Ryan Hall out of Mammoth

So evidently he's staying in Mammoth and has not yet chosen a coach.

Mahon made Hall great. He just wasn't able to make him a champion. Mahon did great work with Hall, but it was getting obvious that Hall had plateaued with Mahon and needed a change.

Why not go the Victor Rothlin route and go train with a super fast Kenyan? If he stays in the US, he will only be training with people who are slower than he is. Meb can still do well in a tactical race, but does not have the kind of sub 2:06 speed needed to win these days (who knows, NY may be a sub 2:06 race if Boston has become a sub 2:06 race).

Does anyone else here think this is the right thing for both the Halls and MTC? Ryan obviously needs a change of scenery and I think the rest of the group deserve more focus on them as an elite training group in their own right and not just as people who just happen to be around when Ryan Hall is training. Too long has MTC seemed to be just about Ryan. Definitely a good decision for all involved. No idea where he'll go next though..

10 belz wrote:

3 amigos wrote:

Nike could buy out Hall's $500,000 per year Asics deal so he could train with Salazar. How cool would it be to have the 3 great hopes from HS training together - Hall, Ritz, Webb. Pretty interesting.....

Why would they ever do that? That makes no sense at all. If it's known that Hall desires to run for Salazar (or any other Nike coach) why shouldn't Nike tell him that they'd give him $30,000 a year plus bonuses since he's the one that's desperate? Okay so Hall says no, and they say, "fine, good luck finding the coach you want. If you really want this one, you know our offer." The bottom line is that in a situation like that, the athlete will get low balled to the extreme.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

more likely someone at Nike has been telling Hall that 'whenever you want a change, come talk to me and we'll make it worth your time.' And now might be that time.

But since he is staying in Mammoth...sounds like he'll hire an outsider like Barringer did, and just train by himself mostly.

I like the idea of moving somewhere where he can run with fast Africans - that would wake him up.

I heard he's sticking with Asics and joining their most firmly established group in California - the Aggies.

Can anyone confirm?

Ben won't let Ryan and Sara go. They are still the star couple in the US for the ASICS brand.

UC Irvine wrote:

Ben won't let Ryan and Sara go. They are still the star couple in the US for the ASICS brand.

Plus, think of all the Photoshopping the folks at Nissan would have to do.

Ben Cesar who signed the Halls to their Asics deals is now at Nike....adding to the mix

they would have to get used to drinking a LOT more if they joined the aggies! it might be good for them though...

letme wrote:

The question is what American coach has proven himself to be a great marathon coach? Not many I'm afraid.

Of the post collegiate coaches who coach marathoners:

Mahon- tried him

Vigil- retired

Squires- retired?

Larsen- Meb's coach, in Mammoth

Salazar, Schumacher- Nike

Hansen's- group/Brooks

McMillan- Adidas

Hudson- didn't work for Ritz.

Steve Jones- Did well with Torres, but heard the group disbanded.

who else is there out there? Pete Rea, Chapman, Scott Simmons?

JK and I are ready and willing. Someone can tell Ryan he can find our contact info on the LRC homepage.

-Rojo

I hear Doug Logan is looking for work

Don't write off Hudson because "it didn't work for Ritz." I'd argue it did work for Ritz. Ritz did about as good as you can realistically expect in his first few marathons.

---"I like the idea of moving somewhere where he can run with fast Africans - that would wake him up."---

Unfortunately, I don't think Ryan has a plan to be a Champion. Please don't think I am here "hatin'" but his running career is short sighted, self limiting and has stalled. He made a lot of money quickly through the marathon and I feel his hunger is gone. I question if he will ever be a factor again, maybe, I do hope so. He loves long training in serene settings but doesn't seem willing to leave that and mix it up and take himself to compete with anyone anymore. He is simply too comfortable. The sport is about racing and he will not, for whatever reason, race.

Both of the Halls REALLY liked training in Flagstaff when they were up there for about a month earlier this year. McMillan anyone?

They had a pretty bad winter in Mammoth - so I wonder how much that played into matters.

He needs to head to AZ and train with Lagat & black cactus. Lagat is going to the 'thon in 2012 and is probably THE most consistent runner outside of Haile. Could learn a thing or two from him [and his coach].

Matter of fact - every elite runner should go to Lagat's door and beg to be his running apprentice. Soak up all the knowledge and get better.

Times have definitely changed.

This RW article

here

confirming Hall's change says, "The news, first rumored on the message board at LetsRun.com and reported by Running Times editor Scott Douglas..."

When was it rumored on LetsRun.com? I always say when there is smoke on the message boards there is fire and things get reported on the boards way before they are announced. However in this instance I only saw a thread saying Hall should leave, not that he was leaving. Was there another thread saying he was leaving?

Peter Vigneron of Runnersworld has written and said this thread here: http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=3752445 is the one he was citing

I go the inside scope: Self-coaching. Vibram sponsorship. Crazy.

he should move to st moritz to train under lucio gigliotti or renato canova maybe in kenya

You guys act as if a shoe contract defines who you are and who you can be as a runner. As his buddy Josh Cox (who is soon to be a father) how hard it is switching shoe brands and contracts. You are talking runners, not NBA and NFL where the big money in shoes is at.