Ritz apologizes for World XC comments

agreed, class act.

'It's sad that World XC has become nothing. I remember when it was huge, when our best runners competed and even won'

The main reason for that has been that our best runners are not good enough to compete in the world xc

Cross is dead in this country-----sad but true-----$100 for 10th at Nationals---seriously guys----and the webcast of the event, while i appreciate whoever did it for nothing, it had the feel of a kid walking around with a camera----plus the spectators, (1000) or so people running around with boom boxes---it looked like a high school meet at Van Cortlandt----and i love cross, but it was hard to watch-----and yes there is some truth to the idea that most US guys would get crushed at WCC---but the root is that there is absolutely no money--and i don't see how that changes

ukathleticscoach wrote:

The main reason for that has been that our best runners are not good enough to compete in the world xc

Unfortunately, I see the African dominance in the past 20 years or so as one of the leading contributors to the demise of XC. Top Westerners started to avoid World XC more and more and it became, in essence, an African Championships.

I understand Ritz's motivation (money) to run the half versus World XC, but he also skipped out many times when World XC wasn't insignificant.

He should apologize for using "rocking" as an adjective to describe the half marathon. Unless he was specifically referring to the Rock n' Roll series and looking to put in a plug or trolling for future endorements.

No one is really making a case why out of all of the choices now available...MANY more than existed when Ritz did World Cross in the past ... that he should actually go back there again.

Why not ask why Rupp ran a track race in Boston instead of going to USA Cross Country? Why does everyone have to do things hat have "USA" or "World" in front of them?

Sure, he's apologizing now, but what am I supposed to do with all of these tickets to Bydgoszcz?

Oh well, there's always Guiyang!

"MANY" more existed? I'm not so sure. There have always been ample racing opportunities available. As I said before, I understand Ritz's motivation (there is very little guaranteed money in our sport and almost no money in XC), but as a fan of the sport, I do wish our top guys who participate at US XC nationals would also represent our country at Worlds. I also understand that it's not always in their best interests or injuries come up, but more often than not too many of our top guys run the US meet and skip Worlds.

Regarding Rupp, he's not running US XC and then turning down a spot at the World meet. More often than not, he participates in US Indoor and at the World Indoor. He said long ago that he's much more comfortable on the track than in XC. I have no issue with runners making a choice between XC and Indoor or doing neither. I just have never liked how guys run US XC and then turn down a chance to run worlds with excuses such as "getting ready for outdoor." Bekele never had a problem doing both. At minimum, they should be honest: "I don't want to travel to Europe to get my a** kicked and not make any money." World XC does appear to be on its deathbed, but the athletes themselves need to take some responsibility for its demise.

As I said before, cross, indoor, outdoor, and roads all seemed to thrive more in the past. Maybe my memory is clouded by age. I don't see track "dying," but I don't see a lot of growth despite the number of guys running really well.

Look at indoors this past week, despite running multiple races this winter, both Lagat and Rupp (plus many others) skip the national championships. Why doesn't Schumacher's group run a fast 5k 2 weeks ago and then send his horses to USAs to run for a national title? Leer running 3:58 at 5000 feet was exciting! Could you imagine that race with Lagat, Rupp, etc.?! How does a 3k with 4 contestants help build fan interest? And, I'm sorry, but I don't buy the altitude excuse. It should be about racing and most of the top guys in the country spend at least some time at altitude.

My posts aren't intended to knock certain athletes or their decisions. I'm not in their shoes and I respect their limited opportunities to make good money. However, it does seem as though our sport (IAAF, USATF, and the athletes) is shooting itself in the foot. It just doesn't seem as though many decisions are made with the idea of building the fan base.

PATHETIC FAKE APOLOGY.

"...especially to the athletes who are competing there, it can be a very important step in international development."

'Important step'? 'Development'? What?? Come on!

Ritz is talking as if this is some B meet where kids can 'break through' to the real world of top-tier elite running that of course Ritz thinks he's part of (NB: he's not).

Let's see, Ritzenhein ran world XC once, right? How did that go? Oh, right: SIXTY-SECOND PLACE. Utterly annihilated.

An "important step in international development" would be for Ritzenhein to get top-50 at world XC.

At least Ritz feeling the need to put this out proves something: the pros really do know and care what Letsrun nation is saying.

sadbut true wrote:

Cross is dead in this country-----sad but true-----$100 for 10th at Nationals---seriously guys----and the webcast of the event, while i appreciate whoever did it for nothing, it had the feel of a kid walking around with a camera----plus the spectators, (1000) or so people running around with boom boxes---it looked like a high school meet at Van Cortlandt----and i love cross, but it was hard to watch-----and yes there is some truth to the idea that most US guys would get crushed at WCC---but the root is that there is absolutely no money--and i don't see how that changes

It might change if the stars of the sport stopped bad mouthing the event and started actually attending...

Dennis Reynolds wrote:

It might change if the stars of the sport stopped bad mouthing the event and started actually attending...

Just think of all of the US running fans who would be traveling to Bydgoszcz if Ritz was running and hadn't badmouthed the race!

This is a perfect example why people in general are not interested in USA Track and Field\Cross Country(Because it affects distance runners). As distance runners nowadays it's all about getting on the track to run a fast time. You're average spectator doesn't want to go to a meet to watch a rabbit and a train of guys running behind them. It's not even about winning and losing anymore. Guys would rather go out hard and blow up trying to run a fast time, than place in the top 3 at meets. It's also sad that he doesn't feel like representing his country at a World Championships. Yes guys are running faster than ever but the sport is boring to watch for a track geek like myself...super hard to get non-track people excited to watch.

The best Track and Field to watch is collegiate conference championships...at this point i'd rather go watch the Big10 Championships then turn on the TV and watch guys run for a fast time.

The shoe companies should take away all sponsorship money and put that all into prize money for meets. That would fix this stuff real quick.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

'That comment came off as careless and wrong. I know that, especially to the athletes who are competing there, it can be a very important step in international development.'

I don't think he really needed to apologise, but that's digging himself in deeper!

The world cross is not a development event its where the best are. He does admit he would get dropped later though

People are reading too much into this. For the right person at the right time it can provide experience and a breakthru, which of course is an important step.

That's all he is saying. His original statement came off as a little matter of fact and not considering other athletes at different levels. He doesn't have to, but he does care about other runners at other levels so he came out and made it clear that he does care and respect upcoming runners.

Nothing weak about it, just a damn good runner with a damn fine set of ethics.

Soooooo.........why does he have to apologize? And congrats letsrun I'm sure you were the reason he "apologized" haha this website is a joke.

a woooo wrote:

Soooooo.........why does he have to apologize? And congrats letsrun I'm sure you were the reason he "apologized" haha this website is a joke.

He only does if he feels he does, because he cares that people know what he meant and not as a slight to developing runners.

I get why he did...but why does letsrun feel it necessary that he did?! And why does letsrun think they are the reason he apologized?!? At least there isn't a lack of self-worth from letsrun. THe brojos are such great journalists it's incredible.

If you want to make XC more relevant to professional runners looking to make a living from the sport, it has to reach a broader audience in the US and Europe. One easy way to accomplish that: make it part of the Olympics, preferably the Winter Games. That would also make the Winter Games much more relevant to a large part of the world's population.

Jet Setting World Traveler wrote:

Dennis Reynolds wrote:

It might change if the stars of the sport stopped bad mouthing the event and started actually attending...

Just think of all of the US running fans who would be traveling to Bydgoszcz if Ritz was running and hadn't badmouthed the race!

Ritz isn't the first, it might not be there if others had run WXC in the past and actually cared about the race. Ritz is just driving a nail in the coffin of a race that has been dead for a bit and that is really sad. Geb probably had the most to do with it, want to talk about a coward he never f*cking ran it..

thumbs up to ritz for stiring the pot.

cross country needs a kick in the butt-ass plain and simple.

the world championships could be the greatest race in the world, the greatest running team championship in the world.

but it is a foot note, as ritz accurately described.

nobody goes because nobody goes.