Ritz is good, but he won't develop the kick Rupp or the other Africans have before Berlin.

Not a total drafter or leader wrote:

I'm pissed Rupp didn't lead even once. Yea, I know Salazar probably gave him specific directions but you can't always force others to do it when they don't want to. If they do, they'll probably slow it down like Carney did when Ritz wanted him to lead. I'm no PRE always run out front guy and i know the point is to cross the line first no matter if you lead or draft. But still, the other runners did some work for you and they probably weren't planning to lead either. Ritz even looked back at Rupp and some other runners in the middle of the race for them to lead but they just sissied out and didnt lead. You gotta meet me half way here

If my readings of this board are correct, you're about to get yelled at because 1) Why would Rupp want to lead if he didn't have to? 2) The point is to win, and Rupp did. etc.

But I totally agree. Every 10K I've run, it is pretty much assumed if you're in the lead you switch off with whoever else you are running with. Heck, even in high school 3200's that was basically the agreement.

You can be sure Ritz will be leading for Rupp if it was reversed. Just like Shalane was used by Begley to help with the pace.

jerry works for Al.

A wrote:

You can be sure Ritz will be leading for Rupp if it was reversed. Just like Shalane was used by Begley to help with the pace.

The bronze medalist was "used" by someone who got lapped in that same event last year? Actually, Begley got stuck leading the entire last mile when Flanagan never took the lead again despite being the favorite.

Not knocking Shalane, because she had to do what she had to, but c'mon man.

I'm willing to bet that Ritz will get Rupp at Worlds.. I said the same thing when he was beaten by Hall at the marathon trials. Ritz may be very inconsistent and disappointing at times, but he is always there in the hunt when things matter most. He is like a turd that doesn't flush. Over the years, I have seen him pull shit out of his ass when everything is on the line. My favorite has to be his 03` dual with Ryan Hall. However, he can also blow up like he did at London this year. GO RITZ!!

I would love to blow up to a 2:10:00 PR. Although I get what you're saying--after going out in, what, 14:3x, 2:10 is rigging pretty solidly--I don't know that we can call what Ritz did at London blowing up.

I'm also willing to bet that Ritz gets Rupp at worlds--in a really exciting finish, 37 seconds behind the Ethiopian "C" squad...who the hell cares???