Big Ups: Hall, 2:04.57 AR

Awesome work by Hall today. He ran a tough, gutsy race. He deserves tons of respect for what he did today.

melodrama wrote:

What about the year Hall ran Boston and there was a headwind. Did we make a conversion for his real time, the one with no headwind, after the race?

Do we make a conversion when sprinters run into a headwind? No we do not. We just say that it sucked that the conditions were unfortunate.

So it turns out God is actually a pretty good coach.

malmo wrote:

There have been TWO Bostons in the last 30 years in which there have been a tailwind. This years version was the strongest. Add 3-4 minutes.

There was a strong tailwind in 2004, almost like today. Would be fun to go back and add 3-4 minutes to all those times, seeing as it was also 87 degrees.

Mutai didn't set a world record, IDIOT. Or let me spell that for you, I-D-I-O-T.

ajayxc wrote:

only LetsRun snobs could think that fourth place, in the fastest marathon of all time, is somehow "bad." Lets not forget his American Record he ran today as well.

AR does not stand when the net downhill is noted. Sorry, mate

malmo wrote:Do we make a conversion when sprinters run into a headwind? No we do not. We just say that it sucked that the conditions were unfortunate.

Not for record purposes, but yes we do make conversions when sprinters run into a headwind, and we def consider it when talking about which performance is the greatest.

Mrr82 wrote:

malmo wrote:Do we make a conversion when sprinters run into a headwind? No we do not. We just say that it sucked that the conditions were unfortunate.

Not for record purposes, but yes we do make conversions when sprinters run into a headwind, and we def consider it when talking about which performance is the greatest.

We do? Show me them?

Mrr82 wrote:

Not for record purposes, but yes we do make conversions when sprinters run into a headwind, and we def consider it when talking about which performance is the greatest.

No we don't.

hypnotoad wrote:

Mrr82 wrote:

Not for record purposes, but yes we do make conversions when sprinters run into a headwind, and we def consider it when talking about which performance is the greatest.

No we don't.

With all this talk about conversions, I'm wondering when ventolin^3 is going to get in on this.

we also don't make conversions when marathoners run with a tailwind.

show me where we do this.

PresMustache wrote:

we also don't make conversions when marathoners run with a tailwind.

show me where we do this.

We can simply disavow them if you wish?

I doubted the hell out of the guy but Hall rocked it today. Early in the race I thought to myself, Hall is going to burn up on re-entry after this opening 10K but at least he'll go out with a bit of respect. Well the guy kicked ass, knocked off the defending champ, and ran like a winner. Well done Mr. Hall. I'm psyched about American running not named Solinsky once again.

If someone can break a head wind for other runners, was Hall benefiting from a tail wind if runners were right behind him? Was the wind always blowing 20 mph and always perfectly on his back?

Excellent performance from Hall! Great for him, for fans, and for the whole scene of American distance running. Those who are trying argue that it was not a great day for him are just being silly. Yes, the wind was significant, but what's far more important than the time is that Hall was in contention for a long time today.

However, We have to keep in mind that he didn't win. In fact, he didn't even make the podium. Hall is unquestionably one of the best marathoners in the US right now (and in us history). But until he wins a major marathon, let's not crown him a winner. Granted, winning one is extremely difficult with the ever increasing level of talent in marathoning. But the fact is that the only achievement which makes you the best in the race is 1st place.

Congratulations, Ryan! Hope this race inspires you to keep working and maybe win one before your lucrative career is over! You've proved a lot of naysayers wrong today.

RyanHallFan wrote:

However, We have to keep in mind that he didn't win. In fact, he didn't even make the podium. Hall is unquestionably one of the best marathoners in the US right now (and in us history). But until he wins a major marathon, let's not crown him a winner...

Guess I'm not sure what you mean by a "winner". If you mean the winner (first place finisher) of a race, then declaring that Hall is not a winner of a major marathon is stating the obvious. Not really worthwhile to state that, is is?

If on the other hand, you mean more generally a winner within the sport of running then I would say Hall is a big time winner right now based on the fact that he is vastly more accomplished in this field than I am or than anyone else that I know personally.

And finally if you mean winner at life, then this is something that I do not have any way to make a meaningful judgement on and never will.

Myself, I'd choose door number 2 and call Hall a big time winner.

malmo wrote:

It is neither an AR nor an alltime best.

Exactly!

As others have said, that was a GREAT race by Hall but it is absolutely not the American Record! Hopefully Ryan's fan-boys will realize that after a good night's sleep.

Ryan Hall is the fastest American marathoner...of all time;

Of all time.

Ryan Hall is in the camp of the Big 3 American Marathoners of all time:

Hall, Shorter, Rogers;

And Ryan Hall is the fastest American of them all over the distance.

Whoops, sorry Boston Billy; meant Rodgers (with a 'd').

Rodgers gave a great interview a while back, on the major challenges faced by an American marathoner competing against the East Africans today; one of the main attributes of their success according to Bill Rodgers was their being born and raised at altitude.