Ryan Hall announced that he will run his 1st Ultra Marathon

UltraSmartRunner69 wrote:

with his current shape and fitness, why not just drop down to sub-elite 400/800m racing with the locals? pretty much only running enthusiasts know who ryan hall is and none of these running enthusiasts are gonna be impressed in whatever outcome he gets out of this. hell, i'd say that even he and his own family doesn't care about what the outcome is.

What makes you think he is trying to impress "running enthusiasts"? But even more interesting is how you are so sure you know what either he or his family cares about. Care to explain?

Sarah Hall wrote:

I’m not sure he’s pulling a full seed bag these days. Something seems really off.

I don't think he ever has. The "coached by God" experiment was a clear indicator of that. But his obliviousness also contributed to his success, because he would go out and do things that others were too fearful or overly analytical to try.

Good for him. Also good for him that he got into body building. Of course he could spend his time on internet message boards instead....

I have a colleague how had never ran more than 10 miles at once who did an ultra. He hiked most of it, but to say Ryan Hall won’t finish is a stretch. Agree he won’t win, but could easily finish.

Fattyatthegym wrote:

I have a colleague how had never ran more than 10 miles at once who did an ultra. He hiked most of it, but to say Ryan Hall won’t finish is a stretch. Agree he won’t win, but could easily finish.

No, he won't easily finish. He is not used to grinding it out. 2:06 Marathon runners are not really ultrarunning material. They are fast on roads for 2 hours but that's it. They don't know anything about pacing themselves over 4, 6 or 8 hours. They don't know how to eat.

Theoretically he could finish but the it is very unlikely.

No Walmsley fanboy wrote:

Fattyatthegym wrote:

I have a colleague how had never ran more than 10 miles at once who did an ultra. He hiked most of it, but to say Ryan Hall won’t finish is a stretch. Agree he won’t win, but could easily finish.

No, he won't easily finish. He is not used to grinding it out. 2:06 Marathon runners are not really ultrarunning material. They are fast on roads for 2 hours but that's it. They don't know anything about pacing themselves over 4, 6 or 8 hours. They don't know how to eat.

Theoretically he could finish but the it is very unlikely.

Yes, the top tier olympic athlete with a 2:06 marathon PR is going to struggle to power hike some uphills, and jog some downhills on a Sunday afternoon. /s

I doubt he will be top 10, but if he DNF's it is going to be because he got injured in the race. Not because he doesn't have the fitness.

Hopefully, possibly, this ultra challenge will light a spark in Mr. Hall, and he'll realize that he still has a love for running, and it will remind him of a dream from long-ago that he has been suppressing. This ultra will shake the dust off that suppressed dream, and he will become enamored with mulling over that dream once again, asking the questions, "Is it too late?"; "Is it still possible?"

That dream...was to break 4 minutes in the mile.

Should Mr. Hall take the next step, and ask the question, "How would I even start again?", I recommend he read my comments in the thread titled, "20 minutes 5k training":

https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=10128267

In that thread I describe a training protocol backed by scientific studies: "4x4 Interval Training"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XDsRNeVynk

4 mins on, repeated 4 times per session, with 3 sessions per week. Replace the lifting of heavy iron with these 4x4 sessions, Mr. Hall, and whittle that power down to a honed racing machine. You can always bulk up again later in life, but your God given talent to run fast will only last so long.

It could likely take a year. Twelve 4-min reps per week (spaced out over 3 sessions/week), performed for 52 weeks, is a total of 624 of the 4-min reps, run at 90-95% HR max (as I discuss in the other thread). The treadmill speed/incline is incrementally increased as your fitness builds, and your excess weight comes back off.

Should you complete the task, Mr. Hall, and come to terms with that dream's 'unfinished business', your legend will be sealed bigger than any off-the-shelf running drama, (e.g., "Once a Runner"). It will be an apropos conclusion of the Final Chapter of "The 41st Day."

God bless whatever you choose.

jonathon wrote:

I doubt he will be top 10, but if he DNF's it is going to be because he got injured in the race. Not because he doesn't have the fitness.

If Hall gets injured, he didn't have the fitness required for this kind of race.

This is not a gym fitness event, this is a trail ultra. Gym fitness is totally useless for this.

He did seven marathons in seven days on seven continents without training for it. He'll be fine.

This thread is about Hall, not about me. If you want to talk about me, start a thread ?

No Walmsley fanboy wrote:

Fattyatthegym wrote:

I have a colleague how had never ran more than 10 miles at once who did an ultra. He hiked most of it, but to say Ryan Hall won’t finish is a stretch. Agree he won’t win, but could easily finish.

No, he won't easily finish. He is not used to grinding it out. 2:06 Marathon runners are not really ultrarunning material. They are fast on roads for 2 hours but that's it. They don't know anything about pacing themselves over 4, 6 or 8 hours. They don't know how to eat.

Theoretically he could finish but the it is very unlikely.

Not sure why you are so intimidated by an ultra. They are challenging, but approachable. To think Ryan Hall can’t figure out pacing or effort level for anything beyond a fast marathon is sad. Not sure why I am defending him, can’t stand him. I was going to make fun of the fact that his faith will carry him to the finish, but had to help you solve a simple problem.

Agreed. I've done my share of ultras. Personally, I took them pretty seriously and trained hard for them, but was always impressed with how some people did relatively well off very little training. The very first ulta I did was a 40-miler in TN, and one of the mid-pack finishers had never done more than 8 miles before. The point being, the human body is fairly well-suited to ultramarathoning, if you're willing to go slow. If the average semi-fit human had to get to some point 40 miles away, and the only way to do it was by foot, they could get there.

I haven't looked at the course. I assume it's difficult and the elevation is pretty high. But as long as he's willing to go 4-5 mph for large portions of it, he should be able to finish. Plus, say what you will about him, he does have some talent for running.

I am sure do something like run 2 miles in 16 mins and walk 1 in 16mins and average 5mph for 44 miles. Look at that 3 miles. Was he out of breath sure? But that is cause he casually jogged 4400m and then sprinted the last 400m. Drop the pace 2-3 mins and he will be fine..

I would be a lot more worried about him screwing up his feet (i.e. blisters) or totally messing up eating (not a huge deal over a mere 40 miles) but unless he does something stupid like try to run the whole thing he will be fine...

talent beats training wrote:

I ran Marine Corps in 2:36 one year on almost no training. Hall is twice as good as me. He will be fine.

No you didn't.

it is, what it is wrote:

Hopefully, possibly, this ultra challenge will light a spark in Mr. Hall, and he'll realize that he still has a love for running, and it will remind him of a dream from long-ago that he has been suppressing. This ultra will shake the dust off that suppressed dream, and he will become enamored with mulling over that dream once again, asking the questions, "Is it too late?"; "Is it still possible?"

That dream...was to break 4 minutes in the mile.

This is a ridiculous wish. Why do you care if an almost 38-year-old lights a "spark"? Why are you hopeful about that? How do you know he has been suppressing this dream? What a weird thing to think. What a weird thing to hope for. Go find a hobby.

whats your problem retard learn to show some respect

Fattyatthegym wrote:

Not sure why you are so intimidated by an ultra. They are challenging, but approachable. To think Ryan Hall can’t figure out pacing or effort level for anything beyond a fast marathon is sad. Not sure why I am defending him, can’t stand him. I was going to make fun of the fact that his faith will carry him to the finish, but had to help you solve a simple problem.

I am not intimidated by an ultra. I have done pretty much every distance under the sun.

Ryan Hall could maybe figure it out but not with spending 8 days a week in a gym.

His running glory was a decade ago.

He might finish that 40 mile ultra but it will be a lot harder than he can imagine.

Anyway my bet is on DNF.

runners might want to work out like hall.

i did a routine, and added 30 pounds of muscle, which went on well.

chicks notice, and you get offers, shockingly nice offers.

it's a new dimension from skinny fit dude scenario.

why not try it? instead of look like a refugee all the time.

still, i like cardio and going up the mountains.

why not play around with it?

why not have fun?

No Walmsley fanboy wrote:

Fattyatthegym wrote:

I have a colleague how had never ran more than 10 miles at once who did an ultra. He hiked most of it, but to say Ryan Hall won’t finish is a stretch. Agree he won’t win, but could easily finish.

No, he won't easily finish. He is not used to grinding it out. 2:06 Marathon runners are not really ultrarunning material. They are fast on roads for 2 hours but that's it. They don't know anything about pacing themselves over 4, 6 or 8 hours. They don't know how to eat.

Theoretically he could finish but the it is very unlikely.

Please, give us a break. Anyone who has got half a bit of grit (which is WAY less than what it takes to train for marathons at elite level), can grind out a 40 miler. It's just a fun day out in nature , not navy SEAL hell week.