Who has better resume - Dathan Ritz or Bill Rogers?

Ritz should now take a page from Bill's book and actually race, a lot.

Don't hole up for months on end and then pop out and run one good race and sh*t the bed in another and then retreat for another half year or so.

People will respect him more and he'll actually end up running a number of exceptional races even if he still bombs a few out of dozens.

It's time for Americans to become road wh'res again. Of course they are worried about some C level Kenyan fighting them for the win but that's just the way things are in the talent spectrum.

Instead they kid themselves that they are above that level and need to save themselves for the big stage. Only Rupp is good enough for that.

Not even close. Boston Billy all the way.Bill was king of the roads during a running boom. He had to run everywhere to make a living and did so at a high level. Trained with him a few times and he was a beast. 140 miles a week and a race on Saturday that was the routine. It is laughable how things have changed outside of Rupp todays American marathon hopefuls would not last a week with Rogers ,Shorter,Meyers,Fleming etc.Dathan is a nice guy caught up in the existential crises of American marathon runners. I miss buddy Edelen.

Not even close. Boston Billy all the way.Bill was king of the roads during a running boom. He had to run everywhere to make a living and did so at a high level. Trained with him a few times and he was a beast. 140 miles a week and a race on Saturday that was the routine. It is laughable how things have changed outside of Rupp todays American marathon hopefuls would not last a week with Rogers ,Shorter,Meyers,Fleming etc.Dathan is a nice guy caught up in the existential crises of American marathon runners. I miss buddy Edelen.

Ritz is a fine runner. Rupp is a great runner. Rodgers is a founding father.

We can compare Ritz v Rupp. But Rodgers is in another time and league - and incomparable. Just as Washington and Jefferson (founding fathers, for you all from Rio Lindo) who are also incomparable to today's presidents.

Polly Plumper wrote:

Simple Q.

Dathan, but then I have no idea who Bill Rogers is.

Now if you me Bill Rodgers, then Bill.

People who had no interest in running knew who Bill Rodgers was.

No one that doesn't follow the sport knows who Dathan is.

Good point about Bill's hammy in 1976.

What I don't see mentioned anywhere is that his best shot at an Olympic medal would probably have been at Moscow in 1980.

We all know how that turned out...

I love Bill Rodgers, but he competed way before the African dominance that prevents Ritz from being a household name. 3 time Olympian has to weigh a ton. This debate is way tighter than most of you are making it sound. Rodgers by a split decision?

Founding Fathers

Buddy Edelen

Frank Shorter

Bill Rodgers

Alberto Salazar

The Resistance

Khalid Khannouchi

Meb Keflezighi

Ryan Hall

Dathan Ritzenhein

Utopia

Galen Rupp

Wallproof wrote:

I would submit that Rodgers wasn't injury free- he bombed at Montreal with a hamstring injury finishing 40 th.

GR has a long way to go before he passes BR IMO- 4 NYC,4 Bostons, 1 Fukuoka ( when it was considered a world class race) > 2 Olympic medals.

Rupp will compete at Majors but does he have it to actually win repeatedly?

I would say Yes. If Rupp can win, not just place well, but WIN a major marathon he'll be right up there with the all time greats Alberto, Rodgers, etc.

It's the hole in his resume, but then he's getting a decent pay day from Nike, so he doesn't have the financial need to HAVE to hit the road race scene like they did.

When ever he does make his debut it will fun to watch.

48 respects both wrote:

I love Bill Rodgers, but he competed way before the African dominance that prevents Ritz from being a household name. 3 time Olympian has to weigh a ton. This debate is way tighter than most of you are making it sound. Rodgers by a split decision?

According to those in the know Henry Rono was equal to any African running today and Bill took Henry down to the wire in an epic half marathon in the heat.

Maybe this reflects my track bias, but I'd take Ritz's career over Rodgers' by a long shot. Obviously Rodgers was a far better marathon racer though. I wish Ritz hadn't kept trying to be a good marathoner all these years and had just gone all in on XC and 5k - half marathon road races.

No question Bill Rodgers. 4X NYC and Boston winner. 1 time Fukuoka Champion. 76 Olympian. Numerous American Road records in addition to the 25K and 30K track records. Count less road race victories in many many different years. Not even close.

I think he was still carrying the kitchen sink the last few miles.