The Ryan Hall Story Really Pulls at My Heart

Because some things in this world are bigger and more important than you are.

ConspiracyTheorist wrote:

Guys, next time you're running a 5k and in 2nd or 3rd...please...slow down. If you're thinking of pushing the pace, don't. In fact, tell your friends around you, "This is for America guys! We don't want the people in 5th, 6th or 7th getting any help and catching that guy up there leading." It's the most self-less thing you could do.

It's really a great running story about team work, and overcoming obstacles. Just run slower and listen to the best runner in the group when he tells you to relax and let someone else win. Why on Earth would you think about pushing the pace and helping everyone else in the field?

Dude, seriously, what's with all the negativity? How about you post about something running related that makes you happy? And if nothing running related makes you happy, maybe it's time to stop hanging out on the letsrun board.

ConspiracyTheorist wrote:

Guys, next time you're running a 5k and in 2nd or 3rd...please...slow down. If you're thinking of pushing the pace, don't. In fact, tell your friends around you, "This is for America guys! We don't want the people in 5th, 6th or 7th getting any help and catching that guy up there leading." It's the most self-less thing you could do.

It's really a great running story about team work, and overcoming obstacles. Just run slower and listen to the best runner in the group when he tells you to relax and let someone else win. Why on Earth would you think about pushing the pace and helping everyone else in the field?

Not really sure what you're trying to say. The story about Hall is brilliant. Why wouldn't he want an American to win?

It was obvious that if an American was going to win on this particular day that it was going to be Meb. So Hall helped him a bit and you have a problem with this? I don't get it.

dkny64 wrote:

[quote]ConspiracyTheorist wrote:

Dude, seriously, what's with all the negativity? How about you post about something running related that makes you happy? And if nothing running related makes you happy, maybe it's time to stop hanging out on the letsrun board.

You could be the happiest, serene, positive person in the world, but the smell of BS in that story would knock you out of your state happiness like a 1000 volt blast from a cattle prod.

Hall probably said that because he was struggling and knew that, if the pace were increased, he would be jettisoned off the back of the pack. ...That or he said it to enhance his brand image and keep his sponsorship money flowing, even though his performances alone no longer deserve funding.

Crying Man wrote:

Not really sure what you're trying to say. The story about Hall is brilliant. Why wouldn't he want an American to win?

It was obvious that if an American was going to win on this particular day that it was going to be Meb. So Hall helped him a bit and you have a problem with this? I don't get it.

Have you ever run a race before?

If your friend leaned over to you (while you were on PR pace) and said to you "heyyyyy budddyyy, let's not push the pace so hard today, we need to let that guy in 1st win, it's for the country!"....you seriously would be like "oh, yea, you're right, good call"

Because the story sounds so emotional and awesome, but it defies every single idea any of us have about running. I'm not sure why runners are being sucked in so hardcore into this feelings trap of "do it for America!". It wasn't some team race.

Been here a long time wrote:

dkny64 wrote:

[quote]ConspiracyTheorist wrote:

Dude, seriously, what's with all the negativity? How about you post about something running related that makes you happy? And if nothing running related makes you happy, maybe it's time to stop hanging out on the letsrun board.

You could be the happiest, serene, positive person in the world, but the smell of BS in that story would knock you out of your state happiness like a 1000 volt blast from a cattle prod.

Let's see, it seems pretty clear that Hall really didn't say those things to the other Americans in the lead group because they all told RoJo the same story and Ryan Hall linked the article on his Facebook page. And it also seems clear that some of the Americans [but probably not Hall] could have picked up the pace while the Ethiopians and Kenyans were dawdling and functioned as rabbits for them. And if those American runners had helped pace the Ethiopians and Kenyans, it's less likely that Meb would have held on for a narrow victory. So the BS part is, what, Hall believing he was serving God's purpose by contributing in a small way to Meb's victory? Ok, agreed - I think that's BS. But so what? Meb won Boston. Hall managed to find a positive for himself on a disappointing day. A bunch of other Americans ran really well. RoJo reported an interesting story that others had missed. These are good things, for Chrissake.

As for me, I'm a big Meb fan for a bunch of reasons, but if you aren't, check out

for one of the reasons.

I'm also a Ryan Hall fan - I just really like the way he runs when he's going well - so I was disappointed things didn't go better for him.

And I'm a Dennis Kimetto fan, but I was pretty sure something had to be wrong with him going into the race when I looked into the details of his 64:35 prep half marathon in March and wasn't surprised that he was a DNF yesterday.

Because I had doubts about Kimetto going in and have yet to be convinced that any of the current young Ethiopians are on a par with the very best guys [when healthy/living] - Kimetto, Kipsang, K Bekele, G Mutai, E Mutai, Mosop, Makau, Kirui, Wanjiru - I'm not shocked that a guy like Meb was able to win.

dkny64 wrote:

Dude, seriously, what's with all the negativity? How about you post about something running related that makes you happy? And if nothing running related makes you happy, maybe it's time to stop hanging out on the letsrun board.

It's not negativity, it's reality. Come join me when you're ready. What runner agrees to not push the pace in the biggest race of the year so that someone else could win? WHHHAAATTTT?

This is Let's Run....not Let's let other people win cause it feels good.

I'm a happy dude, I just ate lunch, it was soooo goood.

But I'm also not going to suspend all disbelief just so the right story can be told for the BAA and Boston. It smells like a crock of cooked up malarkey.

So, which of these Americans that didn't push the pace(regardless if Hall said anything) and bring the East Africans with them would have won the race?

You act like they allowed Med to win instead of themselves.

Whether the story of Hall telling the other Americans to not push the pace is true or not doesn't matter. But it is true that if they would have pushed the pace the East Africans would have followed and almost certainly caught Meb.

Congrats to Meb on a gutsy race.

dkny64 wrote:

Hall managed to find a positive for himself on a disappointing day. A bunch of other Americans ran really well. RoJo reported an interesting story that others had missed.

Hall had a bad day, which all of us have had, so there is certainly no shame there.

The problem comes in when the brojos and he use 20/20 hindsight to make up an phoney uplifting story to inject themselves into Meb's story. That's the "positive" he found, taking the emphasis off his mediocre performance.

If Hall is such a selfless guy, why did he even mention it?

Yeah, pretty sure that I have run a race or two.

Perhaps it defies every single idea that YOU have about running. It is not at all clear to me that you are in a position to speak for everyone else. But, heck, what do I know?

Still, if you are going to claim to speak for everyone perhaps you could provide your qualifications. How did you become certified as the official mouthpiece of every single runner? Are there others who hold such an exalted position? Where does one go to sign up for this remarkable position of authority?

Personally I think this is a ditch effort by Hall to try and justify his sub par run. If this is the case it's pretty damn pathetic...

ConspiracyTheorist wrote:

dkny64 wrote:

Dude, seriously, what's with all the negativity? How about you post about something running related that makes you happy? And if nothing running related makes you happy, maybe it's time to stop hanging out on the letsrun board.

It's not negativity, it's reality. Come join me when you're ready. What runner agrees to not push the pace in the biggest race of the year so that someone else could win? WHHHAAATTTT?

This is Let's Run....not Let's let other people win cause it feels good.

I'm a happy dude, I just ate lunch, it was soooo goood.

But I'm also not going to suspend all disbelief just so the right story can be told for the BAA and Boston. It smells like a crock of cooked up malarkey.

Glad you enjoyed your lunch, but that isn't exactly something running related. So...how about an example of something running related that's made you happy - a race you ran, a race you watched, whatever, but running related.

For example, it made me happy watching G Mutai run 2:05:06 at the 2011 NYC Marathon and show just what a great runner can do without rabbits on a fairly tough course. How was that one for you?

Let me guess - you hated it because "everyone knows he was doped to the gills."

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but it's possible that the other Americans were at or near pr pace already. If Hall really did recommend that that they not rabbit for the Africans, doesn't anyone think that they would be intelligent enough to let the Africans rabbit for them? The Africans were going to run faster than than the other Americans' prs anyway. They could have just let them pull them along to a new best.

Been here a long time wrote:

dkny64 wrote:

Hall managed to find a positive for himself on a disappointing day. A bunch of other Americans ran really well. RoJo reported an interesting story that others had missed.

Hall had a bad day, which all of us have had, so there is certainly no shame there.

The problem comes in when the brojos and he use 20/20 hindsight to make up an phoney uplifting story to inject themselves into Meb's story. That's the "positive" he found, taking the emphasis off his mediocre performance.

If Hall is such a selfless guy, why did he even mention it?

Hall didn't mention it, he merely confirmed it when he was asked. Now, yes, he's using it to help ease the sting of a very disappointing day. And who ever said he was selfless? If he'd been feeling good, he would have gone with Meb and tried to win the race, but he wasn't, so the next best thing he could do was a bit of organizing on behalf of someone he likes.

dkny64 wrote:

[quote]

Hall didn't mention it, he merely confirmed it when he was asked. Now, yes, he's using it to help ease the sting of a very disappointing day. And who ever said he was selfless? If he'd been feeling good, he would have gone with Meb and tried to win the race, but he wasn't, so the next best thing he could do was a bit of organizing on behalf of someone he likes.

Can I have a little of what you are smoking?

simple wrote:

Because some things in this world are bigger and more important than you are.

typical religious weetard propaganda

Crying Man wrote:

Yeah, pretty sure that I have run a race or two.

Perhaps it defies every single idea that YOU have about running. It is not at all clear to me that you are in a position to speak for everyone else. But, heck, what do I know?

Still, if you are going to claim to speak for everyone perhaps you could provide your qualifications. How did you become certified as the official mouthpiece of every single runner? Are there others who hold such an exalted position? Where does one go to sign up for this remarkable position of authority?

How many of those races have you been able to push the pace and backed off so you could let someone else win?

dkny64 wrote:

As for me, I'm a big Meb fan for a bunch of reasons, but if you aren't, check out

http://www.examiner.com/article/meb-keflezighi-wins-2009-ing-new-york-marathon-for-fallen-runner-ryan-shay-video

for one of the reasons.

Beautiful video. Anyone who questions Meb's American qualities should go drown themself and make the country better.