Teg's comments on Hall

I don't think it was out of line the way he had said it. I think he was just speaking from the perspective of our team's ability to compete at track events. You have to look at the reasons for making such a comment. I don't think it was selfish.

I still think Hall deserves to do whatever he wants and should not answer to anyone. Again, he would not have done the race if he wasn't training for a Spring Marathon and we would never be having this discussion if that were the case.

Teg is not "out of line". He is simply giving his opinion.

When a great performance like Ryans occurs many people will have an opinion. His coach has a pretty good idea what they are trying to accomplishment. It is often "trial and error". I saw his effort at the 5k nationals in Indy and he appeared to think that he could run away from everyone and then when he was caught, he was looking around like he wanted someone to take the pace. When the pace went fast, he could not respond. His training did not seem to match his race strategy. Whatever they are doing now definitely is working for the longer distances; maybe they have not figured out the training best for the shorter distances. Good luck to the young American distance talents this and next summer.

I think that Matt in a way is challenging Ryan to reach his potential on the track first. It would help American distance running at the Oly and WC level. It would help people like Teg also. There are many people (including myself) that believe that moving up to the marathon (for young talented track athletes) is often something that cuts careers short!

What are Teg's PR's to be saying this??? Then maybe he should STFU!!!.... Oh wait, he's pretty darned fast. Sorry the typical Letsrun demeanor temporarily got the best of me.

We will just have to see if Teg is a one season wonder like most american runners nowadays.

jennings came most of the way back last year at 1500m and 1000m (2:18, u.s. #1) after running a winter marathon, and not that bad a debut. so, I don't think that a spring marathon is going to ruin hall. he's wise to give it a try prior to the trials (why make the trials into a debut marathon? you'd run a big risk of dying in your attempt to qualify against a tough field) and when he is in incredible shape. you don't necessarily get too many chances in this condition. then hopefully he'll go for track races in the summer after a gradual transition.

well, my opinion rests on that Hall shouldn't run a marathon....however, I don't think it would hurt him.

And for Teg, ummm, the marathon isn't always going to be there. Many guys have gone to their retirement with that opinion, without a solid shot at the marathon. The idea that the marathon/longer distances will always be there is a philosophy that helped us into the doldrums known as the 90s. However, I bet Teg is repeating something Jerry might have said, being the 90s runner that he was. But thats just me.

jryun wrote:

There are many people (including myself) that believe that moving up to the marathon (for young talented track athletes) is often something that cuts careers short!

Maybe. But then, look at Meb, Abdi and Deena. Have their careers been cut short, in comparison to say BK and Todd Williams who ran 26.2 pretty late?? You can also look at some of our milers who either flamed out early or never improved on the early promise (Lassiter, Berryhill, Stember).

IMO, marathoning can cut careers short if doing it full time with lots of competing, maybe like a Ryan Shay (Clint Verran, Brian Sell are arguments against this, though). But using it in less concentration and taking advantage of the strength it gives (like Meb, Abdi, Deena), seems to have helped. Meb and Deena in particular wouldn't be the 10K track runners they are w/o the 26.2, IMO. Also, I think Ritz is primed for a big 2007 because of his added strength.