Ryan Hall Out of Chicago

christy wrote:

Reading through many of the thoughtless and cruel messages reacting to Ryan not running Chicago, I am left thinking none of those comments come from people that have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into anything...let alone training. Unreal

hall needs a smarter defender then you

everyone on here runs a ton

even trolls

Dissapointing.

What you got there is a relgious boy/guitter

Ryan Hall was a headcase in college that was a huge underachiever his first 3 years. It was not until his senior year that he came close to achieving anything. Once he became a good 5000 meter runner and pressure started to mount he moved to the roads. TO AVOID EXPECTATIONS.

People were suprised with his lack of guts in the Olympics and Boston and New York. WHY? This was the true Ryan Hall. A very talented athlete that can't handle pressure. Dropping out of Chicago is just another example.

Ryan Hall is a Catch-22 situation. In order for him to run well, he must have zero expectations. Expectations equals pressure and pressure equals failure.

we north americans are more pussy at some things

look at Lenord Komom he betrays no sense of entitlement..zero

The answer to Ryan's problem is rather simple.

Only 2 changes need to be made:

1) Move to a 9 day microcycle rather than a 7 day microcycle. With the altitude and mileage his body just doesn't recover quick enough anymore to handle a 7 day cycle with 3 stress days. May of the top marathoners have been moving to this 3 day rotation (hard, easy, easy) especially as they approach 30.

2) Consistency - Ryan you can't continue to take a month off from running twice a year and expect your body to be able to handle the hard ramp back up to full marathon training very well. Consistency is a big factor, sure take a few weeks of easy running after a marathon but not weeks totally away from running. Your body never has ample time to fully adapt and adjust to a routine because you never keep one for more than a few months. If you confuse your body like this it eventually revolts. But if you are consistent, your body adapts.

Neanderthal Man wrote:

1) Move to a 9 day microcycle rather than a 7 day microcycle. With the altitude and mileage his body just doesn't recover quick enough anymore to handle a 7 day cycle with 3 stress days. May of the top marathoners have been moving to this 3 day rotation (hard, easy, easy) especially as they approach 30.

This has been the Hansons cycle for years.

stuck with match.com wrote:

Hall is done and more than likely will never go under 2:08 again much less under 2:06.

Man. Some of you people are unreal. The dude is just 27.

Omniscient one wrote:

The real reason I think Ryan is performing poorly isn't because of Mahon, training or lack or races---it's his traveling, appearances, Nissan, Steps foundation, and book writing that's taking him down a hole.

I can tell you that if he figured out a way to focus on running, it would make him a more appealing marketing product to my demographic. It's unfortunate that he's created such a horrible image for himself that I only feel schadenfreude when he does badly or quits. Nobody wants to hear about your religion Ryan.

I believe he needs a coaching change. He needs to run more often at various distances. I say between 1500m-15k, track and road. All he has done for years is half- and marathon racing. Mentally too much, and no fun. Why does Mahon allow runners to do this?

He has fuel in the tank, just needs the right training

I thought he only takes two weeks off a year... a month?

two weeks off a season, that is, twice a year i mean

Flagpole wrote:

Man. Some of you people are unreal. The dude is just 27.

I smell one of Flagpoles infamous predictions getting ready to come out!

defender of Mahon wrote:

Ryan Hall was a headcase in college that was a huge underachiever his first 3 years. It was not until his senior year that he came close to achieving anything. Once he became a good 5000 meter runner and pressure started to mount he moved to the roads. TO AVOID EXPECTATIONS.

People were suprised with his lack of guts in the Olympics and Boston and New York. WHY? This was the true Ryan Hall. A very talented athlete that can't handle pressure. Dropping out of Chicago is just another example.

Ryan Hall is a Catch-22 situation. In order for him to run well, he must have zero expectations. Expectations equals pressure and pressure equals failure.

The Oly Trials in '07 didn't have any pressure? Give me a break.

He was a clear cut favorite in the trials in 2007. That was no pressure.

Meb was hurt. Khalid was unfit. Abdi was hurt.

Ritz had only run 2:14 prior to the trials.

defender of Mahon wrote:

Ryan Hall was a headcase in college that was a huge underachiever his first 3 years. It was not until his senior year that he came close to achieving anything. Once he became a good 5000 meter runner and pressure started to mount he moved to the roads. TO AVOID EXPECTATIONS.

People were suprised with his lack of guts in the Olympics and Boston and New York. WHY? This was the true Ryan Hall. A very talented athlete that can't handle pressure. Dropping out of Chicago is just another example.

Ryan Hall is a Catch-22 situation. In order for him to run well, he must have zero expectations. Expectations equals pressure and pressure equals failure.

Good, insightful post. He'd benefit from group training and more frequent competitions. And by competition, I mean race as in ignore the fuggin watch, go with the leaders even if it hurts, and throw down when the time comes.

I for one, am glad. I get so sick of him and all his hippie, god, running,love bullshit.

Lee Corso Phrase wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

Man. Some of you people are unreal. The dude is just 27.

I smell one of Flagpoles infamous predictions getting ready to come out!

Well, I can't really make one for Hall with the same magnitude as I did for Ritz because at this point Hall has already arrived whereas when I said Ritz would break the AR in the 5,000, he was not yet close to doing that.

However, it is silly to count Hall out at this point (unless we find out he was doing something illegal to get his performances, which I don't think he did). He should be able to run at a very high level until at least 35 barring injury or illness. Hard to predict that someone will get FASTER than 2:06, but given the right race with the right weather and the proper training, there's no reason to think he can't get a little faster than that PR of his and maybe run a 2:05 before he's through. He's definitely NOT through at 27.

He does seem to over think his racing. he can't just go out there and run. when he hurts too bad, he shuts down. unlike Ritz that pushes thru. he needs to grow some BALLS!!