I believe that Malmo was trying to point out that running a half marathon in considerably cooler conditions than will be in Beijing means nothing in trying to figure out success. I agree. I hope Ritz runs well but I know nothing more having seen yesterday's race.
Hall ran the AR in the HM before he ran 208 high in London last year. This year he ran 206. In between that he destroyed Ritz at trials.
When Ritz runs under an hor then I'll figure he is not far behind a 2:08 marathoner.
Not Exactly wrote:
Hall ran the AR in the HM before he ran 208 high in London last year. This year he ran 206. In between that he destroyed Ritz at trials.
When Ritz runs under an hor then I'll figure he is not far behind a 2:08 marathoner.
Other runners have run the marathon in 2,08 with a HM PB considerably slower than Ryan Hall.
I just hope no one keels over and dies. I don't expect Ritz to be a contender, but I could see him and Hall working together during the first half or more. It's gonna be brutal.
This is probably the warmest weather Ritz has ever had a "good race" in. In that sense, it tells us something.
There is nothing bad to say about Ritz's results in this race; except for possibly Hall, I don't there is anyone in the U.S. who could have done better. The two guys he lost to are studs; Tola has a 27:04 10k PR and Makau is one top 3 half marathoners in the world. Ritz has proven that when he is healthy, he can compete with anyone.
orbitboy wrote:
This is probably the warmest weather Ritz has ever had a "good race" in. In that sense, it tells us something.
Yes & no.
Both Ritz and Webb have had remarkably spotty careers. I hope that Ritz can put together a good race in Beijing. OTOH maybe they are just keeping things interesting for th efans :)
Other runners have run the marathon in 2,08 with a HM PB considerably slower than Ryan Hall.Kannouchi being just one of hundreds, the HM and full 26.2 are like completely different events. The fatigue, fuel, and hydration factors being far more important limitations, and why Beijing will be so much harder. Still, Ritz put in a world class performance- kudos.