RITZ IS BACK BABY!!!!

Slow pace, crowded field, warm day, he's not a kicker--very brave race. Second best 5 by over 5 seconds.

Yep, looks like he still has a sub 27 10000 in him.

Is that Ritz's 2nd fastest time? When he ran 12:56, his pr had been only 13:16. Anyway, 13:07,8,9,9 is good depth.

the marathoner

To all those who doubted Ritz's chance to make the US team this year - I think he's a solid #2 seed behind Rupp now. A marathoner who just nearly beat Derrick and Rupp after running a much more gutsy race than either, and with more endurance than both as the distance goes up.

dodgdballer wrote:

Yep, looks like he still has a sub 27 10000 in him.

Indeed, but he will need to find the right race and conditions. He's got to hope the WC 10,000 isn't tactical. He looked very strong. That was a crowded field, with a lot of contact and way off the pacesetting. He looked great as he took it with two to go. Too bad he can't throw down a 55-sec lap to close.

Sagarin wrote:

Indeed, but he will need to find the right race and conditions. He's got to hope the WC 10,000 isn't tactical. He looked very strong. That was a crowded field, with a lot of contact and way off the pacesetting. He looked great as he took it with two to go. Too bad he can't throw down a 55-sec lap to close.

That's a good point, I don't think he's going to get the opportunity to run a sub-27. No way WC goes that fast and evenly split. Maybe they'll be able to set something up after WC or convince Brussels to hold one again.

the "marathoner" ran a tactical 5k with balls and looked fit as hell doing it. im real bummed that he simply just does not have the gears. in a faster paced and more strung out race, who knows, maybe he'll get close to his old PR again!!

He ran a gutsy race, but I think he's probably kicking himself for not waiting, and then being able to finish stronger. He must have faded pretty badly in the last 50 meters, where three guys--Rupp, Derrick, and Jelian--passed him. Of all the guys in the race who were contenders, the large field and all the bumping hurt him the most, because he doesn't have the speed of anyone else. There's no question that in the right race--good pacing, smaller field, cooler conditions--he can break 13 again.

Sagarin wrote:

dodgdballer wrote:

Yep, looks like he still has a sub 27 10000 in him.

Indeed, but he will need to find the right race and conditions. He's got to hope the WC 10,000 isn't tactical. He looked very strong. That was a crowded field, with a lot of contact and way off the pacesetting. He looked great as he took it with two to go. Too bad he can't throw down a 55-sec lap to close.

He ran very, very well. So happy for him. Very encouraging for June 1. He is totally on track for a monster summer at 10K.

I just wish he could pick a distance and go with it. 5K to 10K to Marathon and back. He can't seem to settle on one and so he does them all reasonably well, but not as well as he could if he just focused full time. I think the 10,000 is where he's gotta knuckle down. A great compromise between his 5K finish speed, and his marathon endurance.

crazy raisin wrote:

To all those who doubted Ritz's chance to make the US team this year - I think he's a solid #2 seed behind Rupp now. A marathoner who just nearly beat Derrick and Rupp after running a much more gutsy race than either, and with more endurance than both as the distance goes up.

Really? Derrick has looked so much better than Ritz all season long.

Def not kicking himself. Had he waited he might have placed lower and ran slower. That's WHY he went early....

My impression--I say say impression because I'd have to see the race again--is that he tried two or three times to get to the front, got bumped a bit hard two or three times, had to change lanes two or three times, all in the last three laps. Farah, for example, had much better position to handle any moves, and was dodging traffic the last three laps.

Mrr82 wrote:

Montesquieu wrote:

He ran a gutsy race, but I think he's probably kicking himself for not waiting, and then being able to finish stronger. He must have faded pretty badly in the last 50 meters, where three guys--Rupp, Derrick, and Jelian--passed him. Of all the guys in the race who were contenders, the large field and all the bumping hurt him the most, because he doesn't have the speed of anyone else. There's no question that in the right race--good pacing, smaller field, cooler conditions--he can break 13 again.

Def not kicking himself. Had he waited he might have placed lower and ran slower. That's WHY he went early....

I also think it would be a mistake, assuming he stays healthy, not to commit himself to another track season next year.

One other thing. Ritz was finally healthy and doing speed work in 2009 and ran 27:22 in the heat, 12:56, and 60 flat. He missed essentially the next two years. Last year he was just catching up, always looked tired, and ran four 10s, which is insane. He continued to be healthy this year, had a great base period, and now you are seeing a guy who five or six years ago was the guy the Kenyans feared. He was impressive at Oxy, he was more impressive here. Assuming he makes the World team (and I have trouble seeing True beat him), I think he can do some damage in Moscow. Today he showed Mottram like balls of steel.

Montesquieu wrote:

I also think it would be a mistake, assuming he stays healthy, not to commit himself to another track season next year.

Why? What would he get out of running track on a non-WC year when he could be making good money on the roads? His 5K PR is about as good as it's gonna get, and I don't think he makes himself much more marketable by running a fast 10K. So to the extent that he's interested in, say, supporting his family, I'm not sure why he would see not committing himself to another track season as a "mistake."

This is worth looking at:http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=5211812But to respond to your excellent points, because I think he can run sub 27, which he might not have a chance to do this year, and as I think the 60 half and the 2:07 showed, and as he himself as stated, he does better in longer stuff off of intensity (that is, no cramping). Also, the roads mean hard surfaces, which might mean injury.

Ice wrote:

Montesquieu wrote:

I also think it would be a mistake, assuming he stays healthy, not to commit himself to another track season next year.

Why? What would he get out of running track on a non-WC year when he could be making good money on the roads? His 5K PR is about as good as it's gonna get, and I don't think he makes himself much more marketable by running a fast 10K. So to the extent that he's interested in, say, supporting his family, I'm not sure why he would see not committing himself to another track season as a "mistake."

I agree. I'm not sure he's going to get an opportunity to go sub-13 or sub-27 this year if he stays with running Chicago in October. But, I think running one marathon per year in the fall, for now, not only extends his longevity but let's him have a solid track season. But he's not getting any younger. He's got to strike when the iron's hot, and it is hot right now. His window is closing.