Ryan Hall seems to be ready

phdoeog wrote:

mrningrunner wrote:

On what day during the Olympics is the actual marathon?

Men's marathon is always the last event of the games.

And 10 seconds on google you could have found the answer to that question.

TrackCoach wrote:

I am assuming you are either Ryan, Sara, a family member

As if any of them waste their time on here - HA! The real athletes don't give a rat's butt about these forums. They are too busy being professionals; training , resting, massage... etc. I would be shocked if anybody who made the Olympic team spends more than 5 minutes a week on the message boards - the main page maybe, but not the forums.

Nutella1 wrote:

phdoeog wrote:

Men's marathon is always the last event of the games.

Not true.

Really? I know I didn't state Athletics event - I just took that as a given. Is the men's marathon really not the last Athletics event every games? I had the impression that it was.

phdoeog wrote:

Nutella1 wrote:

Not true.

Really? I know I didn't state Athletics event - I just took that as a given. Is the men's marathon really not the last Athletics event every games? I had the impression that it was.

According to Wikipedia:

"Since the modern games were founded, it has become a tradition for the men's Olympic marathon to be the last event of the athletics calendar, with a finish inside the Olympic stadium, often within hours of, or even incorporated into, the closing ceremonies. "

I find it amusing how many people are capable of determining the current fitness of a guy based upon a video filmed 2 months ago and 2 bad race performances taken place during a marathon build up.

Ryan hasn't raced all that well in any marathon training phase that I can remember. In fact, I'm willing to bet if you went back to every race Ryan ran that wasn't a marathon, you'll find corresponding message board posts talking about how much of a lunatic and out of shape he is, only for him to come back and run well in his goal race.

He made 12 miles at 4:55 look like a jog and his entire workout was executed exactly how he wanted it. However he's training, right or wrong, he appears to be executing his plan well.

I'm not a huge fan of the entire "faith" based training, but the guy did spend years with Mahon, Vin, and got advice from many other well renowned coaches, on top of being an elite marathoner himself... I'm pretty sure he's got some inclination of how to train properly. It's not like he's going out and running 4 miles a day because god told him too.

I'm an atheist, but Ryan's faith and his commitment to it is a testament to the kind of athlete he is. He believes that this is his gift and he isn't going to waste it. So while everyone thinks the guy is off his rocker, I'd like to think he's probably more comfortable training than he's ever been.

Best of luck Hall, you'll need it.

This is a great post. I'm also an atheist, but agree with all you've said here.

I predict a 2:09 low, and ninth place.

Not true, most of the kenyans and ethiopians are christians.

And I'm a working dad and I agree with some of what you say.

Hall will be ready as always to:

1)Run with the leaders for a while

2)Let the front pack go

3)Watch Meb and his huge balls run with the pack

4)Pick off a few guys who also had the balls to go with the leaders but then hit the wall

5)Finish somewhere between 5th and 12th

6)Give Meb a hug and congratulate him on winning a medal.

he's going to get rolled.

I agree with just about everything you said to an extent. You would have to be a fool to not see that Ryan's last 2 races where not good under any circumstances and Ryan was clearly dissappointed as well. Ryan's last half marathon was at a pace that should be a training run for him. With that said, his pre marathon races have not always been great and he has bounced back...this is what we are hoping for in the Olympics.

Ryan certainly knows a lot more about training for a marathon than I do. But, on the outside looking in, I would like to him do more stuff to train his body to run at a faster pace at points in a race when needed. The Olympic marathon is going to have one or two 4:30 miles at the beginning, in the middle or at the end. Training for and racing a 5k/10k gives you that stimulas.

Not even Kim Smith who blazes through halfway at her half marathon PR then drops out at 17 miles?

What is the deal with all the negativity about Hall? I understand that half these forums turn to hate, but its the freaking Olympics and the USA has a pretty damn good runner competing in the marathon. Try showing some support for a man who is about to put everything he has into 26.2 miles of running for his country.

Do you know if he is in Flagstaff right now? If so and if I run into him, I would like to wish him the best of luck.

It was an amazing site at the London Olympic Marathon at the half way point. Ryan Hall stood out like a white rabbit hoppin' on hot coals amongst the peppered popping heads of the Africans. The camaraderie was in full force at a four forty five per mile pace. Two diminutive Kenyans flanked the trotting Hall as Hall was offered a bottle which he slobbered down. There was no funny tricks in this race. Hall knew he had the race in the bag until he saw the face of high school rival near the entrance to the stadium, Ryan panicked, he glanced back at the rival whose face was painted with a confederate flag. The rival raised a bullhorn to his mouth and yelled for all to hear "BRO-NUTS! RYAN! BRO-NUS". The profusely sweating Ryan, went into prayer mode and dug deeper as the pace quickened.

mrningrunner wrote:

On what day during the Olympics is the actual marathon?

same route wrote:

Anyone know?

Nutella1 wrote:

Hall's chances of a Top 10 finish are better than Mebs.

The chance for a podium finish though is much higher for Meb.

You risk something, you can lose. You don't risk anything, you can't win. It's as simple as that.

Well said.

"BUT he said he won't be wearing a watch in London. So, there shall be no watch glancing."

You mean he's gonna drop behind out of sight of the leader truck/car and it's huge roof-mounted clock already on the first mile? ;-)

"There was no funny tricks in this race. Hall knew he had the race in the bag until he saw the face of high school rival near the entrance to the stadium".

___________________________________________________________

Sorry but your wet dream is just that, a fantasy! There will be

NO STADIUM!!!!!!!! The race is nothing mare that a series of intese 4k loops around the center of London! The race organizers thought themselves to be sooooooooooo clever in designing this, so that those watching TV could see all the the historic landmarks again and again and again and again! Well, la-di-fu€£#king- da!

The fact that it DOES NOT HAVE A STADIUM FINISH is a hugh negative psychological factor and turns the spirit and energy of the whole race into nothing more that another - "been there, done that street race!"

It's an insult to the athletes, an insult to the people of East London and an insult to the Olympic Tradition of the race for it to end outside the Olympic Stadium in this disgraceful fashion! That's what that Fu$&-;king Stadium was purpose built for!!!!!! That's why the people were taxed!!!!!!

Where is Ryan's heart and head going to be in the final few miles knowing that, "No big deal if I look like $hit in front of the World, family, friends becuase its finishing on the street just like the London Marathon"

Well, this is not the London Marathon - It's the Fu$&/king Olympic Marathon!!!!!! So - WHY SHOULD RYAN GIVE IT HIS ALL IF THE RACE ORGANIZERS ARE NOT GIVING IT THEIR ALL FOR THE ATHLETES???

This was the most stupid F-TARDed decision ever made concerning the games! What the hell were they thinking!!!!!!! IT DOES MATTER!!!!!!