Ritzenhein told to only run A Standard in Hengelo

Hengelo website says 17:53 start for the men's 10,000. That is just before noon Eastern time.

52.43 wrote:

Why burn what is in the tank?...

In that case, maybe he should take the next 2 weeks off.

Why burn what is in the tank?

Does anyone else think that this actually looks like it could be a good race to target 27:30-27:45? As some folks have mentioned, it's a Trials race, so it may get strategic. But strategic for 26:40-26:55 guys is 13:45-13:55 through 5000m. A couple laps after that the real racing starts, and if Ritz (and Moran) can just hold pace, they'll have a bunch of guys who are shot out the back from 6k or 7k on to chase down.

There's that, and there's also the fact that there may be a several-runner second pack that's just targeting the A standard, consisting of guys like Juan Luis Barrios, Thomas Ayeko, and Teklamariam Medhin (in addition to the two Americans). I predict Ritz gets the standard by 4-10 seconds and finishes somewhere around 7th. Moran's gonna be close, a 1-3 places back.

I then hope he then scratches from Pre, and targets a 3000m-5000m (I have no idea where) a couple weeks later as his last Trials tune-up. I worry about Ritz racing a total of 20,000m on the track this close together. We all know how fragile he is.

I hope the best, that Ritz runs around 27:30-40 and remains healthy enough to make the Olympic team, and the finals.

What does running faster accomplish?

luv2run wrote:

What does running faster accomplish?

Brother, I wish I knew.

luv2run wrote:

What does running faster accomplish?

Nothing actually, except a confidence boost that he's getting closer to a training partner who's run 26:48 and likely will be in 26:30ish shape this year. Ritz just needs to keep his eye on staying healthy. The sharpness will come. He's got the base. On the other hand, I'm surprised Salazar couldn't engineer a separate all-comer's 10,000 at Pre and have Rupp and Farah pace Ritz to the standard.

luv2run wrote:

What does running faster accomplish?

Much-needed confidence, obviously.

I agree and said as much in another thread. In fact, although Begley got the Olympic standard in 2008 at the Trials, didn't she need the Trials standard earlier, and Salazar set up a race for her to get it. Traveling to Europe for one race isn't what I would could optimum. But also, a Trials race (Ethiopian in this case) isn't prima facie ideal for a good pace. However, I think Geb knows the only way he wins is to run 27 or sub, and for this reason I think he'll make the pace. Ritz, on the other hand, will aim at 13:50 and be prepared to make the pace himself, or maybe even Barrios, Moran, and Ritz will plan to share pacing to run the standard together.

Sagarin wrote:

luv2run wrote:

What does running faster accomplish?

Nothing actually, except a confidence boost that he's getting closer to a training partner who's run 26:48 and likely will be in 26:30ish shape this year. Ritz just needs to keep his eye on staying healthy. The sharpness will come. He's got the base. On the other hand, I'm surprised Salazar couldn't engineer a separate all-comer's 10,000 at Pre and have Rupp and Farah pace Ritz to the standard.

yeah i think i said 1:53 eastern in my post. It's at 11:53 am eastern for the 10k. meet starts at 10 am

I think Salazar wants Rupp to get a confidence boost by racing the 5,000 at Pre, he's due for a pretty big PR. It's more or less a done deal that Rupp will make the 10K Olympic team, but 5k is a little less certain (though still very likely). Plus Farah (defending world champion) hasn't raced a high-level 5,000 yet this year either.

I would like to see both of them get in a fast 10K before the games though, are there any?

I don't think that Rupp and Farah need to play pacemaker for Ritz a second time in a row. Salazar doesn't need to worry about Ritz taking down Rupp's 10k record. Even if he does it (and he is not in his 12:56 shape yet), Rupp looks ready to take a good deal of time off of his pr's this year, as he did at Oxy in the 1500m (4.5 seconds, I think). Ritz could get injured at any time, as is always the case for him. He has the 6th fastest seed time and with Ethiopians gunning for 1 or 2 spots at most, they are going to go hard the whole way. No sit and kick for them at Hengelo with money and the Olympic spot to be had. Those who can't stick will drop and Ritz will move up as he did in his 12:56 race, by targeting stragglers. I see a sub 27:20.

Related to american college this year kids that might be running in the US trials only one has run under 28 minutes that would have relevance to Ritz. One other non us collegian has broke 28 this as well , makes two total. Correct me if Im wrong ( not sure about this weekend if anybody has ? )

Agreed.

I think he will do as he has done before in Europe , play it cool and on pace for his a standard. If he feels good and is on pace he will pick it up over the last couple of laps. There will be lots of guys at different paces to run with. A big group focused on the a standard for sure.

I heard it was talked about , but they wanted race experience to bust some rust.

If the time is where they think it should be , no 10k until the trials.

He's a competitor and I can't see him just taking it easy for the standard when he's travelling a long way and there aren't many top level fast 10k's every year.

Black Mamba wrote:

It looks like Alberto has told Dathan to just run the A standard in the Hengelo 10,000 this weekend.

The wussification of America continues. No Kenyan or Ethiopian would ever do this.

Let's see Rupp, Webb, Ritz, Hall, Sol, Teg, Lagat.

Lagat ran for Kenya and does not count. Teg should be honored but is getting old and slower, Sol wants to be a coach and he will be a great one, Hall will compete for the marathon for the last time, Ritz has one last go, Webb has one last go, and Rupp will have an 8 year career from here.

27:45 is a road time nowadays! Mutai ran 27:41 today in Ottawa (Canada) with little hills on the course!