Ryan Hall Boston Prediction

I can understand the attitude especially by all those that have a good reason - as a result of their direct experience - to be very upset with fervent believers lke Hall appears to be.

Are people aware with the discussion ongoing sorrounding the Vatican as we approach Easter?

Yet I think people could refrain from doing what they criticize him for: wearing their atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, criticism ect ect on their posting shoulder. It's not like he's doping with the stuff. As some have pointed out, there are passages where he appears confused even if he has had time to reread an email interview and have it reviewed.

Consider this is letsrun; consider him just a runner. But come on. It is him. Let him run. If he sucks, blast him for it. But after the race.

This way of expressing himself, this way of being, might be at this point in his life the ONLY way he knows to both motivate himself and deal with the possibility of defeat.

But before the race, let him be. Treat him as a citizen and a runner.

Let him Run.

That's what you want for yourself before a race.

will the sodemites in the crowd have time to repent?

hallfan wrote:

Why was he in such horrible shape a couple months ago at the half marathon? I know he took time off after the fall marathon, but most top elites don't seem to get THAT out of shape.

Before NY, he ran an 18 mile tempo at sub 5 pace in big bear, so like 4:40 pace conversion. all this during a high mileage week...

It just doesn't make sense to me that he couldn't break 64 after several weeks of training after his post marathon break.

Anyway, I think he should run faster than last year, so likely top 3, the specific place depending on how others run.

where did we see this pattern before?

ryan hall is NOT winning boston I guarantee it?

His 1:04 half marathon a while back does not mean a thing.

Remember Cosmas N'Deti?, 3 time consecutive winner of the Boston Marathon (93,94,95) I think it was about a month before the 95 Boston where he almost got beat by Tegla Loroupe at the Lisbon half. All the so called experts totally wrote him off. N'Deti rarely raced either. The only thing he really said leading up to that Marathon was that he was fit and that he would give his interview on the course. He gave his interview....his third straight Boston win. Just let Ryan run. I have a feeling he is going to surprise alot of people. With that being said, the one thing I really hope he has been working on in his training is surging. If he get's dropped again on the newton hill's it's going to be tough to go for the win. I hope he is ready when the surging begins. He's gotta keep contact with the leaders. I would love to see Ryan be the one who makes a huge surge on the hills to break away for the win. Good Luck Ryan!

It's just cognitive dissonance. Atheists don't like the idea of a successful, well-rounded Christian who has a name in the world, so they must spew this vitriol in order to make him come off as a failure and an idiot for ever trying. Of course, marathon runners are intelligent people, but that's why Hall is supposed to be viewed as the exceptionally stupid marathon runner just because he likes to have his faith known. Tell me, why is it such a crime to let people know you believe? Of course, they will set up the a priori assumption that belief is stupid and non-belief is intelligent, so it's alright to hate on believers while believers themselves are criticized for professing their faith as a successful person who may actually have an influence on somebody else's opinion. God forbid.

It looks like the idea of what "well-rounded" means to different people, could cause some understandable reactions.

Regardless, I say let him run and judge him for his race as a runner.

Let him Run.

I am not defending nor criticizing Hall.

I trying to contribute in a balanced manner to a predicition thread.

Assuming good weather, I think he'll run faster than last year (2:08:high), but I still think he'll get beaten and finish 2nd or 3rd.

The people that bash him for his beliefs do go overboard, and for the longest time I thought it was ridiculous to think his religion had any bearing on his results. But everytime you hear him talk it ends up including something about "god's will..." or "god will keep me strong...". I'm starting to think his beliefs about "following god's plan" have him lacking that killer instinct and drive it takes to succeed at the elite level. After almost every race you hear him mention what his faith had him thinking during the race.

2:08.54 FTW. Strong runners win Boston, Robert C is out , Hall is the next in line.

Ryan Hall is weak runner he is not even the strongest American in field.

RunBird wrote:

Ryan Hall will win Boston. He now know's the course. Going

out three weeks in advance is really smart. He has been under the radar for this one. I say he will uncork a big one and win.

I say he won't win - and it's "knows" not "know's"

Lardy wrote:

it's "knows" not "know's"

you'RE awful ! ^^^^^

Lets just hope if this is another flop God's new lesson for Ryan would be to travel to Kenya or Ethiopia and learn something from them about running. God's running lessons seem to come up short.

Ryan murdered everyone at the trials with a phenomenal time on a challenging route. He jogged in pointing to the birds and clouds above and murdered everyone. What's going on recently is puzzling.

Not well.

He is too stale.

I say whatever he runs (somewhere around fourth to second) it will be good but not what we think he could do.

He does not have the heart of a champion.

anyone who believes someone or something else dictates what happens in a race will not win - you gotta believe in yourself!!!!!!!

asf wrote:

Not well.

He is too stale.

I say whatever he runs (somewhere around fourth to second) it will be good but not what we think he could do.

He does not have the heart of a champion.

Agree that Ryan is stale; more so mentally than physically. He has become too much of a marathoner and not enough of a runner. He needs to get back to 5,000/10,000 & x-c to re-invent himself as a runner.

I don't think he will ever run a marathon faster than his current PR, but he may win a classic marathon before his career is over....it would have to be a challenging "slow" course like NYC or Boston. Somewhat similar to what Meb did.

I agree. Meb surges with 1-2 miles left and breaks him. Hall does not respond well to changes in speed.

I thought "know's the course" was bad, but "get's" and "hill's"??. Take it easy on the apostrophes, will you?

blitzen wrote:

anyone who believes someone or something else dictates what happens in a race will not win - you gotta believe in yourself!!!!!!!

Good point. He completely tanked it in Central Park during the Trials because of his beliefs.