With all of these threads on why Ryan Hall was able to break through to another level I have never read anybody mention the fact that it is HOW a runner performs their schedule that is the most important aspect of success, not WHAT their schedule actually is. I have read that, since Ryan's schedule is similar to what many other runners perform on a weekly basis, then there must be other reasons beside his training that must explain his success. In my opinion the numbers don't tell you much about the "whys of success" besides showing that the athlete is actually putting the work in. I think Ryan is succeeding because he is simply performing his schedule in an optimal manner. Some runners force the pace of all of their runs (day after day until they break down), some race their workouts so hard that they can only crawl their way through their recovery runs, some never push themselves hard enough, some don't do all the things necessary for recovery (ice baths, massage, stretching etc) and on and on. Notice how Ryan mentions in his interview how much he is enjoying his training. He's enjoying it because he's tuned into exactly what his body can handle from day to day. He's floating along above the "well of fatigue" and making sure he never falls in. Sure, from the outside his training is the same as that of many others, but I have a feeling it's his approach that sets him apart.