Will 7 time NCAA D1 All-American Joe Klecker join a new group in MI led by coach Dathan Ritzenhein?

Would be a great fit. Similar mentality.

New group in Michigan? Ritz has had a group in Michigan for 3 years.

Klecker recently moved into a place in Boulder, has been wearing "ON Running" Gear, and is following a system closely resembling his CU days.

My guess is that he stays in Boulder, gets signed by ON and is coached by Ritz. Maybe forming a team in Boulder?

Klecker has a long relationship with Tinman guys like Pearson, can see him going a similar route where he joins them for the workouts he wants a group for yet doesn't depend on the group for sponsorship, actual or defacto.

He already stated that he wasn't joining Tinman Elite.. He wants to become an elite runner. Not a social media fanboy who meditates and can't spell.

What about Lee Troop?

He is already better than everyone in the Tinman group. If there had been a track season, he would've been a 13:20 / 28:00 guy by the end of the summer. Being the best guy in your group is not in and of itself bad, but for a new pro you need someone (teammate or coach) who has been to the top of the mountain and can teach you how to get there. Drew Hunter is essentially a peer, so doesn't really fill the grizzled veteran role.

Klecker is mature and will hold himself accountable, so doesn't need a coach there every day. I could see Ritzenhein coming up to Boulder every so often to check in , or Klecker going to Michigan for some sharpening (similar to what Parker Stinson has done). Ritzenhein knows the value of altitude so, for athletes with the means, I'd think he would endorse a permanent home up high.

This is of course just speculation on the internet (aka jerking off), but given similar backgrounds - growing up in the North, CU, ultimately 10km-marathon skill sets - this would be a great situation for Klecker. The kid seems to have a good head on his shoulders so he'll be fine wherever he ends up.

Two-Faced McGee wrote:

He already stated that he wasn't joining Tinman Elite.. He wants to become an elite runner. Not a social media fanboy who meditates and can't spell.

Yawn...When it comes to mentioning Tinman Elite or the team's coach, on LetsRun haters gonna hate.

Well. If you want to know the why. It’s because Joe doesn’t appreciate Tom’s aggressive recruiting, or Tom insulting his coach, Wetmore. I don’t think anyone in Boulder appreciates how Tom craps on every other coach when he recruits. Tom is sour grapes he has never been apart of the Elite running world, as an actual backed pro coach or an elite athlete. I don’t think Joe appreciates being a social media clown along the lines of Sam Parsons either. He’s a little too fast and a little too down to Earth to join a JV group like Tinman.

If Klecker makes an olympic team in the 5 or 10 for 2021 Imma be so hype

Fellow CU alum -- and all-around special person -- David Kilgore is sponsored by ON, so there must be some connection there.

I know Ritz is a big name, but with all the middle distance guys rumored to be joining the group, they should’ve gambled on a college coach instead.

Ritz? Please.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CByRvQiH0eb/

i don't get it. are we supposed to glean something from that instagram post? if there was audio, i couldn't hear.

Who shot the video? ?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBWaabmnHwP/

He's definitely been running in ON gear...as seen on the instagram posts embedded above. I don't think that Tom is a terrible coach...but I do think that coaching professionals is a lot different than coaching superstar high school runners. However, with a guy like Drew, for example, it is nice to have years upon years of consistency in coaching (think Solinsky and Teg w/ Jerry).