Ritz should run a fall marathon

Sagarin wrote:

and is now with a coach that extols the virtue of being "within mere weeks" of being able to run either a good 10k or marathon.

BUT, this coach has not had success coaching marathons. As a matter of fact he has NEVER coached any athlete that could claim that their best performance was in the marathon. Meaning that EVERY Alberto coached athlete has underachieved in the marathon by every single equivelancy standard. THAT IS A FACT.

Ritz could also pull in some big bucks in appearance fees after his recent results.

I guess what I am saying is that Ritz is going to have no choice but to run two marathons within about 10 months between 2011 and 2012, insomuch as that's where his focus for the Olympics will be. So, unless that changes, I'd rather he run one NOW while he his fit and not injured, then take a LONG break before the surge up to 2012, as opposed to running them in 2010, 2011, and 2012 (and possibly another one in there if he decides to run London or Boston during one of the springs for some appearance $$$).

BTW, I'd have to say that Kara Goucher's debut and Boston effort were pretty successful, and Dan Browne's Olympic appearance was another example, so I don't know how you can totally denigrate Salazar in this regard.

He should not run a fall marathon and he doesn't want to. Leave the guy alone. Just hope he does well in the World Half and let him have another track season next year. There's plenty of time left for marathons, and for making money.

No way. Per Ritz's blog, he is exhausted and needs recovery.

Besides, running a fall marathon or making money on the road is exactly what has hurt Americans in the past. Most guys like Ritze are not even under the college structure anymore but they still choose to make all year a racing season using your type of thinking.

I say recovery for a couple of weeks and let the 12:56 soak in and actually enjoy it... and then get on the aerobic base. I don't want to see his name in race results until track season. Make spring/summer 2010 even better...That's my opinion.

Yanqui wrote:

He should not run a fall marathon and he doesn't want to. Leave the guy alone. Just hope he does well in the World Half and let him have another track season next year. There's plenty of time left for marathons, and for making money.

That was my original inclination, and would still be IF I could be certain that he wasn't planning to run a fall or spring marathon NEXT year. If he plans to just stay on the track, maybe run some cross or intermediate road distances, then fine.

1998 wrote:

No way. Per Ritz's blog, he is exhausted and needs recovery.

Besides, running a fall marathon or making money on the road is exactly what has hurt Americans in the past. Most guys like Ritze are not even under the college structure anymore but they still choose to make all year a racing season using your type of thinking.

I say recovery for a couple of weeks and let the 12:56 soak in and actually enjoy it... and then get on the aerobic base. I don't want to see his name in race results until track season. Make spring/summer 2010 even better...That's my opinion.

Well, you are aware that he is going to run the World Champs half in England about five weeks, right? So rest isn't in the immediate future. Again, if track, and not the marathon, is his focus in 2010, then fine, we are on the same page. BUT, if he decides to run a fall 2010 marathon, then, personally, I think he'll be setting himself up for some "staleness" leading into 2011/2012.

Dan's Olympic performance was a 2:27. I think maybe you mean is 2:11 plus at Twin Cities 4 weeks after joining NOP. I don't think that is anywhere near his 13:16 he ran 3 weeks before the 2004 Olympic Games. How did that fitness transfer to the marathon? He then came back and ran another 2:25 in New York just to prove that the Olympics wasn't a fluke.

Kara ran a 66 minute half marathon. I will check the tables and tell you what she should be able to run in the marathon. You can then tell me if she has been better prepared for a marathon or some other distance.

66:57 for a half marathon is equivelant to 2:21:03.

Kara has been no where near that. And the sad part is that she is one of his success stories in the marathon.

AND THAT IS A FACT.

But, New York tends to be "slowish" anyway, and weather conditions are highly variable. Kara ran 2:25 for third in her debut at New York, which is probably worth a 2:23 in London or somewhere else. Tactically, the Boston race was a slow affair from the get-go (though her World Champs performance left something to be desired). As for Browne, you make a good point, but he DID make the OLYMPIC team, and Athens was horrendous conditions for athletes not accustomed/adapted for hot/humid conditions. Too many intangibles to make these comparisons.

So what if Ritz finally runs his 2:06 or 2:07 under Salazar? What then, because his track times certainly translate to faster than 2:10:00?

Kara debuted in NYC, which is not a fast course, and then was in a tactical race in Boston. And she was ill or in some way indisposed in Berlin. Get her in London or Chicago or Amsterdam on a good day, you'd see something close to that 2:21. But...probably not now, if baby plans go well.

Moreover, Ritz has run no faster than 1:01:30ish under Brad (I'm going from memory). What if he runs 1:00 or, say it isn't so, sub-1:00 in five weeks? Not the marathon to be sure, but a step in the right direction. The jury is still out.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THOSE ARE THE SUCCESS STORIES.

Phillemon Hanneck

Chad Johnson

Mike Donnelly

Dave Davis

and several others.

Sagarin wrote:

Moreover, Ritz has run no faster than 1:01:30ish under Brad (I'm going from memory). What if he runs 1:00 or, say it isn't so, sub-1:00 in five weeks? Not the marathon to be sure, but a step in the right direction. The jury is still out.

... for the half obviously.

here we go again wrote:

KEEP IN MIND THAT THOSE ARE THE SUCCESS STORIES.

Phillemon Hanneck

Chad Johnson

Mike Donnelly

Dave Davis

and several others.

The Oregon Project got away from the marathon for good reason. They are doing great things on the track. Please AlSal, do not return what you don't know.

here we go again wrote:

KEEP IN MIND THAT THOSE ARE THE SUCCESS STORIES.

Phillemon Hanneck

Chad Johnson

Mike Donnelly

Dave Davis

and several others.

Well, whatever, Terrance Mahon has Ryan Hall and Deena (Joe Vigil proteges) and nobody else. The Hansons have Brian Sell and nobody else. There is always "roadkill" in any group.

Ryan Hall has only had one post collegiate coach. Never Vigil.

You present an excellent point though. Mahon has at leat 2 athletes that BEST EVENT has been the marathon. I don't know how many the Hansons have had but you pointed out 1.

SALAZAR IS STILL STANDING AT ZERO.

With very rare exception--Baldini comes to mind--to run a very fast marathon, one has to be able to run a very fast 10000 and/or a very fast half marathon (under one hour). Being able to run fast at one of those two is not a sufficient condition to be able to run a fast marathon, but it is a necessary condition, or very close to it. Under Hudson, Ritz ran three halves (counting Great North) between 61:26 and 61:38. Assuming the usual caveats--no injury, good weather, etc.--I'd be extremely surprised if he doesn't run sub 60:30 in at the Worlds, and I would not be surprised to see sub 60.

But Ryan Hall's coach was handed the reigns from Vigil essentially. I see Kara and Dan Browne as a success. You don't. At one time, Salazar held the AR in the marathon. I think he knows a thing or two about the distance (in fact, even adjusting for the 200 meters "short NYC course, he's still the fastest American after Hall and African-born Khannouchi (faster than Rodgers and Shorter ever were). It's not like he was handed a Deena or a Hall. Let's just see what he does with Rupp, Ritz, and Kara in the ensuing years...