Ritz to train with Mahon's or Salazar's group??

Actually word on the street is that he's going to be training with Nick Symmonds.

Not really in the know.... wrote:

Actually word on the street is that he's going to be training with Nick Symmonds.

This fell through when Ritz told Symmonds that his shit flushing down the toilet could run D3.

I think he should consider a move if his track season doesn't go too well.

Ritz does need people who will push him.

The Torres Bros and Hartman aren't on the same level as Ritz and they never will be.

If Ritz chooses another group, Say goodbye to Boulder Training, and Hudson. Jorge is on Ritz's level, however. That's just ridiculous. I doubt Ritz could train with Hall. Too big of an ego.

Who has too big of an ego... Ritz or Hall?

QQ wrote:

Jorge is on Ritz's level, however. That's just ridiculous.

Well, that depends on how you define "level". Jorge isn't nearly as talented as Ritz and isn't one to really push Ritz when he needs it. If that's on the same level with him then so be it. I say levels at the level that the two of them are on are much more finely graduated, and that Ritz is definitely on another level from Jorge.

newly licenced wrote:

...how long will it be before Ritz leaves to train with Ryan Hall in Cali with Terrence Mahon's group or up in Oregon with AlSal?

It seems that the quality of performances coming from these groups out shines that of Hudson's enclave.

If Ritz is interested in being a 10k guy, then he is training in the right place. Brad is very good at creating a situation that allows Dathan to not have to flex and prove that he is the #1 guy. He has a good group of training partners for those events.

Terence group doesn't train together so moving out there would be a waste of time. Meb and Hall aren't even training together right now and they are in the same group and both focusing on the same event.

If Dathan is interested in being a marathoner he needs to get a hold of the Hansons NOW. No coaches have done more in this event with far less talent than Dathan. I never even heard of Morgan, O'Brien, or Humphrey and those guys are all running 2:15. I kicked Verran's ass in college (he was only a 30 flat 10k guy) and he is a consistent 2:14 guy. I have never broke 2:20. Brian Sell has been unbelievable with 2 sub 2:11 performances in the last year. Dathan would be a 2:07 guy in this system.

disagree wrote:

No coaches have done more in this event with far less talent than Dathan. .

should read "than Hansons." Sorry. I couldn't even understand what I was trying to say.

I agree, disagree. But it almost makes too much sense. Ritz may feel too big for the Hansons.

If Hansons sign with Nike (I don't know when their Brooks deal is done), I believe that will open the door for Dathan.

disagree wrote:

If Dathan is interested in being a marathoner he needs to get a hold of the Hansons NOW. No coaches have done more in this event with far less talent than Dathan. I never even heard of Morgan, O'Brien, or Humphrey and those guys are all running 2:15. I kicked Verran's ass in college (he was only a 30 flat 10k guy) and he is a consistent 2:14 guy. I have never broke 2:20. Brian Sell has been unbelievable with 2 sub 2:11 performances in the last year. Dathan would be a 2:07 guy in this system.

I disagree, disagree (victor, vector, who's on first?). The Hanson's group has run enough slop performances over the years but because they have so many bodies in the event making it so one of them is bound to perform, no one notices. None of the Hansons, including Sell, is in ritz's league. Sell is a 14:00/28:36 workhorse. Ritz is a 13:16/27:35 thoroughbred who ran 2:14:00 in his first attempt. The Hanson's runners are 2:17 to 2:20+ men more often than not.

Briney, Busquaert, Everly, Ernsberger, Gaudette, Humpphrey, Johnson, Laird, Moen, Morgan, O'Brien, Rosendahl, Sell, Sheehan, Snyder, and Verran are great for helping each other (and God bless them for doing it), but they do not come from the racing heritage that will help Ritz achieve his goals.

disagree wrote:

If Hansons sign with Nike (I don't know when their Brooks deal is done), I believe that will open the door for Dathan.

My guess on this.....

I see no way that Ritz signs with the Hansons. He's given the impression of being a goal-maker or dreamer of huge things. With the Hansons, besides only Sell, everyone else is only a solid professional. With other groups that have people like Meb and Hall, Ritz will know that greatness is in the cards.

Sell is a better marathoner than Ritz. Period.

glitter boy wrote:

I agree, disagree. But it almost makes too much sense. Ritz may feel too big for the Hansons.

I don't believe that is true. At least I hope not. I knew Dathan as a young middle school kid. One of his biggest strengths was that he always had an open mind and never saw himself as a celebrity. He was often shy about signing autographs in high school. I hope that he has not lost those characteristics because most of us respected those more than his running talent. I remember when all of the running world thought that Webb was going to kill Dathan at Footlocker and Dathan never said a word differently. He just quietly destroyed the field. The quiet confidence is what we loved the most Dathan. I hope you return to Michigan and get with people that will help bring that back in you.

Brooks-Hansons will put at least 2 and probably 3 runners ahead of Ritz in the Marathon Trials. They just plain have a better grasp of the marathon.

Also, remember that Ritz is from Michigan and that might be attractive to return home to train. I could see it happening.

Track Fan wrote:

Also, remember that Ritz is from Michigan and that might be attractive to return home to train. I could see it happening.

Is the Hanson's group as individualized as Hudson and others?? I think that's what it'd take for even a chance. I just don't see Ritz leaving altitude to go to a big group that is not near his talent, even with Sell.

Yes, the Hansons have done a great job. But:

1)Just because a runner has a less-than-message-board-esque debut marathon performance, does not mean he should switch coaches, let alone states/training bases.

2)Ritz likes the track. The Hansons guys are not track guys (correct me if I'm off here). To wit, Ritz will try to lower his track PRs this year. Where does that fit into the Hansons' overall scheme for their goals and their athletes?

3)Conjecture is always fun.

I agree with you. In my first post I stated that if Ritz plans to stay on the track, then he is in the right hands. I think that Brad has done a great job with all of his track athletes. My additional comments were only directed toward Ritz if he wants to focus on the marathon. I have no ties to one camp or another. If I were one of the Hanson guys that wanted to focus on the track I would probably contact Brad.