Ryan Hall's last 20 miles =2:06:30 pace

Maybe he should make a WR attempt a year after the olympics? Do you think he will run Boston before the olympics?

I totally agree. To those of you who haven't watched the video, it's definitely worth your time. Words can't express just how dominating Hall was on Saturday. The 08 Olympics are going to be such a blast for US distance running fans... Hall, Webb, Lagat, Kara Goucher, and Kastor are the real deal with plenty more dark horses out there.

The final 37.195 km (23.1 miles) were at 2:07:26 pace.

Just in case it hasn't yet sunk in, Ryan Hall ran the most impressive 2:09 marathon ever by anyone, anywhere. There's a lot more in that tank.

thanks for the splits. Yeah, just absurd stuff.

Given the right conditions, he'll take down the AR. I'd love to see his 2009/2010 seasons go: AR at London marathon, sub27 that summer, top 6 at Berlin WC 10k and then win NY.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the gold I'd like for him to get in Beijing. I love Geb and all and I know that marathon gold is the only thing he's missing now, but he has enough for now.

And his last 42.195 km (26.2 mi) were in 2:09:02 .

Extrapolate from that what you will.

I think there's something to be said for both sides here. On one hand, Ryan Hall ran one of the best marathons in American history and did it astonishingly easily.

On the other hand, making it look easy doesn't mean that you will ever do it again. I remember reading a quote from a great runner of the time who watched Seb Coe run 1:42. He said that it looked so easy that he was positive that he could have broken 1:40. I think we've all had those days of peak performance where it felt easy, yet we gave our best.

Coupled with his early season performances, it's clear that he is a force to reckon with on the world scene. So are about 15-20 other runners, depending on who runs in Beijing.

2:05:38 is the AR. That's pretty fast.

Alan

Runningart2004 wrote:

2:05:38 is the AR. That's pretty fast.

Alan

I am fully aware of that.

Rorkes Drift wrote:

And his last 42.195 km (26.2 mi) were in 2:09:02 .

Extrapolate from that what you will.

Has anyone else run a 2:09 marathon with a 2:45 negative split?

Extrapolate from that what you will.

malmo wrote:

The final 37.195 km (23.1 miles) were at 2:07:26 pace.

Just in case it hasn't yet sunk in, Ryan Hall ran the most impressive 2:09 marathon ever by anyone, anywhere. There's a lot more in that tank.

Image:

http://i8.tinypic.com/7w8k02t.jpg

IMO, it was one of the most impressive marathons period, by anyone, anywhere, given how easily his shook 4 former Olympians and cruised in for a 2+ minute victory on what is not the easiest of courses. That neg split was totally ridiculous, especially given how easy he seemed to take it. I would probably take an even-money bet that Hall could have broken 2:06 under ideal marathon conditions (fast course, good weather, pacesetters) on Saturday.

To me it is a bit reminiscent of Webb's mile AR this summer, where there wasn't a lot of hype or competition for him then he ran one of the fastest miles in history. Hall, like Webb, doesn't have a stellar record when it comes to major international competitions (I'm not knocking his 2:08, but after his 59 and this Sat I feel he should expect more). I will be totally pumped for both of them (and Ritz) next summer, class of '01 baby!!

extrapolator wrote:

Has anyone else run a 2:09 marathon with a 2:45 negative split?

Ronaldo Da Costa

2:06:05 -- 1:04:42, 1:01:23

Not to say that Hall's performance wasn't great. Because it was and I'm very excited for Beijing. But please, let's not be stupid about this.

kartelite wrote:

IMO, it was one of the most impressive marathons period, by anyone, anywhere,

It was great, but there have been dozens of "more impressive marathons" run in many places by many people. 2:09 on a tough course, but in very nice marathon conditions, starting out slow. Why is that soooooooooo much beter than what Salazar and Beardsley did (sub 2:09) long ago in much, much, MUCH tougher conditions (excruciating heat ) also over a tough course ?? I frankly don't think it is much better.

You guys are handing Hall a 2:05 like it will be a cakewalk. I'd like to see a 2:07 first thankyou. sure he can do it, but let's see it first.

adroit181 wrote:Ronaldo Da Costa

2:06:05 -- 1:04:42, 1:01:23

Not to say that Hall's performance wasn't great. Because it was and I'm very excited for Beijing. But please, let's not be stupid about this.

Right, but you don't understand. Hall is American. That automatically makes what he does more impressive.

dmb wrote:

I think there's something to be said for both sides here. On one hand, Ryan Hall ran one of the best marathons in American history and did it astonishingly easily.

On the other hand, making it look easy doesn't mean that you will ever do it again. I remember reading a quote from a great runner of the time who watched Seb Coe run 1:42. He said that it looked so easy that he was positive that he could have broken 1:40. I think we've all had those days of peak performance where it felt easy, yet we gave our best.

Coupled with his early season performances, it's clear that he is a force to reckon with on the world scene. So are about 15-20 other runners, depending on who runs in Beijing.

They were saying what makes you think he will ever run 2:08 again. Well, he could of had 2:08 just by turning on the jets for a few seconds. This run was vastly better than the 2:08:24 (or whatever the seconds were), even though it was a bit warm there. I think he might have won that race if he were in this form and with his current knowledge.

I thought no one was going to threaten that 2:05 AR for a while, but we just saw a race that was on par with the AR.

I think that Hall will probably run a spring marathon because getting the extra practice will be useful. However, I do not think that he will train to be at the level he was at last week. I think that he knows where he wants to put his marbles. Everybody will know what it means if he wins (or even medals?) in the Olympics, while a 2:05 will just be a number of no relevance to most people on the street.

Meb showed that an American can do it if he focuses great talent appropriately. I think that his faith will make it easier for him to focus on the things that he can control and not worry too much about the things that he cannot control. Still, in the Olympics you can get someone doing what Baldini did, which is almost unbeatable, but maybe Hall will be that guy).

you are on drugs wrote:

It was great, but there have been dozens of "more impressive marathons" run in many places by many people. 2:09 on a tough course, but in very nice marathon conditions, starting out slow. Why is that soooooooooo much beter than what Salazar and Beardsley did (sub 2:09) long ago in much, much, MUCH tougher conditions (excruciating heat ) also over a tough course ?? I frankly don't think it is much better.

You guys are handing Hall a 2:05 like it will be a cakewalk. I'd like to see a 2:07 first thankyou. sure he can do it, but let's see it first.

I don't know...I realize the time doesn't come near to cracking the top 100...but in how many of those races were guys running 2:07:xx just getting dragged along behind faster guys, crossing the finish line absolutely beat. I don't know if you've seen the video, but I have never seen anyone look that comfortable at the end of a 2:09 marathon, especially one where the first 5k was run in about 17 minutes.

Again, I didn't mean to imply it was one of the top 5 best of all time, but this kid can definitely go 2:06:xx based on this race, and probably 2:05:xx.

26mi235 wrote:I thought no one was going to threaten that 2:05 AR for a while, but we just saw a race that was on par with the AR.

No, we didn't. In the 2002 London Marathon, where Khannouchi ran his then-world record and current American record, he ran away from Paul Tergat and Haile Gebrselassie.

Ryan Hall ran a 2:09 marathon on a tough course. You can't wish and will it to anything anywhere near what Khannouchi did with your post facto analysis.

you are on drugs wrote:

slow. Why is that soooooooooo much beter than what Salazar and Beardsley did (sub 2:09) long ago in much, much, MUCH tougher conditions (excruciating heat ) also over a tough course ?? I frankly don't think it is much better..

I was there, it wasn't "excruciating heat" that day. In fact the high that day was 70 degrees.

2 thoughts come to my mind after seeing this race in person:

1. The distance Hall put on the other 4 after seeing them together on the West side at the transverse road and then seeing then on the East side. He put just over a minute on the others! And then he proceeded to put another minute on the field during the next loop!

2. How comfortable he looked, unlike Sell and KK and Dan B.

We all know you have days like this where everything just clicks. It appeared to be one of those days for Hall.