Ritz Interview from RW 9.12.06

MKKenya wrote:

Look dude lets be honesty. That my be the end of Ritz career on track and keep my word. This guy will never finish even in top 15 in NYC Marathon. a good American like Ritz could still have a lot of impact on the US 10k 5km, but You Americans are too impatient. You flip flop, track, road running, and marathon. Look at Alan Web, 10k, 1500, 2 miles, etc. where the hell is he?? How many new breeds of Kenyans come every year, we have been winning 95 % of the Marathons on planet Earth, and No American will beat the Kenyans in the next 20 years to come. You people will have one good this year, next year is gone! Who are the imported Kenyans?? American belongs to everybody weather you like it or NOT, Arnold Schwarzenegger would not been a governor of California.

If I were a betting man, and I'm not, but I were, I'd wager the farm that the guy who posted that is American.

Personally, I'm disgusted by Ritz's crazy proclamations to possibly run with the leaders if he believes he's fit enough to do so. All of the great running literature of today suggests that athletes should run at their own pace for optimal race performance and more importantly happiness. If he runs with the leaders then he might struggle toward the end and that wouldn't be fun at all. He should play it safe.

"My whole feeling in terms of racing is that you have to be very bold. You sometimes have to be aggressive and gamble." - Bill Rogers

"If I'm going to get in these races and run against the best guys, I'm going to be there with them. And if I die, then I die, but I'm not going to walk away from the track saying, 'I didn't give everything.' Ever again."

- Krum

Stefano Baldini (ITA), arguably the greatest marathoner of our time, debuted in 2h11'. Look at this progression and with his personal bests at various distance. Ritzenhein is being created into a marathoner in Baldini's mold:

Timing:

3000m: 7’43”14 (1996)

5000m: 13’23”43 (1996)

10000m: 27’43”98 (1996)

Half Marathon: 1h00’50” (2000)

Marathon: 2h07’29” (2002)

Marathons in his career:

1995 Venezia (6° 2h11’01”)

1996 New York (retired)

1997 Londra (2° 2h07’57”)

1997 New York (3° 2h09’31”)

1998 Roma (1° 2h09’33”)

1998 Budapest E.C. (1° 2h12’01”)

2000 Londra (6° 2h09’45”)

2000 Sydney G.O. (retired)

2001 Torino (2° 2h08’50”)

2001 Edmonton W.C. (3° 2h13’16”)

2001 Madrid (1° 2h09’59”)

2002 Londra (6° 2h07’29”)

2002 New York (5° 2h09’12”)

2003 Londra (2° 2h07’56”)

2003 Parigi W.C. (3° 2h09'14")

2004 Londra (4° 2h08'37")

2004 Atene O.G. (1° 2h10'54")

2005 Londra (5° 2h09'25")

2005 Helsinki W.C. (retired)

2006 Goteborg E.C. ( 1°2h11'32'')

There is no reason not to go out with the leaders in the first half if it a reasonable pace. The race usually doesn't start until the second half.

Ritz' potential is certainly in the marathon, although for 2008, even making the team will be tough with Meb, Abdi and Culpepper, his road to the team in the 10,000 is easier, although of course he has no shot at a medal in the 10,000. We'll have to wait and see what he can do in the marathon this fall and at the trials to get a sense of how good a marathoner he could be, it may be 2012 he's peaking as a marathoner.

In 2004 Meb was 2:09:53 for 2nd, the next American was Ryan Shay's 2:14:08 for 9th...

In 2005 Meb was 2:09:56 for 3rd...

Meb ran the US 10k record in 2001 then debuted at NYC in 2:12:35.

Ritz runs 2:12 at NYC, which is a good time for a debut.

Alan

Baldini best marathoner of our time? WTF? The Athens Olympic Marathon was a crap shoot, he was the best in a shitty day & course. Besides that he has okay results, the most credit I would give him is being a very consistent runner with one great race. Definately not the greatest.

its all true is all they are saying,

Yeah, and Salazar was too confident, too.

New York City Marathon, 1st place, 2:09:41, first marathon.

It CAN be done.

stop comparing Ritz with Salazar...there is no comparison

What a Joke wrote:

stop comparing Ritz with Salazar...there is no comparison

Yes there is.

If you insist, then compare him to Beardsley, Meyer, Tabb, Rodgers, Morris, Lawson, and Martin.

He has them all beat over 10K.

Also, Ritz and Meyer are both from the Grand Rapids, Mich. area and Meyer has beaten Salazar over 10K cross country so that puts Ritz ahead of Salazar.