Jim Ryun: What could have been?

The sad thing was how undercapitalized and poorly planned the pro track tour of mid-70s was. Not that there was much that could be done; there were still too many people who thought amateurism was some kind of sacrament. But Ryun did go out on that tour and pretty soon he was winning miles and NOT breaking 4:00, and no one was interested in seeing that.

let's not even get into the argument of burning out early or not burning out early; but just think, if: they had rabbits when he was running, (do you realize that in his 3:51.1 mile he came by the 1/2 in 1:59?-and led almost the entire race?) and if 'running a European circut' in the summer would have been the 'thing to do' like it was, starting just after he retired? Those 2 things alone would have taken his to a 3:49 mile, at least; even if you change nothing else about his training or life.

mondo track

On a Ryun thread a couple of years ago, someone said that even if Ryun was burned out in college, it wasn't Bob Timmons's fault, since Timmons's obligation was to Kansas University. But that argument doesn't hold water since Ryun was too sick with mono his junior year to compete in the NCAA outdoor championship. And in his senior year, he was so stale that he got beat by an upstart sophomore named Marty Liquori. He retired immediately after the NCAAs.

Had he not been overtrained, it's not hard to envision him running 3:46 or 3:47 on a synthetic track. His teenage personal bests are very similar to those of Steve Cram and Alan Webb.

Living in the Past wrote:

On a Ryun thread a couple of years ago, someone said that even if Ryun was burned out in college, it wasn't Bob Timmons's fault, since Timmons's obligation was to Kansas University.

***University of Kansas

rock chalk wrote:

Living in the Past wrote:

On a Ryun thread a couple of years ago, someone said that even if Ryun was burned out in college, it wasn't Bob Timmons's fault, since Timmons's obligation was to Kansas University.

***University of Kansas

than why do they go by KU (kansas university)?

Colorado does the same. It's the University of Colorado but everyone there calls it CU.

because UK is already taken

I think Ryun could have gone around 3:45-47 for the mile...look at the splits on his 3:33 1500m record!

what would you expect from midwest hicks?

Bob Timmons was one of the greatest high school coaches ever.

He coached many athletes as good as and better than needy whiny Ryun, who was only the 2nd national high school mile record he coached, the first being Archie San Romani, Jr.

In addition to track, Timmons coached some Olympic gold medalist swimmers.

I would expect an Ivy man to spell better.

Ivy League snob.. wrote:

what would you expect from midwest hicks?

For God's sake, can any of you underachievers just appreciate what Jim Ryun DID accomplish for cryin out loud?

yes. we all want to live thinking about " what could have been." I could have been much more successful, if I had only paid attention in school, started out with a different degree...etc.

This is why companies ask you if you regret your life decisions in their capacity tests. They want a person who does not live in regrets.

Move on folks.

coulda shoulda woulda wrote:

Bob Timmons was one of the greatest high school coaches ever.

He coached many athletes as good as and better than needy whiny Ryun, who was only the 2nd national high school mile record he coached, the first being Archie San Romani, Jr.

In addition to track, Timmons coached some Olympic gold medalist swimmers.

Ryun was whiny because he was overtrained. The coach should have listened to the athlete. By the way, Ryun wasn't even coached by Timmons his senior year. Timmons had alreday gone to KU on the back of Ryun's performances in his junior year.

Here's an interesting take on the difference in coaching styles between Timmons and Villanova's Jumbo Elliott. This if from a Sports Illustrated article of the 1970 NCAA indoor championship, with KU and Villanova vying for the title:

Six points home, and now it was Andy O'Reilly's turn in the 880. Villanova figured to score, but then so did Kansas with its freshman star, Brian McElroy. "Andy's so high he's about four stories off the floor," said Elliott. "I just want him to finish in front of McElroy." O'Reilly finished second to Wisconsin's Mark Winzinried. Four more points. McElroy finished last. Villanova couldn't believe it; Kansas was stunned.

"It's just great, just great," said Elliott. "I gave him the Texas eye."

"Who, coach? O'Reilly or McElroy?"

"Both, both," said Elliott, laughing and rubbing his hands together.

Timmons looked like he had been shot in the stomach. "I should have known," he said. "I guess it was youth. Monday he came to me and said he needed a lot of speed work. And I let him. I let him. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Speed work. I didn't want to hurt him psychologically. And all it did was tie him up."

"Who the heck is the coach?" Elliott snapped when he heard that. Timmons is not one of his favorite people. "Him or the freshman? I take my kids off speed work two weeks before a big race."

Ryun had a long career and clearly ran as fast as his potential.

Who are the two most overated runners in history?

Jim Ryun and Steve Prefontaine.

The Harvard Hick wrote:

I would expect an Ivy man to spell better.

Ivy League snob.. wrote:

what would you expect from midwest hicks?

There's not a misspelling in that post. A couple small spelling and grammar errors, yes, but every word is spelled correctly.

Used Car Dealer wrote:

A couple small spelling and grammar errors, yes, but every word is spelled correctly.

Am I the only person confused by this sentence?

Fat Boy wrote:

Ryun had a long career and clearly ran as fast as his potential.

Who are the two most overated runners in history?

Jim Ryun and Steve Prefontaine.

What's your basis for calling Ryun overrated?

3 Olympic teams, a silver medal, and held the WR longer than any man in the modern era (although that's about to change).

To not be overrated what would he need to have accomplished?

Fat Boy wrote:

Ryun had a long career and clearly ran as fast as his potential.

If you look at the age at which the best milers in the world over the past 40 years set their PRs, you\'ll find that it\'s around 24-25. Ryun peaked at 20.