Update on Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahman Dropping Out of Olympic Marathon

Dennisairmj23 wrote:

If Ryan was injured going into the Olympics he really should have let the 4th qualifier attend, let someone else get that experience. Anybody can get into NY or Boston relatively speaking. I think it was Really selfish of him in my opinion to go and DNF in the Olympics, something that happens every 4 years! lame...God certainly wasnt there for him today I guess...I agree with whoever below this said something about him talking all confident before the race, while knowing he wasnt even close to 100%. Shouldn't have even started...but guess you gotta do what your sponsors say to do too...they are paying the bills after all...

You have no idea what you're talking about.

heart of darkness wrote:

But in Hall's defense, he did say in the New York Times article that he was still trying to sort out what were his own thoughts and what were God's.

That's his DEFENSE?!? That he's trying to sort out which thoughts are his own and which belong to some other person who doesn't exist? The guy is a grade A nut job who should be locked up before he goes on a killing spree.

I was brought up in a devoutly Catholic household. After much contemplation, I no longer have a religous faith, but I have great respect for some people I know whose religous faith influences their lives in positive ways.

I suppose it's your deeply held belief and all, but you can have it. "I beat my body to make it a slave..." OK, good for you and your God. I'd like to think that there is some interpretation of this that makes it something that it appears on its face. And your faith leads you to wish that ryan Hall would have finished the race with a ripped up hamstring to exacerbate his humiliation to some unearthly better purpose you imagine.

Maybe you would benefit in some twisted way from his greater humiliation. Not me, and I don't need your version of Christianity. Feel free to walk over a bed of coals. I think I'll have another beer.

t

Meb dropped out of the London marathon. That is different than the Olympics! Med would drop out of a marathon but NOT the Olympic marathon. He has way too much self respect and way too much respect for his country.

heathen wrote:

My country did not send me here to start the race, but to finish it.

I don't think this philosophy exists much anymore.

One of the great quotes from a bygone era. Nowadas elite running is a business frost and competition second.

Spear Chucker wrote:

heathen wrote:

My country did not send me here to start the race, but to finish it.

I don't think this philosophy exists much anymore.

One of the great quotes from a bygone era. Nowadas elite running is a business frost and competition second.

WELL SAID BY BOTH

Look, it's the Olympic Marathon! The first thing my wife said was, "WHAT DO MEAN HE DROPPED OUT? WHO DROPS OUT OF AN OLYMPIC RACE?" The general public does not understand this, "unless I'm 100% I'm done mentality". Heck, I was raised through the sport and my coaches instilled this in me too. Of course, there is a time when the writing is on the wall and it's time to pull the plug (e.g., if your long-term health is at risk). Was this the case with Ryan Hall today? I can't answer that, but SURE I would have liked him to grind it out best he could for awhile longer. He's representing all of us! It stings that he quit.

And to the guy who said about grabbing a beer...I'd be happy to grab a beer with you and talk about man's purpose on earth. An "authentic Christian" has nothing to do with abstaining from living fully in the world at large. "My God" likes it when I engage in healthy debate in a non-judgmental way. He also has a great sense of humor. I'd love nothing more than for you to get to know him as he's a Beautiful Outlaw!

Meb is a guy for Hall to emulate. What a tough competitor. He too had injury problems affect his buildup. But he listens to his coach, who is a real person (Bob Larsen), and he goes as hard as he can go for the hardware. And with all three Ethiopians dropping out and Mutai running way back, he almost did it, picking off a ton of runners to move up to fourth. Read that interview with him on the front page. A very wise man.

let's not judge, who knows what Ryan was going through before, during and after the race. We only got a glimpse the day before and after...who knows. My take on this and solely on recent findings/readings. To be me, I think Ryan believed (or at least he put on a good 'front') at the time that he had a good chance of getting up in the front of the pack. (nothing wrong w/dreaming big, right?) However, I think he knew in the back of his mind that he was NOT 100%-whether it be getting over a PF, or knowing the temps of the race was not ideal. Therefore I think he knew his chances was not good. He either did what his mind wanted (to go ahead and run knowing he was not confident--taking a big risk) or go w/his heart by pulling out and knowing he will take even a BIGGER risk. Either way, I would not want to be in his shoes or any runner who had to pull out during this important race. It must have felt bad if you have a conscious.

I totally agree. There are lots of people for Ryan to emulate and Meb is a great one! If he's of another religion than all the better! We must remember that Ryan Hall is still a relatively young man and, hopefully, will learn that a person needs to balance reason with his faith.

He should realize that calling God his coach is going to be considered 'a bit wacky'. But Hall is obviously very much a fundamentalist Christian with a penchant for evangelicalism. That's who he is and I, for one, enjoy interesting personalities who know who they are more than people who try to be carbon copies of the status quo. Bottom line: Ryan Hall would be better served with a coach (who respects and understands his faith), but teaches him the benefits of balancing faith and reason.

Dare I say: Why he wants to use up so much time/energy in prayer for his own personal [coaching] needs may show that he has much room for maturity. Prayer, so I've learned, is so much more than asking about fulfilling your individual needs. As I see it, running "can be" such a selfish pursuit that it only makes sense to leave much of the planning/thinking/organizing to a coach.

The less you can focus on yourself all the time the better. And be humbly thankful for your coaches' presence in your life! Every single day as you journey together. Walking with Christ [or running with Christ] is not meant to be such a solitary pursuit. Let a coach in on it all and start putting your head together with someone who can spend their time/energy on preparing you to be at your best during this short venture of professional athletics.

Ultimately (with a coach and this approach), Ryan Hall would be able to more likely connect with a wider audience. Out of this he could then spread the Good News that he has apparently found. Lord knows in this crazy, mixed up world we could use a little positive inspiration.

Kid has talent though and just needs some professional and heartfelt guidance/mentoring...that's how I see it.

Well put. Ryan didn't attend the sermon on "the seven sins" did he,Greed, and vanity& pride,,,!!!

It's all about the money wrote:

Bad move by Hall , he has not been right for weeks , maybe he was thinking divine intervention would save him. Should have pulled out and gave up his spot , Abdi the same , water on the knee is cumulative , it's been around awhile , he should have not started , both hurt chances of others and now will run for fall money marathons. Bad examples both of them.

Ryan missed the sermon about the seven deadly sins long time ago. Greed, vanity, pride... He didn't run for USA right... If so I'm more insulted, he could have said "sorry America, but men. He has guts and integrity. I'm buying Skechers!

H.E. Pennypacker wrote:

orbitboy wrote: If Ryan Hall chooses to run without a coach, it's because he's dumb or crazy, not religious.

Same thing.

+1

In Defar's case she is using god for willpower, for example, to have the strength to win the race on that given day. In her case the coach is not god.

If I understand correctly, Hall is using god for training, as in training configured by god.

It seems to me a lot of posters are slamming Hall because of his religious beliefs and poor performance (and implying those two are tied closely together). While I may think his beliefs are nutty (and it's true, his self-promotion and public quotes about his beliefs can be annoying!), I know a lot of wonderful people who have very different beliefs than mine, and, as far as I'm concerned, he can believe what he wants. But, I think even if he suddenly "saw the light" and became an atheist (:-), it wouldn't change the underlying problem - which is that he is what I believe is commonly called a "choker." What a contrast to Meb, who has the kind of character and mental strength to come through in the important races even when he is not 100%! I have so much respect for Meb, he is amazing! I doubt that's something that Hall would ever get, regardless of all the religious stuff. It's interesting, because my sense is that, on raw physical talent, Hall seems to be at least as talented as Meb - but obviously there's more than raw physical talent required to win these things. I have the feeling we will hear less and less of Hall in the future - but, if it sounds like I'm slamming him, I want to give him credit for what I thought was the best race of his life, the 2008 olympic trials. In that one race he was truly awesome, defeating better runners such as Khalid and Meb (albeit neither of them were in top form), and running so strong. I saw him running it (watched it in Central Park), and he just really got it together that day. Even if he never runs another race that well, and never has come through in the "big" races (olympics, etc...), that race is one he can always look back on and be deservedly proud.

Meanwhile... who's Ryan Hall?... running?... yea I burnt 300 calories this morning with my bros then got a frappacino at Starbucks afterwards... boring... preseason NFL training is on!... bro

Do these guys (or any that drop out in any event) have to re-inburse the olympic committee for air fare or lodging?

Floyd Pink wrote:

It's fascinating to see the Anti-Christian obsession play out on threads like this. Not. It's boring and predictable and says nothing about Hall and everything about the posters.

Meb is a great runner and always runs smart and comes up big. But I would wager that if he had an injury like Hall or Abdi (but we are not talking about Abdi, are we, because he is not up front about his faith) then he would have dropped out as well.

Meb has completed a marathon injuried, a quick Google search will tell you everything you need to know.

Brianruns10 wrote:

Ha! Right on. Pretty hypocritical of pious holier than thou hall, to break to not rest on the sabbath, and in fact, to race for a gold idol with the graven image of a "false god," I.e. Nike, goddess of victory.

Ryan Hall hellbound?

And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." - Mark 2:27-28

Christians arent Jews.