OK, Here's the BIG question: Can Ritz go under 12:50 for 5K?

personally i dont think he has the wheels, granted I didnt think he had the wheels to crack 13 either

pretty much every sub 12:50 guy to my knowledge has had at least 3:50 mile speed, which Ritz has never shown any indication of (I think hed top out at 3:36 if he really focused on speed for a while, which I dont think he will as the marathons still on his mind)

I do think he could go under 26:50 however, and my whole 1500 analysis is pure speculation so who knows

ARE U HIGH??????????????

I think he can do it.

It is a matter of focus.

It will depend if he and Salazar focus on it, and how reducing his mileage (if they do) would effect such an effort.

Ritz can break 26:50.

He would be better off to focus on that.

Who really cares if he can run sub 12:50. I think the big question should be: Can Ritz make the next big jump to be able to medal at a major championship in the 5k, 10k or marathon?

i'd take a sub 12:50 or 26:50 over any medal besides gold. i think people put too much emphasis on medaling at championship races. let's see an american run f'ing fast. that'd be just as good as any medal.

I think Teg can

No, the BIGGER question is can Ritz dip under 12:54.47

This is what keeps me up at night.

god i hope we dont start taking this mentality

dfasdf wrote:

i'd take a sub 12:50 or 26:50 over any medal besides gold. i think people put too much emphasis on medaling at championship races. let's see an american run f'ing fast. that'd be just as good as any medal.

Dude

You've got it completely backwards. The entire point is to WIN races. Would you rather run a fast PR during the XC season but finish out of the running at the championship race?

satansmouf wrote:

dfasdf wrote:

i'd take a sub 12:50 or 26:50 over any medal besides gold. i think people put too much emphasis on medaling at championship races. let's see an american run f'ing fast. that'd be just as good as any medal.

Dude

You've got it completely backwards. The entire point is to WIN races. Would you rather run a fast PR during the XC season but finish out of the running at the championship race?

I think dfasdf is right to an extent. People will place higher value on a fast time more so than a third place finish at the olympics, which most people will wave off as a fluke or a chance occurrence rather than something that was attained by talent and hard work. In Ritz's case, he'd have a better chance going after a time within his reach such as a 12:53 rather than a championship medal anyways because he lacks the necessary footspeed to place well in a tactical race.

NO, ISN'T THIS THE BIGGEST QUESTION!?

if salazar can do with ritzenhein what he is doing with rupp (improving leg turnover and basic raw speed), then yes i would believe it's possible for ritzenhein to run 12:49 BUT he would ALSO have to build up more strength in addition to greater speed, and i dont know if he has the time left in his prime to do that.

what are the ages of runners when they've run under 12:50? is ritzenhein in that range or is he pretty far outside it?

think of this: would you rather be Nick Willis with his bronze (silver now i guess), or Ritz with his 12:56?

Mileman09 wrote:

I think dfasdf is right to an extent. People will place higher value on a fast time more so than a third place finish at the olympics, which most people will wave off as a fluke or a chance occurrence rather than something that was attained by talent and hard work. In Ritz's case, he'd have a better chance going after a time within his reach such as a 12:53 rather than a championship medal anyways because he lacks the necessary footspeed to place well in a tactical race.

OK, Here's the BIG answer: No.

It depends on how many more adjustments they can make to the "tent." Maybe the guy can live at 18,000' and train below sea level, doing 800s with Alan Webb, in which case, the answer is probably "yes."

Assuming everything is on the "up and up," I'm going to say no. Sub-12:55 would be the goal. I just hope he doesn't get back into his injury cycle, training with fast dudes around him. His marathon base sure didn't hurt him either.

I think the barrier has been broke, Mentally, for these guys to start running faster. Because they believe they can.

Cattle Rancher wrote:

I think he can do it, how bout you?

everybody does, just have to find the right training methods