i really hope that's not true
i really hope that's not true
Wouldn't the race leader be following an escort? Seems unlikely he could cut from the leader position.
I was there!!! wrote:
that the HM leader at the time, the Ethiopian, was only 10 minutes away from the finish line.
Are you sure you didn't mix up the two races? There was no Ethiopian anywhere in the top finishers of the half marathon. The winner of the marathon was Ethiopian.
I can't believe that he has the ability to open a 2:40 lead in the last 10 minutes.
I don't think so either. Fortunately for Ryan, he was a minute ahead of Fasil Bizuneh at 10k (28:21 to 29:18) and almost two minutes ahead of Meb at 9 miles (40:56 to 42:39).
I doubt Hall cut the course. The race updates mention that he ran steady 4:30 miles all the way.
07:55 am - At mile 12, Ryan Hall is still in the lead. His pace has consistently stayed right at 4:30 and slightly under.
07:51 am - The leader in the men's half just passed mile 11 with a 4:30 pace. Hall is a professional runner from California. He placed 1st in the 2006 US 20K Championships.
I was there!!! wrote:
So, I was in Houston being a spectator and saw Ryan Hall crossing the finish line in ~59:40 setting an AR record. But I have a VERY valid reason to doubt this time. As usual the announcer was giving updates and reported to the crowd that the HM leader at the time, the Ethiopian, was only 10 minutes away from the finish line. This is right arond 52 min (that's what the clock read). I was right at the finish line and could view the final 150 meters. So, I was expecting the leaders to emerge around the corner somewhere around 62 min. To my surprise, I see Ryan and no one behind him. I can't believe that he has the ability to open a 2:40 lead in the last 10 minutes. I think he cut the course somewhere in the last 2 miles. Was it intentional or not? I don't know. Its only speculation, but this is what think. I'm not hating on him. I would love it if the 59:40 is legit. But I have doubts. He won by 2:40. COME ON GUYS! I don't think Ryan has that in him.
But still he passed 10k in 28.21
From where I was (being able to view the finl strecth) there were no escorts!! It was him and him alone. The Ethiopian and Meb were the next people to emerge around the corner about 2:40 behind him.
I was tracking the top 1/2 athletes throughout the race on the Houston Marathon website. Ryan was in the lead by around a minuteby the 10K mark and he continued to dominate. If he cut the course, everyone else did, too.
The Ethiopian and Meb were the next people to emerge around the corner about 2:40 behind him.
What Ethiopian? Do you mean the American Fasil Bizuneh?
They emerged around the corner 2:40 behind him because that's how far behind they were...
If the announcer says ten minutes and they show up in 7 minutes, it's just him trying to keep people interested.
Look guys, I havent seen the splits. I'm only reporting what I heard standing at the finish line. Is it possible that the announcer f***ed up? It is!! I'm only telling you what I was hearing live at the finish line.
I am shocked that a person can actually accuse somone of cuttting the course when you can't even figure out that Fazil Bizuneh from te United States.
If you look at David Monti's posting, he was in the press vehicle and taking his own splits to see how Ryan was doing. The vehicle needed to pull off the course as they near the finish line so that is why you didn't see any escort.
I was there!!! wrote:
Look guys, I havent seen the splits. I'm only reporting what I heard standing at the finish line. Is it possible that the announcer f***ed up? It is!! I'm only telling you what I was hearing live at the finish line.
A less-than-clear picture at the finish line doesn't constitute a valid reason for Hall cheating.
If the splits are correct then I'm VERY happy that Ryan ran such a great time. Maybe I jumped the gun very early. But I swear to GOD, that the announcer said that the Ethiopian leader is only 10 minutes away. What it seems is that there was a bit of misunderstanding. The announcer apparently just gave away the wrong info. And when he did say that the clock was definiteky reading ~52.
Course looks legit. Start/finish within a block or 2 of each other and course is relatively flat. Very high humidity but temps in low-mid 50's and zero wind. I saw Ryan at 4, 7.5 and 9.25 and he was flying. Too bad no splits at 20k for a for-sure AR, but 10 miles and 15k look possible for AR but need to ck start to split separation (needs to be less than 30% of the stated distance of the event.
Let's see. David Monti follows Hall the whole time with a damn stopwatch, and you tools sit on here with conspiracy theoris. Give it a fricken rest. Hall had a day that we all have dreamt about, and you fvcktards are too lame to give him the credit he deserves. That lack of character is why you suck. It aint the training, it aint the genetics, it's the fact that you're a tool.
Dude, go see David Monti's account of the race on page 2...
BTW, Congrats to Ryan for a great time! Sorry guys, I just couldnt believe it at the time! And yes I didn't know that Fasil Bizuneh was an American. I am very new to running and took the announcer's word. I was expecting an African to appear around the corner and tehre I see a white guy. So I was very surprised.
I was there!!! wrote:But I swear to GOD, that the announcer said that the Ethiopian leader is only 10 minutes away. What it seems is that there was a bit of misunderstanding. The announcer apparently just gave away the wrong info.I don't doubt what you heard. I can empathize. Few race announcers ever have a clue, it seems.
I learned a long time ago to not totally trust what the finish line announcer is saying. Unless they are very knowledgeable about who the runners are and what they are capable of, they say anything just to keep talking. Ryan Hall is the real thing and he ran an honest race. If he ran a short course, everyone else did, too.
Aside from being the best American distance performance ever, he had NO PACERS. This is a huge run. Hall has stepped onto another level.
Agreed, let's all get excited over this performance.