DONT FORGET RITZ's 8:11

Coach Pee wrote:

He was great, running a PB by nearly 5 seconds! A 13:00 is in his reach!!!

Just to be accurate, he ran a PB by about 12 seconds.

"BK ran sub 13:00 and only 8:12 in the duece."

And then there's:

Alan Webb 8:11 (2 mile) and 13:10 (5K)

" am still nutting off to Rupp getting second at NCs.

Saladbar sucks."

-ritz is essentially coached by "saladbar" whether you choose to believe it or not.

Bob Kennedy ran 7:30 in Europe which completely destroys his 8:12 (7:30 = ~8:06). Unlike many of the other Americans, Kennedy never was peaked for early season meets like Pre.

BTW, I think both the McMillian and IAAF tables are bullshit. IAAF tables are used to score 100m events in relative terms to the 10k, get it? They statistically value each event and in effect rarely run events get more points for relatively slower performances.

Ritz would have to pace 8:21 per 2 miles to break the 5K AR. One guy (besides all-time great Lagat) has come within sniffing distance of BK's record in 11 years. There's a reason for that. When Goucher was a monster in the late 90's, he couldn't even scare it. Up to this point, only Teg was 6.69 seconds away... and that's still a lot. Making up 1+ second every 2 laps to catch that time is hard at their level.

A PR by twelve seconds (setting aside what might be a better 3k, which would convert to about an eight second improvement).

Coach Pee wrote:

He was great, running a PB by nearly 5 seconds! A 13:00 is in his reach!!!

Didn't Webb die terrible in the last lap of that 13.10? Lagat had 12.59.

ttc wrote:

Ritz would have to pace 8:21 per 2 miles to break the 5K AR. One guy (besides all-time great Lagat) has come within sniffing distance of BK's record in 11 years. There's a reason for that. When Goucher was a monster in the late 90's, he couldn't even scare it. Up to this point, only Teg was 6.69 seconds away... and that's still a lot. Making up 1+ second every 2 laps to catch that time is hard at their level.

Goucher didn't break 13:30 until he was out of college.

Ritz broke 13:30 as a freshman in college.

Ritz is much better than Goucher. Believe it.

Now that Ritz seems to be healthy, you will see it soon, and then like you tend to do, ttc, you'll pretend you were his biggest fan all along.

What's funny is that Ritz has never broken 4:00/3:42 (not that he races those anymore). 8:11 with his stamina puts him in 13:05/27:20 territory later in the season (insert usual caveat about "staying healthy")

this one is better than Mcmillan

Not A Runner wrote:

Bob Kennedy ran 7:30 in Europe which completely destroys his 8:12 (7:30 = ~8:06). Unlike many of the other Americans, Kennedy never was peaked for early season meets like Pre.

BTW, I think both the McMillian and IAAF tables are bullshit. IAAF tables are used to score 100m events in relative terms to the 10k, get it? They statistically value each event and in effect rarely run events get more points for relatively slower performances.

I disagree, I think the IAAF tables are right on..

Ritz runs 13:03 and 27;15 this summer!

I use that one, and it's usually pretty close.

Coach Pee wrote:

I disagree, I think the IAAF tables are right on..

Ritz runs 13:03 and 27:15 this summer!

It all depends on what opportunities come up. His plans are for Hengelo and Lausanne. Lausanne isn't the best place to run fast because of the 2000+ altitude. If he runs Worlds it's doubtful he'll ever run a "hoover-effect" leading in. Would probably switch to marathon training after Worlds.

Wejo didn't post anything about Dathan's race on the front page.

Dan Onymous wrote:

Now that Ritz seems to be healthy, you will see it soon, and then like you tend to do, ttc, you'll pretend you were his biggest fan all along.

I'm about the biggest Ritz fan around. If you doubt it, then explain these past posts, including ones during his bad times. I just don't think he's a sub-13:00 type of 5K runner, but instead special from the 10K & up.

"I've always said that if he (Ritz) stays reasonably healthy, then the 10K record is his. I still think that, more than Teg or Webb, he can place extremely high at the WC's."

"I think Ritz is due for a huge year. Extended strength training to go with his 5K track PR. I've always thought that, more than Webb or Hall, Ritz had "it". Now he's got some real, non-injured training to go with it."

"Ritz is the complete package for a great marathoner or even 10K'er. But no one runs great with consistent injuries. If not for them, I really think Ritz would have our 10K A.R. and a top 8 finish in a WC and/or Olympic 10K by now, with better things in the future. The kid's special, mentally, physically and a born competitor/runner... except for the injuries. Too bad."

According to JTD's running formula Ritz time would be an improvement from what he has already run:

3:32.9

3:49.8

7:35.2

8:11.7

13:14.1

21:48.5

27:34.0

45:29.7

57:17.7

1:00:39.0

1:28:20.0

2:07:05.7

twotwo wrote:

Mercier has a good conversion table. It lists 8:11 --> 7:35 --> 13:07. I think that is pretty accurate.

Purdy Points also has it at 13:07

Lenny Leonard wrote:

According to McMillan:

8:07 = 13:11

8:11 = 13:17

I don't think Ritz or Hall will ever run under 13, and I doubt Fam as well. Only Teg and Webb have a shot.

Agreed. Teg can be the next Bob Kennedy in the 5k. He's got a few new tools that Kennedy didn't have, and he might be able to get a medal. Teg has the potential for sub 12:50, he really does.

Webb is a different story. He could go anywhere from here, on any time table. He is not as dominant as Teg at 5k, but if he's close he has a shot at 12:52-56. He could break 13 as early as this year. Again a wildcard.

Ritz has a slim possibility of breaking 13. 12:58-59 in 2-3 years. But its slim- He has a lot more to prove before he runs sub 13. But he should work at it. Its a nice base to go into the 10k and the roads, and then the marathon with.

Fam, I say his best race is 13:03. He needs to focus on the steeple, 5k, and 10k. Then he needs to go to the road, and start running half's and full marathons. He has the strength to be a force out there, and the speed to close. He could certainly be on the level as Baldini.

milepost 1 wrote:

What's funny is that Ritz has never broken 4:00/3:42 (not that he races those anymore). 8:11 with his stamina puts him in 13:05/27:20 territory later in the season (insert usual caveat about "staying healthy")

Yes, Ritz has a low 13 in him maybe this year. 13:05 if he does everything right. Anything faster than 13:02 would be huge for him.

On that alone, he could go after the AR in the 10k.