Ritz just pr'd in the 200m! He's gonna win Gold!

Full interview here: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/08/01/brief-chat-dathan-ritzenhein-ready-to-roll/

There are actually two interviews there. The first one (print) just took place--I think yesterday. At the bottom of the page there is what appears to be just a photo of Ritz, but it is a fifteen minute video with him done the day after the Olympic Trials. Both are very interesting and worth the time.

bouyahz wrote:

Full interview here:

http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/08/01/brief-chat-dathan-ritzenhein-ready-to-roll/

I was hoping Amby would bring up his suggestion that Ritz should be running no more than 40 miles per week. I'd love to hear how that went over. Perhaps it's a conversation that's more appropriate to have with Alberto. I'm sure he'd be all ears.

Thanks. This is incredibly interesting stuff. Runs 12:56/8:11(2mi) but can't break 26/54.

DR: I've almost PR'd in the 400 five times in the last couple of weeks. I ran a flat-out 54 when I was in high school, and I've hit as low as 54.2 in practice at the end of recent workouts. And I actually did set a PR for 200--26.0.

This really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

That's why he's a distance runner. They're people too slow to do anything else. If he could do 48, he could be mid distance. The times listed are more like high school level. And that's what long distance runners are. They're not athletes. They're the absence of athletes. My oldest stepson, no scholarship opportunities, a walk-on in college, ran a 54 in high school.

Too boring to watch people that slow.

Coach D wrote:

That's why he's a distance runner. They're people too slow to do anything else. If he could do 48, he could be mid distance. The times listed are more like high school level. And that's what long distance runners are. They're not athletes. They're the absence of athletes. My oldest stepson, no scholarship opportunities, a walk-on in college, ran a 54 in high school.

Too boring to watch people that slow.

Exactly. If you can't run 100 m in under 10 seconds, why run at all? I think there should only be one running event: the 10 meter dash. Any distance higher than that only caters for the slow, the nonathletes.

kanny wrote:

Thanks. This is incredibly interesting stuff. Runs 12:56/8:11(2mi) but can't break 26/54.

DR: I've almost PR'd in the 400 five times in the last couple of weeks. I ran a flat-out 54 when I was in high school, and I've hit as low as 54.2 in practice at the end of recent workouts. And I actually did set a PR for 200--26.0.

54.2 at the END of a workout means that he is much faster than 54.2

orbitboy wrote:

I was hoping Amby would bring up his suggestion that Ritz should be running no more than 40 miles per week. I'd love to hear how that went over. Perhaps it's a conversation that's more appropriate to have with Alberto. I'm sure he'd be all ears.

What are you talking about?

I was a sub 50 4X400 guy in high school, but in college I knew I was fit when I could run 12X400 with the last being under 55. I considered myself a sit and kick college runner and was very lucky to run 53 high at the END of a workout. So for Ritz to be running 54 at the end, he might be able to bust a :50 all out.

>> What are you talking about?

http://footloose.runnersworld.com/2009/08/aug-30-yo-dathan-and-alberto-ive-got-a-new-training-plan-for-you.html

james kw wrote:

>> What are you talking about?

http://footloose.runnersworld.com/2009/08/aug-30-yo-dathan-and-alberto-ive-got-a-new-training-plan-for-you.html

After reading those comments at the bottom I feel like he probably did this just to see how bent out of shape people can get.

I have considered myself slow, but I am faster thank Datahn Ritz WTF ?!

Actions silence words.

Typical letsrun thread underestimating the speed of distance guys. He could run at least 52 for 400

CC wrote:

Typical letsrun thread underestimating the speed of distance guys. He could run at least 52 for 400

Yes as Dathan said, 54.2 at the END of his workout. Not only was it at the end, it still probably wasn't all out.

Wish I hadn't read this. Sad to see on of my favorite old school runners, Amby, go the way of Galloway. Burfoot's training referenced in Joe Henderson's Long Slow Distance has been my inspiration and model training plan (though I am much slower than Amby) for years.I know RW is for newbies, and I'm fine with newbie training plans. But trying to upsell them as if they work for elites is dishonest.-----"At the time of his Boston victory, Amby wrote, "My basic distance training is always quite similar, varying with the seasons and climatic conditions. I train either twice a day, approximately 2 x 10 miles, or take one 15- to 17-mile run. Running is usually done at 6:45 to 7:15 pace, depending on the weather and how I feel."In regard to longest runs, he reportedly took several 35- to 38-milers before going to Japan last fall. The long, slow miles make up well over 90 percent of Burfoot's training. What "speed work" he does, he said, is "usually fartlek on grass. I do not enjoy running on the track."-----

james kw wrote:

>> What are you talking about?

http://footloose.runnersworld.com/2009/08/aug-30-yo-dathan-and-alberto-ive-got-a-new-training-plan-for-you.html

I still remember J. Ryun talking about his 1964 Olympic roommate, B. Mills. Mills came in from an early practice in Tokyo saying "Jim, I had my fastest 220 today! It was a 25!"

So there's a bit of precedent for a guy doing fairly well in a 10,000m race after PRing the 200 shortly before...

JackPacage wrote:

I have considered myself slow, but I am faster thank Datahn Ritz WTF ?!

No your not