If Ritz runs well at Boston, does that PROVE AlSal can't coach the marathon?

Yes

Let's not get our hopes up. He said that he undertrained for this...

He ran 2:07 under Alberto. You think that sucks?

Lada wrote:

He ran 2:07 under Alberto. You think that sucks?

207 is a very good PR, but he finished that race in 9th place. That day in Chicago, he crossed the line over three minutes behind Kebede. He didn't even attempt to run with the lead pack that day!

I don't think Ritz is a true marathon talent. Can't fault him for the move to the 'thon though...it seems that that is where the money is these days (it also helps avoid losing to Rupp at nationals in the 10,000 every year).

I don't really root for NOPers, but it would be nice to see Ritz do well in a marathon.

Let it go, dude.

My armchair psych analysis?

AlSal was a great runner. He won a couple of marathons, but never got an Olympic medal. I think his coaching focus is, therefore, on Olympic medals, NOT the marathon.

He's been there, done that.

Given what is being forecasted about the direction and speed of the wind, everything else notwithstanding, a fast time would be hard to predict.

Are you totally clueless? Do you know what would have happened had Ritz tried to run with the lead pack?

Steve Jones ran faster without his hs teammate towing him around the course ..way back in 1985... 207 is very 1985. Plus on 5/11 you'll find out ... "...he's fcuked".

Lada wrote:

He ran 2:07 under Alberto. You think that sucks?

Ritz will get his ass kicked and under perform as per the usual. It doesn't matter where he is training, marathon is not his best event by far. Should have focused his career on the 5 and 10 and then just done marathons off of that fitness.

You appear to be struggling with the meaning of the word 'prove'

Yes. And to the poster who said AlSal is more focused on medals than marathon success -- AlSal is on record as saying Rupp will definitely move up to the marathon and make that his primary focus at some point. Presumably this will happen right after Rio. From the moment Alberto discovered Rupp on that Central Catholic soccer field, the ultimate goal has been MARATHON GLORY.

Jones ran faster wrote:

Steve Jones ran faster without his hs teammate towing him around the course ..way back in 1985... 207 is very 1985. Plus on 5/11 you'll find out ... "...he's fcuked".

Lada wrote:

He ran 2:07 under Alberto. You think that sucks?

when was your last 2:07, let alone 2:37 or 3:07?

what's significant about 5/11?

Ritz, 2:10 and top 10 at Boston.

I'll start caring about American marathon running again when someone (who is actually an American) with the same or better talent for it as Ryan Hall takes it up. Until then I have no interest in watching a handful of meh talents running 2:10-2:12.

I guess I'm just bitter that once we got a guy (Hall) who actually had some Olympic or WC medal potential in the Marathon, he torched his training and has now missed his window.

maybe? wrote:

Let's not get our hopes up. He said that he undertrained for this...

When I read his undertrained comment, my thought was that it was a smokescreen and he is really in superb shape.

I thought Salazar was still coaching Ritz even though Ritz moved to I think Michigan, by way of phone and internet?, Like Salazar coached Cain, even though Cain was in New York the last 2 years.

This is an interesting topic. I do not have an answer to the question, as there are many factors here, injuries being one. Perhaps Ritz's undertraining will pay off? It seems there are quite a few talented runners doing quite a few miles, and yet the only ones that ever win are the East Africans.

26.2 Red White & Blue wrote:

I'll start caring about American marathon running again when someone (who is actually an American) with the same or better talent for it as Ryan Hall takes it up. Until then I have no interest in watching a handful of meh talents running 2:10-2:12.

I guess I'm just bitter that once we got a guy (Hall) who actually had some Olympic or WC medal potential in the Marathon, he torched his training and has now missed his window.

He could run 2:06 but I didn't think he was ever going to win a medal.

Call it watered down since it is, but dathan did win a medal at the 13.1 distance and in a fast time too. Dathans best distance is the half. If he wasn't always injured training for the marathon he could bank on so many road races.

anyone wrote:

My armchair psych analysis?

AlSal was a great runner. He won a couple of marathons, but never got an Olympic medal. I think his coaching focus is, therefore, on Olympic medals, NOT the marathon.

He's been there, done that.

What about an OLYMPIC MARATHON MEDAL?