This answers the question over whether Ritz should go out with the Leaders in New York. Ritz will beat Meb. This is a great day for american marathoning.
This answers the question over whether Ritz should go out with the Leaders in New York. Ritz will beat Meb. This is a great day for american marathoning.
A half marathon isn't a marathon. NYC is tough - Ritz would be wise not to go out too fast.
Abdi ran faster
Ritz was fortunate this was a slower year. Usually there are many who are under 60. My guess would be that many top guys are racing World 20k. Still, not a bad race, a good step for him. But it needs to be emphasized yet again...there is no comparison between a half marathon and a marathon. Hopefully his coach is not overvaluing this race.
ramala and berhanu are both former winners and he was competing with them to the end, a great run for a debut.
No, I'm not denying they were former winners or that it was a solid race for Ritz, but I'm just pointing out that this year was slower than usual. I doubt Ramala was all out in this race. It looks like he changed pace rather dramatically, mixing it up quite a bit. Nevertheless, Ritz should be pleased with this race. It's a good step. Still, beware...it's no real indicator for his marathon.
Anyone know if most of the race was into a slight headwind? Leading times in men and women suggest conditions not the fastest ever.
link for results?
Having watched I would have to say that Ritz was class! He raced it and was always in the mix and tried to cover every move. It was the most impressive debut I have seen in a long time.
He must have a sub 2.09 in him and think he will be a 2.07 runner on day
then if the conditions were slow doesn't it mean that ritz could have run faster? duh.
this has a great summary of the race. looks like Ritz ran very tough. this is an inspiration. great to see guys lay it onthe line.
I don't know how fast the guys are (as marathoners) who beat Ritz (for perspective), but I'd call this a successful debut. It's not shocking, given that it's supposed to be a fast course, but still good.
If you plug Ritz's time into the Merv calculator, you get Ritz's 10K PR. Also, it points to a 2:08:52 marathon for a similar type course as today. The NYC course is a tough course, so anything in the 2:10 to mid 2:12 would be a good guestimate of what he will run at NYC.
ramaala has a marathon best of 20655, berhanu ran 20846 in his second marathon, former world marathon champ ghourib (unsure of spelling, i think has a 20802 best) and 2004 olympic champ baldini has run 20722. ritz beat ghourib and baldini by over a minute, and ritz was only 2 seconds behind berhanu who has best's of 1254 for 5k 2712 for 10k, 5937 for the half marathon, i think ritz will do great in the marathon, as he did today.
Not to toot my own horn but I'm getting pretty good at this prediction stuff.
I predicted 2:05:58 for Geb at Berlin and he hit 2:05:56
I predicted Ritz would it 1:01:17 at the Great North half and he hit 1:01:23.
My margin of error lately has been very small.
i apologize to ghoureb (unsure of spelling) his marathon best is 20702, not 20802.
Forget the time for a moment, look at the caliber of athletes he was running with (and for some, even beat!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodgers_Rop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dejene_Berhanu
http://www.news24.com/News24/Olympics2004/SATeam/0,,2-1652-1657_1561541,00.html
at the end of the day things are looking good for American distance running these days. A quick summary
-We have had 3 Americans running 1:01 for 1/2 marathon this fall
-Brian Sell is fitter than ever, ready for sun 2:10 (hopefully)
-Tegenkamp ran 7:33 and 13:04 this summer
-Goucher ran 13:10
MTH wrote:
Not to toot my own horn but I'm getting pretty good at this prediction stuff.
I predicted 2:05:58 for Geb at Berlin and he hit 2:05:56
I predicted Ritz would it 1:01:17 at the Great North half and he hit 1:01:23.
My margin of error lately has been very small.
MTH, can you please tell me that I will run 13:19 this year? Thanks.
Let's go with 3:34 and 7:44 as well.
most are not peaking for this race and neither should ritz...who cares that he beat baldini in this race... baldini has his eye on the nyc marathon... not on this halfritz would be wise to do the same thing
indiorunner wrote:
Forget the time for a moment, look at the caliber of athletes he was running with (and for some, even beat!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodgers_Rophttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dejene_Berhanuhttp://www.news24.com/News24/Olympics2004/SATeam/0,,2-1652-1657_1561541,00.htmlhttp://www.iaaf.org/athletes/focusOnAfrica/newsId=26572/