Ritz feels "some 12:56s this summer".

It ain't rocket science. He know what his workouts translate to. Are you saying he gets injured first?

oxyroxypoxy wrote:

How likely do you think Ritz going 12:56 this summer is?

I say "not".

In May of 2009, he was probably barely recovered from London. Now, he's negative splitting a 13:14, his second fastest time ever for that distance, in flats. If anything, I'd say it's MORE likely this season.

No doubt about it, if he's in a fast race at the end of the summer, closer to his peak, when he's in spikes and wants to get after it, I'm sure he can go sub 13 again. This was not a very hard run for him.

More likely though would be breaking 27 toward the end of the season in my opinion. He wanted to break 27 back in 2010, before his injury, and his training partners are 26:40 guys. I see him going after that this year.

Agreed.

I recall Ritz saying in some interview that he thought his World Championship 10K performance was a greater accomplishment than his 12:56 weeks later. Not sure if that is true but its very plausible considering the running conditions and where Ritz placed in that WC race. 10K is definitely more his strong suit.

given the guy is coming off marathon training and has a great base, the 5k result says he's on track to a great track season.

if ritz stays healthy and gets in the right races, it is a no brainer that he'll do the sub 13 5K it AND the sub 27 10K.

a perfect combo of the right race and great condition will give ritz the AR in either event. that is right, either event.

If Ritz runs anything like how he ran that 12:56...he will win a medal at London.

I have to agree with most of what was said here.

Maybe FINALY Ritz will give up on the marathon as the main goal and will quit calling himself "the marathoner" of the Salazar group. He's got to realize his better chances are in 5000 & 10,000 on the track, and up to HM on the roads.

Hopefully, he will now concentrate on the 5k.

I like Ritz but he's just not fast enough to medal at 5k...hello, Mo, anyone? He's perfect for the 10k and should focus on that.

I think he can knock on 12:50's door.

Love Ritz!

The perfect scenario for him is cranking out a hard even paced race at 61-62 second sin Olympics; which probably won't happen given history of Championships race tactics...

Ritz needs to close these 13:12 type races in 55-56 too.

Not that he can't still make a splash this year if he can stay healthy and get his wheels back, but I sure wish Ritz would've stayed on the track ever since he ran that 8:11 deuce in 2007. But, this season might be setting up as a parallel to 2009, where he ran a disappointing marathon but had an enormous base behind him. This kid has so much talent and gets into shape so quickly that the "stress reaction" may have been a blessing in disguise. Again, if he can stay healthy and eventually catch Rupp and Mo in shorter workouts leading up to the games, I don't see any reason he won't be in peak form.

The question is, where is he going to get the opportunity to run sub-13 and sub-27 again? It won't be at the trials and likely not at the games, if he is peaking then. How long can he hold his peak? Ritz would likely own the ARs in the 5,000 and 10,000 if he hadn't strayed to the marathon and the money. He could've saved that until after London. Anyway, I would love to see the kid go sub-12:55 and sub-26:50.

The other thing is, every time Ritz negative splits a race, he runs extremely well, just like last night, just like during his 12:56. If he would've done that at the marathon trials in Houston, he would've made the team and probably would've won. He also would've performed much better at London in '09. Can't believe he hasn't figured this out.

He is among a handful of American's who have broken 13:00 for the 5k. He would be unwise to run the 10k. If he wants to get injured again then by all means run the 10k.

He always gets injured when he tries to do some crazy speedwork. Ritzenhein has got to be the least patient elite runner in the world. He just needs to 'run baby' and let it come to him. He always talks about how he is excited to get to the track and blast some 200s. Lol! Does he not reallize this is what always gets him injured? He can run 12:50 off short, medium, and long tempos (his bread and butter (doesn't make him a marathoner though)) and some 12 x 1,000 sessions at 2:40 cranking down to 2:30 on the last 2. He absolutely doesn't need any 26 second 200 reps. no way, no how. Salazaar is an idiot if he has Ritz running those 200s with Farah and Rupp. He could absolutely change NOTHING in his training right now, and a natural progression would have him at 13:05 in that Prefontaine 5k.

Ritz, let bangalangadanga coach you.

when he starts blabbing his mouth, he is weeks away from injury. mark my words, ritz will do something stupid and will be watching the trials from the stands wearing a boot.

It sounds like he is being smart. Running in flats, not pushing the last 200, getting hammered by Mo and Rupp in training at 400 meter repeats and under (which is good, because I'm sure Ritz's pride wants him to be right there with them)... all good signs. He may need some short sharp stuff at the end, but the guy can race himself into shape. Assuming he gets the "A" standard in Hengelo, he shouldn't run Pre or maybe run something short there, not the 5,000.

Will Ritz try for the 10000 only at the olympic trials?

Right now, in no particular order, Lagat, Rupp and Lomong seem to be the guys with the best chance in the 5000.

Unless he is in sub 13 shape by then because the three guys mentioned above are.

Yes - it will be tough to finish in the top 3 with the 5000 field...

The race would have to be super fast where Ritz runs away from Lomong... see 72 trials in 5000

I wonder what shape Lagat will be in?