Ryan Hall to Skip USXC Nationals to Focus on London

With all the money they stole from NYRR they've been able to go to Eugene, so why didn't they just go to Flag or ABQ to prep for this race? They've not on a high school or college team anymore, it's time they started acting like it.

Both those towns are under a ton of snow right now. You're dumb and you probably didn't think before you posted.

Abq is 48' dry & sunny. Had snow problems for about 5 days from the biggest storm in 50 years. Still a better place to train than most.

A lot of athletes have done World Cross and a spring marathon. US Nationals certainly will not affect his training and Hall is probably going to run a tune up a couple of weeks out from London, why not make the World Cross 12K that tune up.

I would place getting a team medal for your country over a personal goal of a top 10 finish at London. Taking nothing away from Hall's incredible half, but that London field is so stacked that Hall's projected 2:08 will put him 3 minutes behind the leaders. London this year is probably not the ideal place to debut.

This sounds like an agent decision; I wonder if Ray Flynn would have made the same decision if the Irish national team had a chance at World Cross team medal. I know I probably should not have went there, but I can't hide my disappointment. (I am really-really disappointed.)

I hope no one else defects; unfortunately, I can see it coming. There is definitely a resurgence is US distance running and no matter what place Hall gets in London, unless he wins or is a close contender he will have passed up the opportunity to upgrade America‘s prestige and inspire our youth. Finishing 7 or 8th in London would be a great personal achievement, but it will not capture any media attention or register with our youth. The one thing I admire about the Ethiopians is they place national goals over personal goals. --I wish him well in London.

Mandingo wrote:

trackstar12 wrote:

He's afraid of Ritz.

after watching Hall in the half video I seriously doubt he is afraid of anyone on the planet. He may not the fastest in the world but there is nobody he couldn't challenge in a distance race.

True. On the other hand, I'm certain Ritz isn't afraid of Hall either -- not at any distance, but ESPECIALLY not on a CC course. Was looking forward to this matchup. I think Ritz would run well with or without Hall in the race. Just because someone runs a stellar race doesn't mean they won't ever be beaten again. Doesn't mean Hall has reached a new level from whre he can't fall and doesn't mean that others can also reach a new level.

I pick Ritz to win.

ABQ is NOT under a "ton of snow" right now. Looks like you're the dumbass here.

Yeah, our youth will be glued to the tv for World XC won't they?

Going to Kenya for 1-2 weeks before London will not be good for London. Hall has made a choice based on his strengths / future....

no way Ritz would be Hall right now. Ritz is lucky Hall has pulled out. It's as simple as that. But granted, I doubt Ritz was too worried; his coach was probably even more sleepless at night than he naturally is. Ritz isn't worried but should be.

I think Ritz is due for a huge year. Extended strength training to go with his 5K track PR. I've always thought that, more than Webb or Hall, Ritz had "it". Now he's got some real, non-injured training to go with it.

ncaa runner wrote:

horrible choice to skip xc nats.

Yes, there's no reason why US xc nationals couldn't be incorporated or at least easily accommodated in marathon prep. Hall could friggin' tempo xc nationals and be in the lead pack.

He made the right decision. His goal race for the first half of 2007 is the London Marathon and it needs his singular focus. Ryan obviously sees himself as a half/full marathon specialist at this point, so why risk an injury in the snow when he could do a steady 20 miles on the roads and get one day closer to London.

Sure he could probably spread eagle the field at XC nats but the fact that he is holding back is a sign of good management and good focus on his goal race.

lohalloran wrote:

He made the right decision. His goal race for the first half of 2007 is the London Marathon and it needs his singular focus. Ryan obviously sees himself as a half/full marathon specialist at this point, so why risk an injury in the snow when he could do a steady 20 miles on the roads and get one day closer to London.

Sure he could probably spread eagle the field at XC nats but the fact that he is holding back is a sign of good management and good focus on his goal race.

Thing is, Hall's doing a Cardinal Track 10K only 3 weeks before the marathon. To me, that would be much harder on the legs versus a XC 12K.

In the early '70s Frank Shorter used to win U.S. Nationals in XC at the end of November and a week or two later win the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan (which was, at the time, the most important marathon in the world outside of the Olympics). And in '72 when he won gold in Munich he set an American record in the 10K on the track a week before while finishing 5th - and after running a 10K qualifying heat. So, yes, I'm disappointed Hall hasn't followed Shorter's strategy.

unfortunately, in these days of marathon uber-specialization, you really can't do that anymore and hope to be successful. nurmi, zatopek, viren, even shorter - the days of an athlete dominating across a wide range of distance are pretty much gone. that's why el g in 2004 was so special.

Yea, I think you are right. However, it also looks like he'll be running in the 15k champs in Jacksonville before London:

Tell that to Cabada and Binuzeh.

chuck d wrote:

unfortunately, in these days of marathon uber-specialization, you really can't do that anymore and hope to be successful. nurmi, zatopek, viren, even shorter - the days of an athlete dominating across a wide range of distance are pretty much gone. that's why el g in 2004 was so special.

i'm sorry. i must have missed all those distances those two have been dominating. perhaps you could point me to the results. as far as i can tell, they're in the category of jack of many trades, master of none.

Yes, you must have. I'll allow you to have more time to wrap up what should be quick research.

you sure have low standards for dominance. 2:12, huh. that would dominate women marathoners, i guess.