I was surprised to read that the Letsrun founders don't want Ritz to stick to running on the track for awhile. I've always had the sense that the only people who watch marathons are friends and families of the runners and joggers participating in the races.
I'm as annoyed as anyone when NBC cuts away from a 5000 meter race on the track, but the marathon is another story. I can count on one hand the number of marathons I've watched that I found exciting for even a few minutes -- and I can't think of a single one that I enjoyed more than an average track meet. Give me the Arcadia 3200 over the London Marathon any day.
So here's hoping that Ritz sticks to the track as long as he can be competitive. I couldn't disagree more about the founders' comment that a white American (male, I assume) is unlikely to medal in the 5000 or 10,000 in their lifetimes. I think it will happen before a white American places in the top three in the London or Berlin marathons. And when it does, it will be a hell of a lot more fun to watch.