73.9% of Letsrun.com voters are more impressed by sub-13 than bronze

MarathonMind wrote:

BTW, I researched the list and come up with Ritz as 46th all time performer at 5000. I'm guessing he is somewhere around 70th in the half.

If you had the time to countdown the list for the 5000, why not do the same for the half? Turns out he's 44th, so by that measure, it's a wash as well.

As an aside, I'm shocked to find that Lel's PR is only a 59:56.

track4lyfe wrote:

NEVER 10k- USA Medalists (1912-Lewis Tewanima- Hopi Indian) (Mills 64' Sioux Indian)

Why on earth are Tewanima and Mills in parentheses? By your ridiculous reasoning (which apparently makes Meb less American than Shorter), these guys are if anything more American than anyone else on your list. Or do only white guys count as full Americans in your mind?

The fact that it wasn't a time trial, it was an all out race, it is an American record and it had only been done once by an American in nearly 20 years! That's what makes it so significant. Hall's sub 60 still have Ritz beat at that distance.

By the way, I voted twice so it's a little less than73.9%.

Why on earth are Tewanima and Mills in parentheses? By your ridiculous reasoning (which apparently makes Meb less American than Shorter), these guys are if anything more American than anyone else on your list. Or do only white guys count as full Americans in your mind?

Please, put the 12' & 64' medal in the list (changes nothing). My apologies... I love it when people get so caught up in the little details that they continue to overlook the glaring truth. American Distance running has sucked. We have to break the minimalist attitude and set higher expectations on our pro (contracted) athletes. The minute our American sprinters drop the baton or lose a sprint race to another country, we want to fire whoever is in charge.

Could you imagine if we were still praising every sub 10 second sprinter in American professional ranks? Well that's what we continue to do with our distance runners in this country. We are still focused on breaking weak American records that don't bring home Olympic golds. I'm a huge fan of distance running, but I hate having to go through historical archives to feel as if we even belong. I just have live vicariously through the collegiate system until we bring glory back to the red, white, and blue...

Brod wrote:

...and it had only been done once by an American in nearly 20 years! That's what makes it so significant.

Until it was done a week later by Tegenkamp. It doesn't diminish the individual accomplishment of either athlete, but it does make it a little less significant in the grand scheme. Looking forward, there's a good chance Lagat rewrites that AR next year.

Putting things into a little more perspective. If this half marathon World Championship race had been run at Houston (I have run the half at Houston) under the same conditions that Hall had, all the times would have been a minute faster.

Keeping this in mind that Ritz currently has the capacity to run more like 59 flat I am not convinced that his track 5000m pr was a better run.

Only 25 seconds behind the best road racer in the World over a half marathon.

Comparing Ritz's time to all-time lists and such is pretty stupid considering that his 60 flat was not run on a flat course, with few turns in perfect weather.

The fact that Ritz's 12:56 5000m is only going to be one of his better races is perhaps a little disturbing to some.

Teg did not break Bob Kennedy's old AR. Not the same.

Also, I have now taken the time and count Ritz as 56th all time performer in the half. So 46th in the 5000 to 56th is not a "wash".

I am more impressed with Ritz sub-13 than Meb's Silver.

the field

mr. statistic wrote:

What makes third in a time trial more impressive than third in a World Championship?

simple- the BIG IMPROVEMENT to 12:56 in 5K came before a just as good if not better half-marathon...

MarathonMind wrote:

Teg did not break Bob Kennedy's old AR. Not the same.

Also, I have now taken the time and count Ritz as 56th all time performer in the half. So 46th in the 5000 to 56th is not a "wash".

Sorry, the original criteria was "sub-13" not 5000m AR. What's your source for the all-time list? If it's the IAAF list:

I suggest you count again.

+ wrote:

Why have people of Letsrun been endowed with the power to judge who is, and who is not, a citizen of the United States? None of your stupid opinions matter. If the federal government considers them to be a citizen, then they're a citizen.

I was wondering the exact same thing! People on this site are so quick to judge Mexican American and naturalized citizens, but people like you only step up to defend when it threatens the reputation of American runners. You don't know me or what I stand for, but I'm all for equality. I'm sick of letsrun posters thinking it's "hip" to bash blacks, immigrants, and so-called steroid users simply because they are not American. It's getting old... It's also becoming waaaaaaaay too common on this site...

Seems like you are more interested in defending your knowledge of track than discussing the original post.Are you compensating for other tings?

[quote]looser wrote:

Seems like you are more interested in defending your knowledge of track than discussing the original post.

Original Post: 73.9% of Letsrun.com voters are more impressed by sub-13 than bronze. All my post have been related to why I think 73.9% of the voters on letsrun are clones of the mild expectations we have on American distance running. "Lets PR & Break American records!" Screw the medals!?!? Minimalist attitudes...

[quote]Are you compensating for other tings?[quote]

WTF? This board is 99.5% boys & men! I personally feel like inquiries or innuendo about another man's package belongs on different type of message boards for you seek out...

I included Lisbon times which had the 69 meter drop.

I think this blog post from Ritz confirms what Ryan Hall said about a majority of forum posters.

http://dathanritzenhein.competitor.com/2009/10/14/capping-off-the-year/

MarathonMind wrote:

I included Lisbon times which had the 69 meter drop.

scroll down the list, you'll Lisbon times posted as Lisboa. Maybe you're referring to the Great North Run that isn't included?

No. Lisboa elite course was changed in 2008 to be record eligible.

1991 to 2007 the course started on the bridge and featured the drop.