My general impression of the OAC guys is that they are in it for the lifestyle and hangs with their mates, and almost accept the ineffective training and injuries to maintain that. Essentially they are stoked just to have a pro contract.
Therefore, I think Morgan moving on is a really smart move to shake things up, and blaze his own trail. Break up the boys club a bit and allow those remaining to reflect on what they want to get out of OAC.
I wasn't following NCAA back in 2018-19, so I've only recently caught up on some old races from that time (it doesn't make the sports news in Australia). I had no idea Morgan spanked Grant again and again - XC, indoors and outdoors. Wtf.
This theory is relatively popular on these boards but it disregards Ritz's influence on George's 2x world Titles, Ollie's Comm Games Gold and all the rest of it.
Maybe that success comes anyway and it really is all just Talent and not coaching but as a group they have seen plenty of success up close. it's not just a lifestyle decision
This post was edited 24 seconds after it was posted.
My general impression of the OAC guys is that they are in it for the lifestyle and hangs with their mates, and almost accept the ineffective training and injuries to maintain that. Essentially they are stoked just to have a pro contract.
Therefore, I think Morgan moving on is a really smart move to shake things up, and blaze his own trail. Break up the boys club a bit and allow those remaining to reflect on what they want to get out of OAC.
I wasn't following NCAA back in 2018-19, so I've only recently caught up on some old races from that time (it doesn't make the sports news in Australia). I had no idea Morgan spanked Grant again and again - XC, indoors and outdoors. Wtf.
This theory is relatively popular on these boards but it disregards Ritz's influence on George's 2x world Titles, Ollie's Comm Games Gold and all the rest of it.
Maybe that success comes anyway and it really is all just Talent and not coaching but as a group they have seen plenty of success up close. it's not just a lifestyle decision
Influence on George? Huh? George is so talented, he won that race IN SPITE of Ritz's influence. Did you forget the 2x steeples, 3 days apart after coming off of months of injury? Shocker- he got hurt. And even with that, he was able to come back for that run in Tokyo.
This theory is relatively popular on these boards but it disregards Ritz's influence on George's 2x world Titles, Ollie's Comm Games Gold and all the rest of it.
Maybe that success comes anyway and it really is all just Talent and not coaching but as a group they have seen plenty of success up close. it's not just a lifestyle decision
Influence on George? Huh? George is so talented, he won that race IN SPITE of Ritz's influence. Did you forget the 2x steeples, 3 days apart after coming off of months of injury? Shocker- he got hurt. And even with that, he was able to come back for that run in Tokyo.
I won't even mention Mario...
You may well be correct. But I would argue you don't have enough information to say George won in spite of Ritz. you're guessing.
I would say it's absurd to conclude that all the sucess that group as a whole has achieved was done in spite of coaching.
When George came out of college he ran something like 20 miles a week and the rest of it was cross training. His training has been transformed within the OAC/Ritz system.
Yes he has bags of talent and a kick like a mule but if you dismiss the success of Ritz you must do the same for Mike Smith, Renato Canova, Diljeet Taylor, Jerry Schumacher Ben Thomas, Mike Scannell and all the rest.
Morgan concluded that coaching does matter. I don't see why on that basis you can be so dismissive of the obvious coaching success Ritz has had
This post was edited 5 minutes after it was posted.
Influence on George? Huh? George is so talented, he won that race IN SPITE of Ritz's influence. Did you forget the 2x steeples, 3 days apart after coming off of months of injury? Shocker- he got hurt. And even with that, he was able to come back for that run in Tokyo.
I won't even mention Mario...
You may well be correct. But I would argue you don't have enough information to say George won in spite of Ritz. you're guessing.
I would say it's absurd to conclude that all the sucess that group as a whole has achieved was done in spite of coaching.
When George came out of college he ran something like 20 miles a week and the rest of it was cross training. His training has been transformed within the OAC/Ritz system.
Yes he has bags of talent and a kick like a mule but if you dismiss the success of Ritz you must do the same for Mike Smith, Renato Canova, Diljeet Taylor, Jerry Schumacher Ben Thomas, Mike Scannell and all the rest.
Morgan concluded that coaching does matter. I don't see why on that basis you can be so dismissive of the obvious coaching success Ritz has had
Again, George won in Tokyo despite Ritz's poor choices earlier this season- that's pretty plain and clear. It was the same last year, with him only getting to the Paris starting line held together only by masking tape and boyhood Olympic dreams.
Hey I think it’s great athletes are exploring different set up. Ultimately as a pro, your body and training determine your success. Do what makes you happy!
Also I think Ritz is an amazing coach. People get injured, especially trying to be top 3 in the world in a sport. Things happen, you have to push limits.
Most athletes in this sport get a 3-4 year sweet spot in the career and then it’s over. Yes there are super studs that make 4 Olympic teams but it is rare.
Ollie, Morgan, Beamish were all injured a lot in college and didn’t build their training. For most men those peak years are early. You can’t train like a kid when you are 23 and expect to make big jumps still at 30 (for mid distance anyway).
People comparing him to Grant Fisher, neither were working hard in college. Didn’t milt do an interview where he stated that he told Grant to get serious or quit?
rant over, ritz is good. These athletes are good, the sport is very hard and unforgiving
Again, George won in Tokyo despite Ritz's poor choices earlier this season- that's pretty plain and clear. It was the same last year, with him only getting to the Paris starting line held together only by masking tape and boyhood Olympic dreams.
You don't know that. George needed to run the standard which he did in Stockholm.
if he hadn't gotten it and raced 3 days later in Oslo in order to get it and been injured would it have been a justified call?
Do you think athletes should never practice running simulated rounds even 2 months or more ahead of their goal race?
Do you think athletes may get some confidence in preparing this way knowing they will have to do similar in a championship?
Do you think they went for the standard on June so they wouldn't need to race over the summer and control the loads better whether injured or uninjured?
If you were hurt going into Tokyo from wear and tear would you sacrifice your body in order to be an olympian and make a start line even if the objectively better approach would have been to skip the Olympics?
it's easy to fit a narrative to a set of events like "George did it in spite if Ritz" or "it was a mistake to run twice" but you are operating in an information deficit same as I am.
it's a lot more difficult to make coaching and racing decisions in the real world for a top 1% athlete in real time.
Ritz deserves a tonne of credit.
This post was edited 9 minutes after it was posted.
Hey I think it’s great athletes are exploring different set up. Ultimately as a pro, your body and training determine your success. Do what makes you happy!
Also I think Ritz is an amazing coach. People get injured, especially trying to be top 3 in the world in a sport. Things happen, you have to push limits.
Most athletes in this sport get a 3-4 year sweet spot in the career and then it’s over. Yes there are super studs that make 4 Olympic teams but it is rare.
Ollie, Morgan, Beamish were all injured a lot in college and didn’t build their training. For most men those peak years are early. You can’t train like a kid when you are 23 and expect to make big jumps still at 30 (for mid distance anyway).
People comparing him to Grant Fisher, neither were working hard in college. Didn’t milt do an interview where he stated that he told Grant to get serious or quit?
rant over, ritz is good. These athletes are good, the sport is very hard and unforgiving
Ollie, according to himself, was never injured before his pelvis in 2023/4. I also think Morgan was healthier in college (not 100% though). George is the only one who’s been relatively healthier as a pro than in the NCAA
I saw the video too. I mean running is an individual sport and if you want to try something different which doesn't fit the program. I think it is good to step out to try it. He has suffered multiple injuries, whether that is the training or not is hard to say.
I think he is stuck in between two phases of his career. His body is having a hard time with the 5K work but he doesn't want to step to marathon. I think he should do a 10K or another half.