to make it that fast. Again, I'm sure all the runners in the 5K would have been happy for Ritz to run 62 second laps out in front for a mile or two. The question is, could Ritz have run under 57 seconds like Teg did in the last lap in Berlin.

so Teg is better and Ritz is faster

maybe both can live with that

teg is pretty much over the hill. He can do no better than what he is doing now. Its just a basic fact. He will probably do good in the mini average road races but thats all.

Gosh, Ryan, now YOU'RE not making any sense. "The sub 13 minutes is irrevelant?" How do you figure that?

And isn't a little EASIER to run a 57 second last lap to finish in 13:19 or 13:20 than it would be to run 12:56?

backwards wrote:

I'm just the idiot sideline observer, but I think Teg and Solinsky need to race more. Teg probably has a sub-13 in him and Solinsky probably has a 13:05, but they give themselves so few opportunities to get out there and actually do it.

Agreed.

its input

jamaicanmecrazy wrote:

its input

it's it's

It's pretty simple really, Ritz has the faster time so he is faster. I also believe that on any given day Ritz or Teg could beat each other. So it is really a tossup. The only thing I am confident of is that Lagat could beat both of them at 5k. And I am sure most of you would agree with this. Lagat is still the best guy we have right now and I think he will eventually take down the 12:56. And nothing I've said here is meant to bash Ritz, it's awesome he did what he did, I think it will wake a lot of people up and you will start to see some more fast times in the next couple of years.

Lagat is approaching his mid-30s so any speed record is not likely.

Hey People!! Once German Fernandez hooks up with Salazar, he will start breaking all the records. 10,000 on down. Just wait and see.