Ryan Hall has wings!!!

Not sure about comparisons to some of the performances of three decades ago, but man, it sure was an astonishing performance.

On this rolling course, on a breezy day (albeit not nearly as horrendous as the direst of the predictions), running absolutely alone the last several miles, off a 1:06:xx half, and high fiving the crowd and pumping his fist for the last half mile, Hall totally crushed the most competitive US field since the first American Golden Age and finished less than :40 off his time in London - which was spurred by competition on a WR caliber course.

And no disrespect to Hall's effort - running damn near WR marathon pace for the second half is surely seriously hard work, not that I'll ever know - but you're right, it looked like he just continued to glide. So smooth, so damn smooth!

It was really something when he came through on the penultimate lap, and where there'd been a pack of five the last few times through, now we just waited and waited and waited for numero dos (Ritz) to even appear in our sightline.

Tremendous job and big congrats to Ritz and Sell. Great great stuff.

But yowza, Hall is just at another level. Fitting conclusion to an astonishing year. Keep it going, Ryan!

It is, unfortunate for the loss of Ryan Shay. Crazy to lose one so fit and so young. Typically we think of it as being somebody who just decides to go out and "run" a marathon. This guy had tested his body so many times that it is much more of a surprise. I would imagine for him, life was so much richer because of running that he would not have had it any other way. Ryan Hall - just awesome, I saw you at Houston after you turned the corner but can't wait till you mature because you have way more to go (sub 2:04 no doubt - on the right course), Ritz-crazy you are not supposed to be a marathoner - you can't run a 10K without collapsing, what were you thinking? Sell, one more year at 160 mpw and you might be a good runner-don't be afraid to kick it up (met you in Chi2006 and personal favorite). Buddy you keep that up and we will see you on the podium!. K.K. you did not look your former self. The stride was not as fluid in the end, on the other hand it was not the stride of a runner who has aged. Put age out of your mind cause that is not the reason!!! You are not far from returning to the top - if you want it you will find it. You still have it in you, you just got to believe. There is no doubt, you can again be the best.

How non-committal can that be? These guys are awesome! BTW I told you that Sell would make it! 160 mpw comes in handy when you know your comp has only done 120 - 140. Let's get real, the comp next year will be much higher.