Breaking: Ryan Hall Retires at Age 33

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

Part of the reason his career was so disappointing in some people's eyes is because of the high level he began his marathon career at, and he shouldn't be punished for that.

I agree, and for those of us who saw him rise through the ranks here in CA, I think the disappointment is even more painful because we know they just don't make any like this kid.

I've been involved with coaching HS and college in SoCal for 35 years and Ryan and German Fernandez are the only 2 where my coaching buddies and I were in awe at someone who truly seemed to be on a different level--a different species even from your sub-4:10, sub 9 HS superstars.

Ryan's HS times were not especially crazy, but we must remember that was the end of the 90's dark ages when few kids in the whole country broke 9 for 2 miles. There was just something about the way that kid Hall moved that dropped our jaws and made you say, "wow, that guy is special."

The pain from Hall's decline for me is that if we can't win with a once in a lifetime talent like that, we just can't win--and I agree that the rise of East africa compared to the Shorter days is obviously the difference.

Link?

What will they try next?

If he got a TUE for it, he WAS treated. That is what a TUE is. Also, that was the KEY, Testosterone is why he was running 59:43 and 2:06 in that time frame. Use your head.

Is he unable to father children because of his low testosterone? He's married to a hot woman and instead of having their own children, they adopted four black kids from Ethiopia?

Diamond5 wrote:

Is he unable to father children because of his low testosterone? He's married to a hot woman and instead of having their own children, they adopted four black kids from Ethiopia?

Could be, but Sara is a competitive runner too, probably didn't want to have kids mid athletic career.

Raysism wrote:

nikeman wrote:

Greatest American marathoner ever? Not even close. Try Salazar, Shorter and Rodgers before hall ever even comes into the conversation. Even then there's still a whole handful of other guys that I'd pick over Hall.

If he's not the greatest American marathoner ever, he's really, really close. This is pure speculation, obviously, but I don't think any of these runners could have stayed with Hall at his peak (2007 to mid-2008).

Plus I'd put Meb over a couple of those guys.

I think due to Shorters two (well really only one officially) Olympic golds he should be considered #1. But Jonathan Gault and I were talking about this today, if you lined them up at their peaks, I don't think it's even close. Hall crushes all of those guys.

Hall's 2:06:17 is 90 seconds faster than any other time run by any American not named Khalid Khannouchi. 90 seconds.

fadsfdfdf wrote:

Dathan Ritzenhein has two international medals. Hall has zero; Webb has zero.

We're counting juniors and the world half? I bet Webb would have won if he could have run the 1000 in high school.

AformerCAresident wrote:

dfsgfadsfdsf wrote:

Literally thought you were kidding about the name of that school. Then I googled it. Wow.

Yeah, scary stuff that Bill Johnson preaches. Absolutely unbiblical. It's really pretty shocking that they got themselves involved in that mess and have drifted further and further from Biblical Christianity.

Whatever. Once you choose the blue pill it's all the same.

Geez louis wrote:

Shes only 32. Get over your babyhood life. Girls look good over 30. And they're not flaky anymore.

Says someone who clearly has never dated women in their 30's

it's a bummer man wrote:

Ryan Hall was a great runner, and an unbelievable talent, but a total head case, His 2:06:17 in London was awesome. but he just couldn't connect everything and make himself a world-class, consistent runner.Even then there's still a whole handful of other guys that I'd pick over Hall.

This argument drives me nuts. He wasn't consistent. Let's look at the list presented above and take out the people who weren't American citizens at birth. Whether people want to admit it or not, genetics are important. Go read Sports Gene.

2:04:58 a Ryan Hall (USA) 14 Oct 1982 18 Apr 2011 2:05:37.8 1 Khalid

2:06:17 5 Ryan Hall - 2 (USA) 14 Oct 1982 13 Apr 2008 L

2:07:47 9 Dathan Ritzenhein (USA) 30 Dec 1982 07 Oct 2012

2:08:04 5 Ryan Hall - 3 (USA) 14 Oct 1982 09 Oct 2011

2:08:24 7 Ryan Hall - 4 (USA) 14 Oct 1982 22 Apr 2007

2:08:41 a 4 Ryan Hall - 5 (USA) 14 Oct 1982 19 Apr 2010

2:08:47 a 7 Robert Kempainen (USA) 18 Jun 1966 18 Apr

2:08:54 a 2 Dick Beardsley (USA) 21 Mar 1956 19 Apr 1982

2:09:01 a 1 Greg Meyer (USA) 18 Sep 1955 18 Apr 1983

2:09:01.9 1 Ryan Hall - 6 (USA) 14 Oct 1982 03 Nov 2007

He's run 5 of the 6 fastest marathons for people born in this country and 6 of 10. That's what I call consistency. Yet you somehow call him a headcase? No. He was GREAT.

I guess I'm really the hypocrite here for being a fan and then simultaneously critical of the Hall's actions both professional and personal. I loved what he did for the sport but not to himself at times. I find his particular brand of faith perplexing but if it has lead him to sharing his resources in love with others, then the proof is in the pudding. His brother Chad always impressed me with his talent as well but I don't think he took himself as serious. I think stepping away was the mature and sensible thing to do at this point - you can't ride the crest of the wave forever - it's time to move on. The beauty of his talent will not be forgotten easily, especially given the fact that he and Sarah have now made life long commitments to those wonderful girls. Ryan is not addicted to winning or being number one like many others and doesn't draw his identity exclusively from what his physical talents can produce - he has a higher calling and will pursue that goal with a renewed and focused passion.

Gods Speed!

Raysism wrote:

Holy shit, I thought this was a joke.

Which of the BroJos called this on the podcast yesterday? Step up and claim your prize!

It was me. But I\'m not a mind reader. It just seemed to me it was highly likely Ryan wouldn\'t be on the starting line. Ryan said, “As long as my body allows me. I’m not going to be someone who hangs on. When I know my body has had enough then (I’ll retire). I’ll always run and always love the sport… but I’m not going to be someone you’ll see doing this at not a very high level.”

The video is now posted here:

I had meant to post a lot more about the video on the site last month, but it got lost in the mix. With his retirement it\'s an interesting watch.

Sara's criticized people before- and does it again here:

"Ryan’s identity is secure,” she said. “Others might be running because they want fans and praise. But his approach is natural, similar to earlier running in this country when the top runners were training hard and racing in isolation — they were running for the passion, not the recognition. And they were excellent.”

No one runs for recognition.

He'll un-retire in a year. Even Joe Louis un-retired.

Good guy. I met him briefly a few years ago. Total class, but he lost his way in competitive running.

I am a big fan of his running, but I find a lot of his wife's quotes about him contradictory....she says he doesn't run for recognition but then there is this photo?

http://www.runblogrun.com/Hall_RyanWellsley-Boston11.JPG

Love22run wrote:

I am a big fan of his running, but I find a lot of his wife's quotes about him contradictory....she says he doesn't run for recognition but then there is this photo?

http://www.runblogrun.com/Hall_RyanWellsley-Boston11.JPG

I though that was kind of a cool moment, I didn't find it arrogant or attention speaking. He had fans cheering him and he was acknowledging them and having some fun. My only knock on him for that pick is I would have liked to see him actually go with the guys who had made the surge and try to go for the win rather than sit back more controlled and ensure a high finish.

For a guy at his level who had the opportunity to win majors I would have like to see him risk it a little more often and go for that win and either blow up or get the W. I know he was incredibly consistent and in his prime was a surefire top 5 with his strategy. But I can't think of an incident where he put it on the line, blew up and started to go backwards in a marathon other than than late in his career when his best days were behind him. I think with the strategy he employed it's nearly impossible to win a major in this day and age.

Ryan Hall had an amazing career. Expectations were so high that his greatness is overshadowed by those expectations. I'm not surprised by the negative remarks upon one of our great American running talents but, I am disappointed. It is just one more thing that some people do to feel better about themselves, bash the accomplishments of those that they could not even touch on a bad day.

He really retired three to four years ago if you look at his infrequent racing and poor production.

Ok, i take back my comment about consistency. i was clouded by his last 3-4 years of racing and didn't look close enough at his prime.you're right. thanks for making that list, it shows when he was on, he was in an awesome range2007-2011 was his marathon career.but he was/is a headcase. geeez

disloyal subject wrote:

Also, I noticed that the linked article seemed to be saying: career over due to low testosterone. I didn't see any mention of the fact that he was known to be taking thyroid medication (treated by none other than Dr Jeffrey Brown of Houston). I think it is at least worth considering whether that played a role in his eventual downfall. After all, the anti-thyroid medication people have been saying that you'll see the fallout for inappropriate thyroid use when these athletes get older. Is Ryan's condition a preview of what many other thyoxine users will experience?

Hall should have never messed with the thyroid medication. It ruined his endocrine system.

The thyroid medication is SERIOUS stuff and it messes your body up.