Around 1:45 pm EST on Tuesday, Dathan Ritzenhein completed a USATF teleconference with a ton of reporters (way more than normal).
The call lasted about 40 minutes and we hope to have a full transcript up maybe by tomorrow but wanted to share a few highlights with the LetsRun.com audience.
The call started with a surprise guest appearance from former American record holder, Bob Kennedy. Kennedy congratulated Dathan on his 12:56 run which he called “ a hell of a performance - gutsy and disciplined.”
“I hope this is just another step for you to hopefully break it again or for other Americans down the road to keep American distance running moving forward. I’m certainly proud of you and American distance running,” said Kennedy.
Then the talk featured an opening statement from Dathan and a ton of Q&A.
The Marathon Is His Future
The good news from a LetsRun.com perspective as talked about in our most recent Week That Was piece (https://www.letsrun.com/2009/weekthatwas0831.php) is that despite the 12:56, Dathan very much sees himself as a long distance guy. The marathon is where he sees himself competing in 2012 and he’s very excited about seeing what he can do at the 26.2 mile distance.
As Dathan said, “I do feel like when I try a marathon again it will be like a debut for me.”
Amby Burfoot of Runnersworld asked Dathan why would he move back up when he’d just run 12:56 and Dathan said that despite the 12:56 he still “doesn’t have amazing footspeed” and Ritz realizes that he’d have real problems in tactical 5,000s. For example, Ritz said he’d really have struggled in the 5,000 final in Berlin which featured a final 1k of 2:24.
World Half Marathon Champs Are His Immediate Future
Despite the marathon being in Ritz’s future, Ritz will not be running a marathon in the immediate future. It’s not going to happen this fall and is unlikely to happen next spring as well as he wants to do a full track season next year although Dathan admitted that under the training of Salazar things are much more likely to change at a minutes notice.
Dathan’s next race will be the world half-marathon championships on October 11th.
Why that race? Well Ritz considered a number of potential races including a clash with Ryan Hall in Philadelphia but the chose the world half because Alberto Salazar told Dathan, “You’re one of the bets runners in the world and you need to race the best runners in the world.”
As that inspiring quote might indicate, it was clear throughout the call that the switch to Alberto Salazar’s training group has totally reinvigorated Ritzenhein. Training alone under the tutelage of Brad Hudson, Dathan had become “kind of stale” and he “wasn’t happy”, but now that he’s in a group everything has changed.
Dathan said the “biggest change” was that the move to Alberto was that it’s resulted in him being “mentally happy” and that “Alberto has been able to get me excited about running.”
“You just can’t do it alone,” said Ritzenhein.
The group dynamic of Salazar plus as is the positive affirmations of having a man of Salazar’s accomplishments telling you can run 2:05 have turned Dathan into a 12:56 beast.
Looking back, Dathan said that perhaps he was a bit chronically over-trained with all of the marathon training and the recent focus on speed has allowed his true self to shine.
Ready To Go In Berlin – 13:44 5k at Altitude
Ritz said that he knew he was in very good shape heading into Berlin as he had run a 5k time-trial in St. Moritz in 13:44 just six days before the 10k in Berlin (Wikipedia lists St. Mortiz’s altitude at 5,978 ft so a 13:44 at that level converts to probably something between 13:05 to 13:10 at sea level).
When asked if he was disappointed that he didn’t win the race in Zurich, Ritz responded, “I know that I ran as good as I could...It would be really greedy for me to say I was disappointed at all because I didn't win the race. I think I ran an amazing race.”
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- Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to
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I keep cringing when I read about the Brojos desire to keep Ritz a marathoner.
I really think that US distance running will suffer if Ritz focuses on the marathon. What we need are fast track guys mixing it up with the East Africans week after week. Whether on the track, xc or roads.
The next Ritz, with foot speed, is out there somewhere but unless he sees an apple he's probably not going to realize his potential.
The monastic lifestyle of marathoners means that we get to see them race 2 or 3 times a year. It's not enough to imprint on America's running consciousness.
So while a marathon may be Ritz's best bet he is competitive enough to generate some real buzz about distance running in the US, motivate his peers to run faster and inspire the next Ritz to give up soccer and strap on a pair of Nike Ritz 12:56 spikes...
BTW - I'm shocked Amby didn't ask Dathan about his new 40 mpw training plan.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to Jefe in the CO
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So Ritz's competitive focus should be determined primarily by how best to inspire other American runners? What other American elites do you recommend following this route rather than focusing on where they think they can be most competitive? If he follows your advice, do you think we should chip in for a bonus or something for him taking one for the team?
Also, does the next generation get to focus on what they think is their best distances, or do they also have to follow your plan to inspire today's zygotes? And what about the generation after them?
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to Jefe in the CO
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Just a thought about Ritz's "lack of real foot-speed":
Over the last year or so, Alberto has been able to grant Rupp rather amazing foot-speed. I recall Rupp's final mile in the NCAA 5k final to be around 4:00. Now this doesn't mean that Rupp could mix it up with one KB in the last mile, but it does show that Alberto can really increase his athletes speed.
I think that Ritz's future should be left open. If he can get faster, then he can do some real damage on the track (and in XC, Ritz has always been a sort of XC specialist).
Just a thought. I also think that the marathon is so commercial that it is attractive to runners (how many Hall ads do you see vs. how many Teg ads do you see?).
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to Just a though.
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Ritz w/ foot speed = German Fernandez.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to Jefe in the CO
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I don't think under Salazar we will see Ritz solely focusing on the marathon. Note what Salazar has done with his other athletes. Most are training for 10k-marathon, but all race shorter distances on a regular basis. In the case of Rupp, he was running 800s and 1500s. K Goucher won the USA 5000m champs before focusing on her marathon training. We will see Ritz continue to run shorter races (if you call 10000m short).
AND, here's where I think we'll see a big difference. We're going to see Ritz racing more often. maybe not marathons 7 times a year, but he will race more often. Pretty much all of Salazar's people race, and race often. Not stupidly so, but often enough to be really ready when the big day comes. Maybe we'll see ritz in more track races, maybe more road races (where he's certainly had some success), maybe in (we can only hope) XC races where he's had huge success in the past. Maybe a combo of all of the above. Either way, I honestly think we're going to be seeing a lot more of ritz in the coming years. And that's a good thing.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to Just a though.
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Thanks for the interview.
I feel that Ritz, first of all should do what suits him best, and that is his choice, not the choice of anyone else.
The plan to focus on the track first and then the marathon sounds great to me. I ran my PR for the 10 on the track, and smashed my marathon PB's at 9 and again 14 months after that. And it is certainly possible to do both. Competing at track 5 and 10ks and the world cross country championships is a great foundation for fast marathons.
This is what Carlos Lopes did, and he was nowhere as fast as is Ritz.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to rojo
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Thanks for the quit update!
I don't care what Ritz runs at this point I am just glad to see he is competing at a high level! Whatever he chooses to do I will be interested in the out come! GO RITZ! Just break AR's!
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to smd
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I think that you're trying too hard to read some kind of conspiracy into my post. I'm not looking to interject my dreams into the fertilization process I just want US distance running to have a higher profile in track competitions. The rest will happen all by itself.
So, no, I think that Ritz's focus should be determined by his ability to compete. That Zurich 5k has shown a glimmer of competence at 5k and by implication the 10k and then maybe, and this is a big maybe, the marathon.
By immediately using a great 5k to predict success at the marathon is lame for him, his handlers, the Brojos and USA Track.
If he performs like he did in Zurich we won't have to pitch in a dime, he'll earn his money on his own. If you can't see the potential value of a Ritz breaking the East African blockade in Europe and possibly World XC then time for you to go back to economics 101.
We've finally got a quiver full of new talent; double it and the Brojos will eat their words that we won't medal in 5k/10k/Steeple in our lifetime.
It truly is a numbers game.
smd wrote:
So Ritz's competitive focus should be determined primarily by how best to inspire other American runners? What other American elites do you recommend following this route rather than focusing on where they think they can be most competitive? If he follows your advice, do you think we should chip in for a bonus or something for him taking one for the team?
Also, does the next generation get to focus on what they think is their best distances, or do they also have to follow your plan to inspire today's zygotes? And what about the generation after them?
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to Jefe in the CO
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ritz + legspeed = brian butzler
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to rojo
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Dieter Baumann, 12:54
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to real mzungu
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Ritz is so full of crap.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to smd
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Jefe just said that he cringes when the Johnsons urge Ritz to focus on the marathon, not that he cringes when Ritz himself talks about it.
smd wrote:Also, does the next generation get to focus on what they think is their best distances, or do they also have to follow your plan . . . ?
Personally, I cringe when anyone talks about it. I agree that he can't outkick Bekele at 5,000 or 10,000, but neither can Rupp, or Solinsky, or probably Teg or Lagat or anyone else really (anymore). And it seems to me that Ritz has as good a chance to improve his speed and outkick Bekele on an off day as he does of keeping up with and outkicking Lel, Wanjiru, and the other five or ten guys in any given premium marathon who can run 2:04 or 2:05. Yes, he has a better shot at Olympic Gold, but only because the Olympic Marathon is a second-tier event. If German Fernandez's best shot at Olympic Gold turned out to be the Trampoline competition, would you want him to make the switch?
Of course, the Johnsons and many other Letsrunners think that the marathon is an exciting event to watch. I don't understand that, but it makes perfect sense that they would want to see Ritz do the 2-hour money run. But you can't expect those of us who prefer the speed, excitement, and spectator-friendliness of track and field to be thrilled about that prospect.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to rojo
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I really wish we could've seen a Hall-Ritz clash at the Distance Run in Philly - that would have been great.
I am very confused what makes everyone think that Ritz's greatest event is the marathon. To say it could be the half-marathon is one thing, but the marathon is a tremendously long race, and many bodies are just not designed to go that far. Ritz has proved time and again that he DOES have footspeed, regardless of what others may say. I don't care if he's been a marathoner these past few years, if you run 8:11 for 2 miles and 12:56 for 3.1, you've got speed. if any other marathoner ran 12:56 for a 5k, we'd say he had speed too. when Haile G. first started breaking the 5k record, I don't think it was all that much faster than 12:56 (maybe 12:52?).
Personally I think Ritz's best even lies somewhere between the 5k and the 10k. I also think he can run a very, very good half-marathon. And maybe he can even run 2:06 or 2:07. But if he can run 26:50 within the next few years, why waste that? The marathon endurance will be there later in his career. The speed will not. There was no reason for him to move up to the marathon so quickly and there is no reason for a rapid return. Eventually he should move up again, but I don't think that should happen until he has really given the 5 and 10k a good shot.
I understand he doesn't have 2:24 1k speed at the end of a 5k, but not every race is like that. Certainly 10k's don't close that quick. And I strongly disagree with the Brojos that Ritz would have never finished 3rd if half the Zurich field hadn't gone out so hard. The fact is they thought they were in the 12:50's shape, and on that day they weren't. Ritz was.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to Just a though.
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Footspeed?
I think 12:56 IS footspeed!!
Heck, I was excited as at one point it looked as though if Bekele did not pick it up, Ritz would catch him. Bekele is a great runner, but to believe he can never be beat is to never beat him. When I coached I told my runners if races were preordained, they would not need to be run, and they ran more than a few surprises. Bekele had to run his best time of the year to beat Soi and Ritz, so clearly there was some footspeed and some positive thinking going on. And look, we are all pumped about the prospects enough to messageboard galore!
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to footspeed
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More teleconference quotes from Ritz:
http://www.trackandfieldnews.c...p?id=35798
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to footspeed
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Summary of following point: Ritz wants a medal.
Foot speed is obviously important in a race, but I am seeing all this discussion separating marathon ability from LD track ability. Really, isn't being a good distance runner primarily about having aerobic ability? Isn't aerobic ability important for either marathon or the track?
So, I think what Ritz is saying is that in a tactical race, such as the WC, he isn't fast enough to kick with the best and medal. How many guys in a WC final can break 13 in the 5k? Probably several to many. So, unless it becomes an all out time trial, Ritz may have severe problems ever getting a medal in track. But, in the marathon obviously a different story. Ritz wants a medal, AND he can still run fast on the track in between marathons to break records/run fast times.
Who has the marathon world record now? A guy that ran a 7:25 3k. 12:39 5k. These are some of the best marks ever for the track. Speed marks. But he also runs the marathon.
I think Ritz has shown that being a marathon runner and being a track runner are not mutually exclusive. A guy with the talent to run 12:56 in the 5000m can be an Olympic champion. See Baldini.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to webby
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Man, that's a brilliant post. Seriously.
webby wrote:smd wrote:Also, does the next generation get to focus on what they think is their best distances, or do they also have to follow your plan . . . ?
Jefe just said that he cringes when the Johnsons urge Ritz to focus on the marathon, not that he cringes when Ritz himself talks about it.
Personally, I cringe when anyone talks about it. I agree that he can't outkick Bekele at 5,000 or 10,000, but neither can Rupp, or Solinsky, or probably Teg or Lagat or anyone else really (anymore). And it seems to me that Ritz has as good a chance to improve his speed and outkick Bekele on an off day as he does of keeping up with and outkicking Lel, Wanjiru, and the other five or ten guys in any given premium marathon who can run 2:04 or 2:05. Yes, he has a better shot at Olympic Gold, but only because the Olympic Marathon is a second-tier event. If German Fernandez's best shot at Olympic Gold turned out to be the Trampoline competition, would you want him to make the switch?
Of course, the Johnsons and many other Letsrunners think that the marathon is an exciting event to watch. I don't understand that, but it makes perfect sense that they would want to see Ritz do the 2-hour money run. But you can't expect those of us who prefer the speed, excitement, and spectator-friendliness of track and field to be thrilled about that prospect.
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to Portlandia
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It's impossible to compare Ritz with Haile G. and Stefano Baladini. These are 3 very different runners who were talking about here.
Ritz's 12:56 is very exciting stuff, and yes I think that this in happened, at least in part, BECAUSE he ran 4 marathons in the last 3 years. The endurance training and even the races themselves strengthened his connective tissue to the point where he could handle the training. Remember this is a guy who used to injury himself while walking his dog!
Is the marathon really the future for him? Time will tell, but I think we would all like to see him take a shot at sub-27:00 or at least sub 27:13. The unfortunate thing is that there is no 10km at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels this year. Nike should organize a 10km for him like they did last year for some runners in Oregon to get the IAAF A standard.
I wish him all the best, but yes now the pressure and expectations are on him big time. The expectations and pressure at Zurich were pretty low. I was very surprised to see him on the start list for Zurich! Good job Dathan and I hope that you do great!
Jason
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- RE: Recap of Ritz's Tuesday USATF Teleconference - in reply to footspeed
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You do understand that 12:56 run off even splits is entirely different than 12:56 with a 2:24 last 1k? That is what Ritz means. Bekele has 3:32 speed. Ritz will never run close to that. Thus, he will never really have a chance to medal at World or Olympic Championship. In 2012, I assume Ritz will qualify for the 10k and marathon and run whichever gives him a better chance at a medal.
footspeed wrote:
Footspeed?
I think 12:56 IS footspeed!!
Heck, I was excited as at one point it looked as though if Bekele did not pick it up, Ritz would catch him. Bekele is a great runner, but to believe he can never be beat is to never beat him. When I coached I told my runners if races were preordained, they would not need to be run, and they ran more than a few surprises. Bekele had to run his best time of the year to beat Soi and Ritz, so clearly there was some footspeed and some positive thinking going on. And look, we are all pumped about the prospects enough to messageboard galore!
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