Hudson on Ritz - Medalling is not realistic

Americans are so damn afraid of the heat. You can compete in the heat. Deena prepared properly and medaled. She's a minority. Meb prepared properly and medaled. He's a minority. Ritz is obviously intimidated by hot conditions, and that's just stupid. His coach doesn't know how to prepare him properly. Period. It's time for Ritz to talk with someone who actually knows what he's doing. Hudson is a charlatan. Plain and simple. It's sad to see one of the most talented runners in US history being duped. It really is sad.

Two obstacles for Ritz: HIS COACH & HIS EGO. Need to adjust both, then he can start competing at a higher level.

Dathan and Kalin welcomed daughter Addison Lee Ann into the world yesterday afternoon. Congratulations and best wishes.

Maybe they should try training in the heat, then. Say, Tucson, instead of Boulder.

Javacotea wrote:

Americans are so damn afraid of the heat. You can compete in the heat. Deena prepared properly and medaled. She's a minority. Meb prepared properly and medaled.

I'll bet you $1000 that neither finish in the top 10 in Beijing.

Perplexed wrote:

I'll bet you $1000 that neither finish in the top 10 in Beijing.

why?

You can't succeed with a coach who doesn't believe in you. Ritz needs to move on.

That's a little harsh. Brad has put a lot into Ritz's success.

Hudson is being pragmatic. I think Ritz will see his day, but is may not be next year. So Hudson is being truthful in his comments.

Mottram needs a new coach right now.

I think Mottram should be training with Mo Farah. His coach does not over race and seems to know how to peak.

What is silly is that people don't go there to train. Why are they so afraid to spend 3 weeks base some track work and a small race or two there and head back do that three more times running the course or at least seeing what could be on the course if it is no laid out yet. These runners are living the dream and in some ways it seems like several of them Webb and Ritz off the top of my head feel as though things should just come to them. Ritz is a great marathoner already but seems like a headcase, and furthermore he has not even qualified yet. I for one would be really really suprised if he did. So that being said screw getting ready for Beijing he needs to get a ticket punched to get there last time I checked. I really wish him the best I too think he needs a more broader coaching spectrum, someone who has had success bringing guys up, Hudson appears to be caught in living out his dreams with Ritz, I would go back to Wetmore before I raced another race with Hudson at least with Wetmore you get what you see.

Ritz needs to realize his options. He can do WAY better than Hudson. No offense to Hudson, since I know he's reading this - but it's true. But the above post is wrong on one thing: Ritz is not a great marathoner. Not yet. It will take time, humility, patience, and a MUCH BETTER COACH THAN HUDSON. It's not so much the actual training schedule drawn up, it's the general direction and focus. Great coaches guide their athletes toward great success. Bideau & Mottram. Meb & Vigil/Mahone. Gouchers & Salazar. And there are others. But Hudson & Ritz is not a good pairing. It just isn't.

SVC wrote:

Maybe they should try training in the heat, then. Say, Tucson, instead of Boulder.

You know he lives in Eugene now, right?

I don't want to be critical of Hudson as I don't know him or his long terms plans. The only info on him I have seen or read have been short blurbs that don't tell the whole picture.

I can understand what the above poster is saying about athletes and great coaches. The only part where you were wrong with your pairings was that Meb was/is coached by Larson, not Vigil.

Velocity! wrote:

Meb & Vigil/Mahone.

"Mahon"

Know it none wrote:

I can understand what the above poster is saying about athletes and great coaches. The only part where you were wrong with your pairings was that Meb was/is coached by Larson, not Vigil.

I don't know exactly how Larson, Vigil, and Mahon interact, and exactly who coaches whom when, but it does seem that some awfully impressive results have been coming out of that collection of coaches and athletes during the last several years. If I were a promising American marathoner looking for a coach to help me to get to the world-class level these days, that's probably where I'd be looking first.

Well, if he's afraid that Ritz will hurt himself pushing too hard at the Olympics, maybe he should focus on winning some $ on the roads, or training for that magical time in the future when he will have realized his potential. If I were the coach, and I seriously believed that medaling was unrealistic AND that there was a risk to my athlete's long-term health, I would skip the meet.

Steve Spence medaled in the heat in 91 one as well, dont forget him! he said his biggest reason for getting a medal was being prepared for the heat and humidity. He came into the race with i think the 42nd slowest PR and left with a bronze medal. Ritz does need to focus on the little things when it comes to dealing with hot and humid marathon conditions.

Velocity! wrote:

Ritz needs to realize his options. He can do WAY better than Hudson. No offense to Hudson, since I know he's reading this - but it's true.

Under Hudson Ritzenhein has run

7:39.03 PR

8:11.74 PR (#3 USA All-time)

13:16.06 PR ( #21 USA)

27:35.65 PR (#10 USA)

61:25 PR (#5 USA)

2:14:01 PR