obliviously this is hypothetical, like wishing for Muhammad Ali vs Rocky Marciano fight, it just isn't going to happen. But is it just me or does Ryan Hall remind you of a young Bill Rodgers, in looks, running ability, demeanor and his aw-shucks attitude?
While on this how many besides me wish the Ryan would have run his debut marathon at Boston instead of London? I think he would have won even in those stormy conditions and in the process become a household name. Instead he and his agent opted for a fast time in London which was all but invisible to the average American. One of the most often questions asked when someone hears that you are a marathoner is have you run Boston? Not sure if Ryan will run a spring marathon with the Olympics coming up but I hope he runs and wins the Boston Marathon in April and becomes a household name just like Bill Rodgers did when he first won in 1975.
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- Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to islandmaineiac
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Is either Jon Anderson or Jack Fultz a household neame?
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to islandmaineiac
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What are you talking about, London put Hall on the map better than Boston would of. No one would of cared if he would of won Boston last year in 2:14. And you can't really compare Hall and Rodgers. Hall's high school, college, and pro times are all way faster.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to islandmaineiac
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I don't think Cheruiyot would have just handed him the win...
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to islandmaineiac
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[quote]islandmaineiac wrote:
While on this how many besides me wish the Ryan would have run his debut marathon at Boston instead of London? /quote]
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I'm going to say two, maybe three at the most.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to citius5000
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What a great topic. I was thinking the same thing myself. Hall will undoubtedly go on to far faster times than Bill ever did, but in their respective eras I think they will be much the same-#1. I think Hall silenced any further doubt as to his ability at the Marathon with that 2:09 with a 62 minute second half during which he was waving, pumping his fist, giving high-fives, and pointing to the sky thanking God. I doubt even Bill could have done that. But like I said, times have changed, methods have improved, and it seems as though runners like Hall have brought the US back into contention with the rest of the world as we were in Rodgers' day.
There are some notable differences. Ryan's training, I have a feeling, is a little more methodical and scientific than Bill's. Hall is also at altitude, which Bill never was. That said, I think advantages like these, among other factors, will enable Hall to run with the best in today's era.
I also don't see Hall being quite as crazy as Billy. He would race about thirty times a year, running 4 or 5 marathons in one year. Once he ran a marathon in Japan against a relay team two weeks after a major marathon! Plus after half of them I'm sure he threw down a few post-run beers. Another time he ran a race in jeans. Could yo imagine Hall doing that??? Haha. it would be pretty funny.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to phil collins
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Rodgers was one of the top 3 or top 5 marathoners in his era...Hall still has 2 minutes to knock off. In order to compare runners in different eras you must compare how competitive they were in their era. Bill wins.
Alan
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to Think Think Think
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In my household - Yes.
Think Think Think wrote:
Is either Jon Anderson or Jack Fultz a household neame?
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to BurgerBoy
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Great question! Not so much in comparing them as runners, but as ambassadors for our sport. I meet Boston Billy last year at the BM expo and he was one of the nicest people I have ever met. Very willing to share stories, complemented other runners, (and I am not talking elites, but locals and other decent masters) and answer questions. Granted, he is way past his time, but all the old timers that I know that know him say he was just as gracious when he was tearing it up on the roads. I've never have met Hall, but from what I can gather, he has much of the same qualities, minus throwing back a few cold ones after a race. In light of all the epo, hgh, and clear crap that poisons our sport, I appreciate these two athletes for what they bring to the table because with a daughter and son who are starting to take up the sport that I love, I want to point to great athletes who are great people as well as they could run fast.
Hall vs. Rogers? I'm old school, I going with Bill. Stopping to tie his shoes, cut off t-shirt with marker written GBTC. You gotta love that.
Merry Christmas, Peace and keep well during the winter to race fast in the spring!
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to SSU Grad
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Bill Rogers, clean..... Ryan, sadly, epo.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to nj Bill
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I do believe the kid is just naturally talented. You have to figure sooner or later we are going to find a born-here, whiter than me, all american type who can actually run at a world class level. Too bad we can't find a few more.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to islandmaineiac
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Rodgers ran sub-2:15 29 times, I believe. Hall still has a ways to go.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to islandmaineiac
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which of those two are dopers, or are both of them ?
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to one or two
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Marathon Wins in 1 Year:
Bill: 5
Ryan: 0
NYC Wins:
Bill 4
Ryan: 0
Boston Wins:
Bill: 4
Ryan: 0
Best Marathon Time:
Bill: 2:09:27 (Boston)(WR at the time 2:08:33 Derek Clayton)
54 seconds off world record
Ryan: 2:08:24 (London-flat and fast)(WR at time 2:04:55 P. Tergat)
3:29 off World Record.
Historically speaking, Ryan isn't even in the same conversation right now. He's all potential right now.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to BurgerBoy
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Jack Fultz was great on that day but he was a hot weather freak, a thermal inversion of the race.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to Leirbag
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Having spoken with Hall I would be exceptionally shocked if he were on drugs. I realize that these sort of character testimonials aren't really that substative but when asked what his goals were for the olympic marathon he said, "I'd like to be in position to take a swing at a medal but my real goal in all my running is to praise god in everything I do". That plus his 5 min pace 10 mile tempos in high school would make me very suspect of any drug accusations. just my two cents.
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to Runningart2004
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I can't say it better than this.Case closed.
Runningart2004 wrote:
Rodgers was one of the top 3 or top 5 marathoners in his era...Hall still has 2 minutes to knock off. In order to compare runners in different eras you must compare how competitive they were in their era. Bill wins.
Alan
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- RE: Ryan Hall vs Bill Rodgers - in reply to ohBillyBillyBilly
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Rodgers did the things that he's famous for mainly between ages 30-36. Hall is 25ish, and was much faster in high school and college than Rodgers was in high school and college. So we really need to wait and watch for about 10 years.
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