RITZ IS BACK BABY!!!!

Sagarin wrote:

He's got to hope the WC 10,000 isn't tactical.

Only if he runs a dumb race.

I know you're talking about track, but Ritz did drop a 207 marathon just last fall. That's pretty manly. More manly than a 1309 in my opinion.

J.R. wrote:

Sagarin wrote:

He's got to hope the WC 10,000 isn't tactical.

Only if he runs a dumb race.

I'm referring to running a sub-27:00 in that race. I think it's better than even odds that Ritz runs his 10,000 and marathon lifetime PRs this year, even if he doesn't break 27. If he does well at Moscow, I think it sets him up well for Chicago. Of course, conditions are a huge caveat. 80-degree temps would obviously be a factor.

Uh, there is a chance that the WC10k will go sub-27. It isn't highly likely, but the last time Ritz ran at the WCs it just so happens that three athletes broke 27. It was a negative split which is to be expected -- 13:40 for the first half.

Ritz could be close to a sub-27 in a 10k WC race if it went out in 13:35-40.

2009, Berlin

Position Bib Athlete Country Mark

1 402 Kenenisa Bekele ETH 26:46.31 (CR)

2 347 Zersenay Tadese ERI 26:50.12 (SB)

3 735 Moses Ndiema Masai KEN 26:57.39 (SB)

4 415 Imane Merga ETH 27:15.94 (PB)

5 730 Bernard Kiprop Kipyego KEN 27:18.47 (SB)

6 1221 Dathan Ritzenhein USA 27:22.28 (PB)

I'm not sure why folks fail to remember that of the Big 3 of Webb, Hall, and Ritz, Ritz seems to be the only one who has consistently competed on a high level. Webb and Hall have had incredible careers, with AR's from both. But guess what? So has Ritz; however there is much more company in the 5 and 10 particularly over the last 5-8 years. Here is the issue: Ritz has had several serious injuries that seems to interrupt season after season, but in most seasons in which he suffered a serious setback he either had run fast prior to OR ran fast after. The guy gets in very good shape very fast. Today's race was no surprise to me at all. When Ritz is healthy and can toe the line, he is ALWAYS in the mix. Today was yet another example of that consistency.

Ritz is back? He never left.

From Ritz's Twitter page:Dathan Ritzenhein ‏@djritzenhein 5mThat was a physical race today! I probably spent too much energy pushing around but still happy to be up in it. More speedwork!

Mrr82 wrote:

Montesquieu wrote:

He ran a gutsy race, but I think he's probably kicking himself for not waiting, and then being able to finish stronger. He must have faded pretty badly in the last 50 meters, where three guys--Rupp, Derrick, and Jelian--passed him. Of all the guys in the race who were contenders, the large field and all the bumping hurt him the most, because he doesn't have the speed of anyone else. There's no question that in the right race--good pacing, smaller field, cooler conditions--he can break 13 again.

Def not kicking himself. Had he waited he might have placed lower and ran slower. That's WHY he went early....

What the Heck wrote:

More endurance than Rupp as the distance goes up? OK, now that's funny.

Tell me, which would be a closer race, Ritz vs Rupp in a half or a marathon, or Ritz vs. Rupp in a mile?

crazy raisin wrote:

What the Heck wrote:

More endurance than Rupp as the distance goes up? OK, now that's funny.

Tell me, which would be a closer race, Ritz vs Rupp in a half or a marathon, or Ritz vs. Rupp in a mile?

Based upon your question it would appear that what you originally meant when you wrote "...and with more endurance than both as the distance goes up." was something more along the lines of "is relatively more competitive at longer distances".

But that is not what you wrote. Ritz does NOT have more endurance than Rupp at greater distances.

What the Heck wrote:

crazy raisin wrote:

Tell me, which would be a closer race, Ritz vs Rupp in a half or a marathon, or Ritz vs. Rupp in a mile?

Based upon your question it would appear that what you originally meant when you wrote "...and with more endurance than both as the distance goes up." was something more along the lines of "is relatively more competitive at longer distances".

But that is not what you wrote. Ritz does NOT have more endurance than Rupp at greater distances.

Technically unknown, Ritz has the faster Half PR and Rupp has never run the full.

On another note, as long he gets through this year healthy he could set all his track PRs next year. I think injury has kept some pounding off his legs so he may not be as "old" as he is + NOP is doing a great job with non/lower impact running to maintain health. He could still improve the next few years, and with his talent he might be really scary.

Yes, Ritz looked competitive today, but still lost to 3 other Americans, due to not being able to close faster than 58 or 59. Same thing applies to 1/2 Marathon or Marathon..... He just gets dusted in the last 400-800 meters( depending on the length of the race) Third place is the best he will get in any Major CC or Road competition............no Gold, no Silver!!

So he might time trial to a sub 27 performance, but never on the medal stand in Track!

class of 01, baby wrote:

I thought he was gonna beat Rupp and Lagat to be honest. He looked GREAT out there

Ritz was with Rupp the entire race and the announcers weren't acknowledging Ritz. Ticked me off.

Really happy to see Ritz be in the thick of it all the way into the final 200m, and get the A standard so early in the summer.

I still wish he had run world cross and gotten team gold though.

Last year he raced too often. This year there has been no rush, a long steady base period, and he is fresh and fit. Had he run World cross, there's a chance that course might have led to injury.

wilson next door wrote:

class of 01, baby wrote:

I thought he was gonna beat Rupp and Lagat to be honest. He looked GREAT out there

Ritz was with Rupp the entire race and the announcers weren't acknowledging Ritz. Ticked me off.

Really happy to see Ritz be in the thick of it all the way into the final 200m, and get the A standard so early in the summer.

I still wish he had run world cross and gotten team gold though.

Brianruns10 wrote:

I just wish he could pick a distance and go with it. 5K to 10K to Marathon and back. He can't seem to settle on one and so he does them all reasonably well, but not as well as he could if he just focused full time. I think the 10,000 is where he's gotta knuckle down. A great compromise between his 5K finish speed, and his marathon endurance.

Disagree. Ritz is smart. Contrast his approach to the "pick a distance and go with it" Ryan Hall and his wasted years of marathon training and hit-or-miss results. In 2005 Hall ran his 13:22 5k NCAA title. In 2006 he won USA XC. Then he went to marathon running and never looked back. Hall is 30 and appears stale and spent. Changes coaches, but in reality is only addicted to marathon running. Ryan, if this post ever comes your way...learn from Ritz.

Dathan is also 30, competitive, and facing numerous options at varying distances. Dathan was 2nd at USA XC this year and now he's at 13:09. I reckon it's this potpourri approach that has him running the best he has in years!

"27:22 in the heat"

No excuse when guys are running 26:40s in that very same race

As I recall, when Ritz first joined Salazar it wasn't an/either decision as to running marathon or track in a given year. You can't argue with the financial aspects of running a marathon next year but I wouldn't be surprised Ritz runs track through this year, runs a thon' next spring then returns to the track later in 14'. (Lets say it altogether)...If he stays healthy.

SagariN is an idiot. Ritz will still race well even after Chicago. And he's not that old.

Yes, Ritz looked competitive today, but still lost to 3 other Americans, due to not being able to close faster than 58 or 59. Same thing applies to 1/2 Marathon or Marathon..... He just gets dusted in the last 400-800 meters( depending on the length of the race) Third place is the best he will get in any Major CC or Road competition............no Gold, no Silver!!

So he might time trial to a sub 27 performance, but never on the medal stand in Track![/quote]

This is what people used to say about Rupp. Is it possible Salazar can help a 30 year old Ritz develop a kick as well?

just saw the interviews of ritz and levins.

ritz has marathon plans, sure.

BUT

he's rounding into AR 10k shape. he should give that a go if he keeps progressing. instead of being obligated to the marathon shorlly after the track season, take a month or so off and hit the marathon rested. i think ritz should even take a shot at the half record before his next marathon.

how about being 5, 10 and half marathon AR record holder?

levins seems mystified about his breathing problems.

he did the big no no (the super long season) ran the college season, then went to the olympics sick and still placed well. this season he should keep it going but not push the envelope too much, and gradually get healthy. good thing he's got al-sal and team to figure out health issues. the criticism here is that he shold have had the lung thing checked out at the time he signed with al-sal.

cam's the best prospect out there bar none.

Sagarin the Fagarin wrote:

Sagarin wrote:

I agree. I'm not sure he's going to get an opportunity to go sub-13 or sub-27 this year if he stays with running Chicago in October. But, I think running one marathon per year in the fall, for now, not only extends his longevity but let's him have a solid track season. But he's not getting any younger. He's got to strike when the iron's hot, and it is hot right now. His window is closing.

SagariN is an idiot. Ritz will still race well even after Chicago. And he's not that old.

Who said he wouldn't continue to race well after Chicago? But his window for a sub-27:00 is closing. Maybe he has another year left (remember, I said "better than even odds he runs his lifetime PR," not an absolute certainty), but you can never be sure that this guy is going to stay healthy, especially as he gets older. I agree with longjack that perhaps he should forego the marathon this year and chase his dream of a sub-27:00, though I disagree that he will be able to get the 26:48 AR. Of course, I believe he's already locked his appearance fee for Chicago. He may very run well next year... or, he may be DNS. Does anyone have a list of non-Africans aged 31 or older having gone sub-27:00? Or Africans for that matter.