What do you think about Ryan Hall's QOTD?

I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw that and thought "wtf?"

I'd hazard a guess that it was just banter between two friends and we really shouldn't be taking it that seriously

Let's try:

"It's not a 2:04.58 day with no 25 MPH tailwind, but it's a 2:05.08 day with a persistent crosswind and the shoes."

You have to remember that he said this before the race encouraging Mantz, not after the race trying to take away from his performance.

Still comes across as weird to me.

Is there a problem with being honest? Bro was running in some cheap ASICS foam.

ALSO- looks like he knows what he is talking about

I wonder how Manz took it. Looks like Ryan was correct. I recall Ryan finished 4th on the day he ran the 2:04:58, just as Manz just did. Ryan still has bragging rights though because he podiumed Boston with a 2:09.

Yeah, in fact this seems worse to me. It's one thing after the race if Mantz had run 2:04:57 to say "I think my performance is better". That sounds like banter.

It's different, and I think worse, to talk to a guy on the line and essentially say "if you run faster than me today, it's only because of the shoes". It sounds supportive, but it has a passive-aggressive undertone, and even a bit demoralizing right before the race.

But again, maybe Hall was trying to be supportive and Mantz took it that way. My guess is that Hall did indeed mean to be supportive, but he's proud and competitive and that led to him saying slightly the wrong thing.

I think it’s kind of lame for retired guys to say they were better than the current ones. He was a great runner regardless of what Mantz accomplishes.

Rather than his 2:04.58, I thought his greatest race was his OT win at Central Park.

I doubt Hall meant it in any negative way, but when I heard Conner mention he said this it did rub me the wrong way. He probably meant there wasn’t the advantage of a massive tailwind this year, but with the shoe technology it was possible. A bit of a silly comment though imo

I will preface this by saying I do not know the full story.

Ryan Hall woke up one day a few months ago, decided he was done coaching, and abandoned all his athletes.

I am not going to put any stock into his opinions. I hope he is all right though....

Ryan Hall is a tool

gave up running to become a power lifter and a running coach

gave up coaching running to do...nothing

now is hating on the next generation

Certainly appears that way...

this is an absolutely ridiculous take. are we really so willfully blind to the enormous impact of cheater shoes as to think that athletes who set records before they were in market are going to part of the collective delusion? why should Hall participate in pulling the wool over people's eyes about what these shoes do? in regular shoes, Mantz ran something between 2:07 and 2:09. still a great performance, and maybe still comparable to Hall's in 2011, given the wind-aid. if you're not a marketing intern at a cheater shoe company (or you're not one of these people perpetually butthurt about cheater shoes because that's where all your PRs come from), this simple statement of truth shouldn't be so triggering.

God told him to.

I think it was passive aggressive too, and just unnecessary. Why even focus on the 2:04:58 at all? Why bring that time up? Why not just say it’s a “course record” day?

While the shoes undoubtedly make a difference (though I think three minutes is crazy), the tailwind Hall enjoyed was like none ever before in that race. And he still finished two minutes back of the record setting winner. Yeah, Korir soloed the last 10k yesterday, but it’s not like he was totally idling. He dropped some ridiculous mile splits in there.

Basically Hall is saying, “yeah, I had a big advantage that day, but it’s no different than having super shoes.” So we’re even. And nothing Mantz ever accomplishes will be good enough. He could run 2:03, but Hall’s 2:06 at London was better. Hall should come out and clarify himself if he doesn’t want people to read it the wrong way. It’s no different than Mantz turning around now and saying “I could’ve run 2:02 with Hall’s tailwind,” which might not be too far off the mark.

I heard he claims to be a natty lifter?

If he's going to compare times, then we have to compare the cocktails and dosing of different eras.

I didn't think it was a big deal, but I read it as "you are fast, but I was faster." And I thought to myself, "it's hard for fierce competitors to let go of their competitiveness."

After reading Ryan's quote,

I'm not so sure I'd like to grab a drink with him anymore :(