Ritz Please Run World Cross

wayfool wrote:

I'm not sure how he would respond if stuck with the lead pack at XC through all the surges. Also, I'm wondering how his even pace, catch-up from behind strategy would fare at XC.

62nd the last time he ran WXC.

Harry Truman wrote:

62nd the last time he ran WXC.

Yes thank you... you're about the 3rd person on this thread to point that out. That was 4.5 years ago. I don't think anyone would argue he has remained the same caliber of runner in the last 4.5 years. I'm wondering how he would perform now given his improved overall level of fitness and experience.

People like to pull up the 8:11 two mile performance and his 3rd place finish in the junior race. Can't have it both ways.

Reliant Aries wrote:

Maybe so, but no other middle distance or marathon runner who is consistently seeing top finishes against his top peers tends to run WXC.

on the runs wrote:

Webb has been such a basketcase, I don't think he's a good example for anything.

Bekele?

At least give Teg and Solinsky a shot at beating a couple of those guys. Running cross will make them better track guys also.

Maybe I misspoke, I meant 800m-3000m types.

edumacator wrote:

Reliant Aries wrote:

Maybe so, but no other middle distance or marathon runner who is consistently seeing top finishes against his top peers tends to run WXC.

Bekele?

on the runs wrote:

It's unlikely that a serious buildup to a spring marathon would involve competing at World Cross Country. Tadesse did it and (I believe) he failed to finish in London. Paula is the only one I can think of who pulled it off successfully (2002). But she was way better than all her competitors at the marathon, something Ritz cannot say. And the next year she skipped WXC and ran 2:15.

If Ritz and co. don't plan on a spring marathon, then World Cross Country makes a lot of sense. If, however, they think that a spring marathon fits in with their long term plans, that takes precedent, if only for financial reasons.

Great post, even though it doesn't 100% agree with what I've been saying. You hit both sides well and the quoted underlined is exactly my point. Ritz has 4 elite marathons to chose from and notice the key word in the subject: "Please". As in, "please" chose an elite marathon that will allow you (Ritz) to also run world cross. If possible, I'd love to see that.

Maybe Ritz will have a great reason to run the marathon that directly interferes with world cross & would eliminate him competing. If so, then that's how it'll pan out. But way too many people are acting like they have great insight and know Ritz' 2010 schedule & agenda and know that world cross won't fit. Heck, I wonder if Salazar & Ritz are as sure as you guys are.

Sorry. Screwed up my tags on the above post.

wayfool wrote:

Harry Truman wrote:

62nd the last time he ran WXC.

Yes thank you... you're about the 3rd person on this thread to point that out. That was 4.5 years ago. I don't think anyone would argue he has remained the same caliber of runner in the last 4.5 years. I'm wondering how he would perform now given his improved overall level of fitness and experience.

Exactly. Ritz also finished 24th in world XC, as a teenager. And his teenage fitness couldn't touch his current caliber. In other words, he's shown plenty to not have it crazy for him to finish top 5 or even medal.

In my honest opinion, XC is still his best sport, and World XC is the world's best distance race. I want to see him in it, against maybe history's greatest distance runner. Bekele beat Ritz by 3.95 seconds in Ritz' worst distance event. Let's see how he fares against Ritz in arguably Ritz' strongest sport. It's a non-championship year on the track, and the iron's hot for Ritz. He'll never have a better opportunity. But so many are arguing against it. I thought I'd get nearly full agreement.

ttc wrote:

I want to see him in it, against maybe history's greatest distance runner. Bekele beat Ritz by 3.95 seconds in Ritz' worst distance event. Let's see how he fares against Ritz in arguably Ritz' strongest sport. .

I agree Ritz should run world x-c and should do quite well, BUT.....

You are using a comparison of a performance by Ritz, where he ran even splits and had the greatest day of his life by farrrrrrr, against a performance by Bekele where he was tired from completing a historic double in the WC's (where he demolished Ritz at 10k), went out too fast (12:30 pace thru 1k, 12:40 pace thru 2k) and just mailed in the victory to stay alive in the jackpot to say: 'Hey Ritz has a chance to beat Bekele at cross because Ritz is a good cross runner and just ran a great 5k! ' What the f*** kind of cross runner do you think Bekele is for crissakes?!?! Oh, I don't know, the greatest one in history maybe?! Hey, Ritz got 24th as a teenager, and Bekele, oh let's see, how did he do back then, oh yeah.... he won both races every year for about a million years in a row. Yeah, those accomplishments are comparable!

Clearly you've taken too many hits to the head in your recent foray into MMA if you think Ritz has a shot against Bekele in cross. Hey, awesome run by Ritz, but he ain't beating Bekele at 12k x-c unless he shoots him during the race.

I would not use Webb that meet is in like Febuary in March and he should be doing more miler related training that time of year.

I would've taken even more hits to the head, if I'd thought Ritz would've gained on Bekele in a 5K and finished 3.95 seconds behind. Bekele's own manager said Ritz' presence (with the other runner) pushed Bekele on the last lap. Now THAT'S crazy. If Ritz can do that in his worst distance event, then I'd like to see the XC 12K.

Ritz finished 9th in the Olympic marathon, THEN 6th at the world 10K, THEN the AR 5K. He's getting better and is clearly not the same runner, versus even 3 weeks ago. I'm not about to place any limits on him. Especially when he finished 24th in world cross as a teen. Ritz has now become a world elite. On a good day, he can do most anything, and is proving it.

Your even splits point: Ritz avg'd 62 seconds/lap. Sub-13:00 uneven laps is uncommon for anyone. You're reaching a ton, to say the 12:56 was too even. Did you want a series of :58 splits in there, in Ritz' admitted worst distance event??

Regarding Ritz' 24th, you missed my point: Ritz was a teen getting beat by Jorge in 5K's, when he still finished 24th in world cross. I'm not factually stating the track improvement definitely correlates to the same XC improvement. But I'd sure as he!! like to find out. If it does, then we have a medalist. I want to see Ritz in the best distance race in the world, which (IMO) is also Ritz' best event. And (not you), I'm tired of other posters stating definitively that Ritz is running a specific marathon that'll interfere. Maybe so... but none of us (probably not even Salazar) know this. Lots of elite marathons to chose from.

Runningart2004 wrote:

Even Bob Kennedy's best was only 12th and he was arguably a better XC runner than Ritz.

Our boy Ritz has had some bad luck with World XC Races/USATF as a pro. He won USATF and even a couple international races in '05 only to go out and die a horrible death at Worlds. He led then imploded at '06 USATF XC.

I don't think XC is good for him. You would think the soft surface would be good for the injury-prone, but the opposite may be true. The feet, knee, hips all have to account for the ever changing running surface. Any time I've been injured, running an XC race only made it hurt more versus racing on the road.

Alan

Obviously I wouldn't want Ritz to get injured or do anything to compromise his long-term development. But it seems we have zero problem with him running rounds on the track, unheralded road races, and XC meets in Europe or the U.S. But the greatest distance race in the world, according to many, which Ritz could do well in, is suddenly a problem. Ritz made a huge break through, and we should want to see him race the best. But lots of excuses not to. BK has finished 12th, T.Williams 9th, Meb & Abdi in the top dozen. Why can't Ritz do better?? He already finished 24th, when he wasn't nearly as good as now.

ttc,

What you don't seem to understand is that, while there is a shot for Ritz to do very well at World Cross Country, there would be a huge appearance fee guaranteed to him at a major spring marathon. He's not an amateur just racing for his own personal satisfaction, like so many on this board. This is his job.

Tell me Ritz's chance of medalling at WXC, and his chance of winning. I'm sure that whatever you come up with will be much more than what I would say, but okay. Now understand that there is a 100% chance of him making in the range of six figures just for getting to the starting line at Boston or London. Which would you do? Honestly? Run world cross with a very slim chance to score one of the top places (and I know you're going to dispute this, but the chances of any particular individual medalling at WXC outside of Bekele and a few others is very slim) and probably run for free or plan on running Boston and get close to $100,000 just for starting and participating in the PR leading up to the race.

Marathons are too lucrative. To ask Ritz to run WXC is essentially asking him to reduce his 2010 income by at least 30% (more if he becomes injured at some point and can't run a fall marathon). I love World Cross and would personally jump at the chance to run it, but I don't make my money from running and I'm not in Ritz's position. If he and Salazar decide that it's best to not run another marathon until the fall for long term reasons, then full speed ahead to Poland. But the sensible decision is the one that supports his pocketbook.

[quote]on the runs wrote:

ttc,

He's not an amateur just racing for his own personal satisfaction, like so many on this board. This is his job.

Dog Shit

Ritz is in it for the pride, joy and personal satisfaction

There are a lot easier ways to make money

Kenniese Bekeke [the greatest ever]is trying for "part" of a share of a million dollars

The goalie for the Vancouver Canucks {!!! WTF} just signed for 64 million {US $] for 12 year.

Running is an amateur sport

"There are no Americans capable of an individual medal right now. Sorry, there just aren't. The guys on the podium are sub 26:45 12:50 types."

Cross Country is an entirely different animal than track. Good track running does not translate into equally as good cross country and vice versa.

I think this may conflict with his training for The Cup.

You guys are pretending to know Ritz' exact 2010 agenda and schedule.

You're pretending to know he won't consider 2 annual 26.2's as a possible detriment to a long career.

You're pretending to know he'll become a full-time marathoner, instead of using much of the year on shorter races.

You're pretending to know his financial options enough, to know his best choices.

I am stating all the above are in the cards, without knowing his plans yet. But you guys somehow know what Salazar-Ritz-NIKE have discussed, detailed and scheduled.