Ritz in 5k Tomorrow!

Too bad the next and final GL meet only has the 5k. It'd be great to see Ritz run a fast 10k or 3k in this shape!

Pad - exactly right...was watching and thought it was cool to see Bekele run even though it was fairly lack luster...keeped an eye on where ritz was, but honestly didn't pay that close attention because you could only get quick looks. However probably about 1000m to go you could really see him start coming on...it was very fun. Then the guys calling the race got into it. Great stuff...glad I got to see it. Very happy for Ritz...awesome race

Is there a video of the race anywhere?

Can anyone point people to a video we can watch of the race? Please...

agree wrote:

Pad - exactly right...was watching and thought it was cool to see Bekele run even though it was fairly lack luster...keeped an eye on where ritz was, but honestly didn't pay that close attention because you could only get quick looks. However probably about 1000m to go you could really see him start coming on...it was very fun. Then the guys calling the race got into it. Great stuff...glad I got to see it. Very happy for Ritz...awesome race

Honestly, after his close at WC's I held some hope for Ritz here. His first 2K was a little scary but once he passed one person and bridged one gap I thought that the same thing could happen here as WC's, except I thought it would be about a 5th place finish in 13:05 based on their pace at 2K and assuming some people would fall apart. What I didn't assume is that he was going to just tear people up over the end and get the crowd going nuts and Bekele looking back scared! That was priceless.

I don't know why he'd need to go back to the marathon seriously for a few years, he just closed harder off of 13:00 pace than anyone in the field over the last 1000 meters. That's what medals are made of.

This is the whole meet, don't know how much longer it will be posted. 5k starts at 2:06:02.

http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?SPSID=105559&SPID=13055&DB_OEM_ID=23000&id=644818&sid=13055

Link right to start: http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?id=364263&catid;=-2&sid=13055&db_oem_id=23000

Politcally Correct wrote:

If a Black African runner ran a new PR by 19 seconds, everyone here would be screaming drugs. But when a White American does it, no such scream.

Why is that?

2004 12:37.35 Hengelo 31/05/2004 ------ 15 seconds improvement (on a 12:52 mark!!!)

2003 12:52.26 Oslo 27/06/2003 ----- 21 seconds improvement

2002 No Improvement

2001 13:13.33 Sevilla 08/06/2001 ---- 7 seconds improvement

2000 13:20.57 Rieti 03/09/2000

Bekeles jumps were more massive taking 21 seconds off 13:13 and then a year later 15 seconds off of 12:52!!!

And this is a guy who raced the euro circuit in and out, not someone who hit his first golden league 5000 in at least several years if not ever and is coming back from the marathon. But there are some already screaming drugs.

Flagpole: I'll predict he's trying to get under 13:10 and ends up just short at 13:11.

Only 15 seconds off

this thread is a fun read from the getgo to see the LR.C trolls rip on people who thought Ritz might run fast.

yay.

Great job to Ritz ... I always thought he had the most talent of his class in HS (and there were some good kids there) and it has taken some time to realize the potential ... but he is moving along pretty well at the moment.

Agreed but I don't think bekele( a guy who outkicked the second fastest 1500m of all time) was scared of ritz. But anyway, it was a great run by ritz.

infamous wrote:

Agreed but I don't think bekele( a guy who outkicked the second fastest 1500m of all time) was scared of ritz. But anyway, it was a great run by ritz.

There was maybe 100-150 meters where Ritz was really moving by people and he was closing down on bekele as well and the crowd got pretty loud. Bekele did have some serious concern on his face. Not that he knew it was Ritz coming, but that SOMEONE was. It happened to be Ritz and of course it couldn't carry all the way up. I think it's because it looked so dramatic. Bekele had hit about a 63 and Ritz a 60 and for a moment the unthinkable seemed possible to the crowd.

Plus, outside of Bekele, Ritz appeared to be a class of his own in that sea of top E. Africans for the most important 1000 meters. If you think we americans were pleasantly shocked, think what the Swiss fans must have been thinking.

I gotta admit, even I did not expect that!!!

Congrats to Ritz, he looks like a shoo in for a sub 27.

Come to think of it, I wonder what Hall would run in the 5 and 10 these days....

The Chosen one is back; or rather he has a new fire under him!!!

GO RITZ!!

"non college"...With your lack of intelligence more likely grade school.

USAF_run wrote:

yyy wrote:

Kekele 12:50-12:55 reality check bekele...your not in 2004-2005 shape at the moment.

ritz: 13:15-13:25 will go out hard and die.

Yeah you tell Him!!! Not like he just ran 20km of racing and still ran 26:45(closing in 13:05) and 13 low without losing. Silly little Bekele, whats he thinking tryin to run just 10 seconds faster than his last 5k of a 26:45.

God of the losers would just stop posting here, this could be a legit site. To say he will not run under 12:50 is to say that you are an absolute retard. And you my friend, are.

im i he ran 12:52....so stfu...

im shock on the american...no comment,

Mebulky -Agreed!!!!!!!!! Best call so far on Let's Run. Congrats!

Jefe in the CO wrote:

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!

Congratulations, please pick up your Letsrun.com "I'm a soothsayer" singlet at your nearest outlet...

Mrbulky wrote:

Bekele 12.48, dragging Ritz to an american record in 12.57

U heard it here first.

If it doesn't happen, then pretend you didn't hear it.

ouuuuuuuch wrote:

creep wrote:

typical let's run guy.. always hoping that the great pumpkin will arrive but never does...

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uhhhh... hold on a sec while I pick my balls from the floor..

Congrats to "Mr. Ritz" on an absolutely outstanding performance.

Mrr82 wrote:

blink wrote:

I'm thinking Ritz is going to be fairly tired.

From what...please tell me you're making a joke.

Blink, what a complete fool! Too tired? and got shown up by Mrr82!? Wow. You should retire from posting and stfu for forever.