The BIG 3: Only one remains

Longetivity nonetheless, Webb's 3:46 mile and Hall's 58 half-marathon out rank (barely) Ritzenheins 12:56 5000.

2001: A Running Odyssey wrote:

They rewrote the U.S. record books. First Webb, then Hall. When will Ritz's time come? Since Ritz is the last competitor of the big 3 does that make him top of the class?

Class of 2001 US records:

High School Mile

Mile

5000m

1/2 Marathon

Marathon

All 3 are Olympic Qualifiers

All 3 are Boston Qualifiers

I'm glad someone finally pointed out their biggest achievement.

When did Alan Webb BQ?

George Atlas wrote:

... Hall's 58 half-marathon...

When did Hall break 59?

Jerk Store-Mart wrote:

When did Alan Webb BQ?

He didn't. It's the only feather missing in the cap of an otherwise extraordinary life.

jewbacca wrote:

George Atlas wrote:

... Hall's 58 half-marathon...

When did Hall break 59?

He didn't. And just between you and me and Letsrun, I've always thought Ritz's 1:00:00 at the half marathon world champs was more impressive than Hall's 59:43 in Houston.

George Atlas wrote:

Longetivity nonetheless, Webb's 3:46 mile and Hall's 58 half-marathon out rank (barely) Ritzenheins 12:56 5000.

I think Hall's half-marathon is less impressive than Ritz's 12:56. Webb's mile is definitely better though.

interesting the guy running the best currently was also the most injury-plagued during his early career. a case for doing less in training to extend career longevity.

pointer out of things wrote:

interesting the guy running the best currently was also the most injury-plagued during his early career. a case for doing less in training to extend career longevity.

Sample size matters.

pointer out of things wrote:

interesting the guy running the best currently was also the most injury-plagued during his early career. a case for doing less in training to extend career longevity.

Hall was injury-plagued too, he just ran through everything and wrecked his body. Ritz was SMART about taking care of stuff, that's why he's still fast. That and he's actually got a level head, unlike the other two...

Ryan Hall did not set the marathon record because Boston was aided. If you are going to count that, then you cannot count his half marathon since another American runner ran faster on an aided course.

brogan1 wrote:

Ryan Hall did not set the marathon record because Boston was aided. If you are going to count that, then you cannot count his half marathon since another American runner ran faster on an aided course.

Ryan Hall will have his cake and eat it too!

adsfdsfadsfds wrote:

Ritz was SMART about taking care of stuff, that's why he's still fast. That and he's actually got a level head, unlike the other two...

Ritz is considered still fast? What has he done recently that makes him fast and faster than Webb and Hall? Seems like all 3 are so slow that they all equally suck.

flent wrote:

George Atlas wrote:

Longetivity nonetheless, Webb's 3:46 mile and Hall's 58 half-marathon out rank (barely) Ritzenheins 12:56 5000.

I think Hall's half-marathon is less impressive than Ritz's 12:56. Webb's mile is definitely better though.

Ritz's 5000 was the,best performance of the three. Webb's mile was in an unimportant race in Bumf****.

malmo wrote:

flent wrote:

I think Hall's half-marathon is less impressive than Ritz's 12:56. Webb's mile is definitely better though.

Ritz's 5000 was the,best performance of the three. Webb's mile was in an unimportant race in Bumf****.

8th fastest in history vs finished 3rd in a record time broken several months later

reader of the forums wrote:

malmo wrote:

Ritz's 5000 was the,best performance of the three. Webb's mile was in an unimportant race in Bumf****.

8th fastest in history vs finished 3rd in a record time broken several months later

3rd place in Zurich is far better than winning in Hooter illegal. Ritz run in Zurich was electric. Webb's Golden League 1500 wins were better than his 3:46. Webb' brilliant run at the 2004 trials was better too.

malmo wrote:

reader of the forums wrote:

8th fastest in history vs finished 3rd in a record time broken several months later

3rd place in Zurich is far better than winning in Hooter illegal. Ritz run in Zurich was electric. Webb's Golden League 1500 wins were better than his 3:46. Webb' brilliant run at the 2004 trials was better too.

People finish 3rd in Zurich every year. A 3:46 mile is very rare.

flent wrote:

George Atlas wrote:

Longetivity nonetheless, Webb's 3:46 mile and Hall's 58 half-marathon out rank (barely) Ritzenheins 12:56 5000.

I think Hall's half-marathon is less impressive than Ritz's 12:56. Webb's mile is definitely better though.

Anyone who watched ritz's 60:00 knows it's the more impressive performance. That course was not flat, and the weather was not good at all (windy, raining). The fact that it was in a championship race makes it even sweeter. One second off silver to Bernard Kipyego who nipped him at the line too, which kinda sucked, but Kipyego is a hell of a runner.

Ritz 60 more impressive than Hall 59, sorry, quoted wrong post.