It is really funny to me that Trafeh is viewed as such a contender on here when he's never completed a marathon. I imagine all of you predicted Tadesse would win in his debut, and again when he ran 2:12 last year.
It is really funny to me that Trafeh is viewed as such a contender on here when he's never completed a marathon. I imagine all of you predicted Tadesse would win in his debut, and again when he ran 2:12 last year.
Trafeh might not be seen as so much of a contender if there were more real contenders
Conto wrote:
The extra month that Ryan has versus Meb is huge. I don't see how Meb, at his age, will be able to recover from NY and come back for the trials to make the team.
Yep, but it's not easy for Meb to get an invitation to run. Only exception is NYRR who throw money at former champions, whether it pays off or not.
As I expected, RRW has announced that Ryan Hall is donating his income from Chicago to charity:
"Hall is also running Chicago to benefit his charity, the Ryan Hall STEPS Foundation. Not only can ordinary runners sign-up to fundraise for his charity --he said proceeds will go to anti-poverty programs in Kenya to honor the late Samuel Wanjiru-- but Hall will be donating his prize money to the cause, too.
"I'm very excited to announce that I'm pledging all of my winnings to the STEPS Foundation," Hall declared."
Well i don't think he has anything to worry about at the trials, it'll be Hall, Ritz and then a darkhorse for the 3rd spot maybe Hartmann or Gabrielson wouldn't surprise me.
I think his problem is repeating the mistake of 2008 when he ran the trials in Nov 2007 and then London in April of 2008. He went to the wall in that London race evidenced by his last mile in like 5:40, that was an all out effort and I for one don't really believe he has ever recovered fully from that. He sure hadn't by the time Beijing rolled around in late August making it 3 marathons in the space of 10 months. That is really asking for it.
Now his schedule this time around is perhaps even worse. Chicago in October 2011, 3 months later run the trials in January 2012, and then late August 2012 run the OLY in London. Once again he attempting to run 3 marathons in 11 months timeframe, only this time its worse as he will have 3 months recovery between Chicago and the trials. Although he does claim to be "building in two weeks of quality recovery after Chicago." That'll make all the difference I'm sure. I wish that he would get some guidance instead of parting ways with his coach and trying to do it all by himself. Truly one of the saddest wastes of pure distance talent that the US has seen in a generation.
Sounds like he'll be contributing his small check for 10th place, not his big check for showing up.
troof be told wrote:
As I expected, RRW has announced that Ryan Hall is donating his income from Chicago to charity:
"Hall is also running Chicago to benefit his charity, the Ryan Hall STEPS Foundation. Not only can ordinary runners sign-up to fundraise for his charity --he said proceeds will go to anti-poverty programs in Kenya to honor the late Samuel Wanjiru-- but Hall will be donating his prize money to the cause, too.
"I'm very excited to announce that I'm pledging all of my winnings to the STEPS Foundation," Hall declared."
now he says that he wants the American record (2:05). Dude will have a rough awakening.
Also saying that he was the rabbit in Boston (true) and that he will rely on pacesetters in Chicago: this is a plan for disaster. Chicago pacemakers will likely go out in 2:02:30, way too fast for someone like Hall. But I am sure he knows this and will let go early in the race.
my money is on abdi abdirahman
cactus life wrote:
my money is on abdi abdirahman
hand me over your money.
abdi is TOAST.
DontFeedTheTroll wrote:
......................... wrote:Meb is running NYC, which is even crazier than Ryan running Boston.
http://www.outsideonline.com/blog/meb-keflezighi-to-run-nyc-marathon-olympic-trials-double.htmlCrazy how? He didn't make top three at the trials last time and he's going to be four years older this time. Actually he probably has a pretty decent shot at it this time around, but meh. He's been to the Olympics and won a medal. If he wants to chase the almighty dollar and risk not going to a sporting event that he has no chance of medalling in, I say he should go for it.
Not to mention nobody cared after he wont the medal because he isn't American born/white. Why sacrifice mega-bucks to represent a country that would rather you not represent them?
Meb never makes it to the starting line... out due to "knee injury". The marathon majors next year will be watered down because of the Olympics, so Meb will come back from his injury to get a nice payday from Boston and NY. And I can't blame him. He's been on 3 Olympic Teams and has an Olympic medal. Running NY 2011, in my mind, sent a clear message that Meb doesn't have Olympic aspirations for 2012.
Has Meb re-signed with Nike? That would STRONGLY factor into his decision to seek a payday. Without a shoe sponsor an Olympic Trials Top-3 placing would not guarantee him any 6 figure bonus money and the prize money in the trials isn't near what a Marathon Majors appearance fee/prize money is worth.
Obviously Nike would re-up with Meb for some good money if Meb qualified for the Olympics, but considering the level of talent who have run similar qualifying times, it would be a big gamble on Meb's part.
And I wouldn't count on any of the 2012 major marathons being watered down significantly because of the Olympics. London in 2008 showed that big names (Hall and other international elites) will race there 4 months before the Olympics. New York has also proven capable of attracting top tiered marathoners and 10K specialists looking to make the jump in distance.
That being said, Meb is committed to giving every shot his best and providing for his family. If he has to run a marathon major to put food on the table then that is what he will do.
Anisotropic Al wrote:
Sounds like he'll be contributing his small check for 10th place, not his big check for showing up.
He is running for je$u$.
Critics say: All of the racing will be determental for the Olympics.
SO WHAT. The Olympics is a crap shoot anyway. I would rather have Paul Tergat or Paula Radcliffe's careers than I would Meb or Deena. Fortune and Fame comes from running big city marathons, not the Olymppics. As a fan, I would rather see Ryan Hall run 4 marathons a year.
so what, so does Bill Gates.
troof be told wrote:
hrunner wrote:god wants ryan to make more money - seems odd
Not really, considering that Hall runs a charity.
It only takes two-three weeks to fully recover from a marathon. Thus, Ryan Hall will have plenty of time to recover, easily qualify for the Olympic Team, and then rest/train for 7 MONTHS before London. Im not sure why so many people are freaking out about his decision. It will be good for him to get one big race in before the Olympics so he's is not rusty in competition. However, if he decides to run a spring marathon, then I will join the bandwagon.