Ryan Hall Q&A: "I’ve had clinically low testosterone levels, which affects everything."

This sucks because I came here trying to get more information on what Hall's done.

I was DX'ed low T ten years ago, five before I started running. I have a desk job and while physical activity does seem to have an effect, as does alcohol, sex, smoking, watching a manly movie, etc. it shouldn't affect it to the point I'm testing at 170. My numbers fluctuate - wildly. I've been on the max dose of Androgel only to go off for a couple years, then back on again. Right now it's "steadier", and running definitely affects it, anyway... I've been tested for all sorts of stuff. Right now I'd kill for a brain tumor because at least I'd have an answer. Frustrating having doctor after doctor look at me, shrug their shoulders, and say, "Well, I have no idea. You're just different."

Hall needs to get this taken care of. There are medical issues with being that low, thought processes aren't worth a damn thing, and any sort of physical performance is out of the question. It could be that inability to think clearly that prevents him from seeking treatment. If he does care about his family and wants to be there later on, he's got to do something. Which means "taking one for the team" and slathering on some gel or taking a shot.

B.S. The body recovers from high mileage, and you never ran in the Olympics, Troll Patrol.

Web M.D.

"•Muscle Milk chocolate powder, at three servings, contained all four of the metals, and three metals were found at a level that was among the highest of all 15 products tested. Cadmium levels were 5.6 micrograms -- above the 5-microgram limit. Lead was 13.5 micrograms -- above the USP limit of 10 micrograms. The arsenic averaged 12.2 micrograms -- near the 15-microgram daily USP limit.

•Muscle Milk vanilla crème had 12.2 micrograms of lead per three servings -- above the 10-microgram daily limit. It has 11.2 micrograms of arsenic -- close to the 15-microgram daily limit."

Ryan, how much Muscle Milk do you take in every day, and how long have you been using it?

Cadmiun and Metal Effects

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0041008X9190119Y

"where there are 222 mining claims on public lands within five miles of Big Bear Lake"

Contamination of groundwater by cadmium, arsenic, etc in Big Bear where Ryan lived much of his life.

It's well-known that Ryan has been taking thyroid medicine for some time. I'd be interested to know his take on that now, in retrospect - i.e., does he think it might have fried his endocrine system?

asdgh wrote:

AT&T wrote:

Why would he take thyroid but not testosterone? Is one morally OK and not the other?

Testosterone is banned, thyroid medication is not.

Define "banned." Because as the Nike/Salazar doping program scandal showed, taking exogenous Test is easy to do way beyond human norms (normal is around 1:1) and you'll never test positive. The IOC permitted ratio is 4:1.

That means an athlete can go crazy with the Testogel before testing positive. If the federation likes you, you'll never test positive anyway.

It's possible Ryan's problems have nothing to do with PEDs. But, it doesn't seem likely given how rampant doping is in distance events.

Jkj wrote:

Poor Sara.

Plus the stress of raising five children.

Seriously....Have you EVER run before????

You should try it after you get done 'Trolling" the internet and trying to be a Wannabe doctor and or runner.

Put down the X-Box controller FATBOY and get off the couch and go run a mile. Don't forget to tell your mommy you'll be home before dark. Also, Olympians don't fake about being in the Olympics. Get off this message board....LOSER!!

Bro - Mama wrote:

I read this and his wife's statements as he USED to take some sort of testosterone boost. Look back to the progression of good times.

He finds God (not that there is anything wrong with that) and now morally cannot take the T.

Most likely this. It could explain why he wanted to train alone. He must have been struggling with himself to do the right thing.

He didn't just find god; he was super religious from the start. He's a rare case of a completely clean athlete.

There's a good article on bodybuilding.com about this. Instead of posting a link, I'll do you a favor an summarize the "7 smart ways to boost testosterone":

1. Eat Fat

2. Don't avoid cholesterol

3. Consume test-bossting ingredients (they name zinc, Vitamin D among others)

4. Favor multi joint free-weights movements

5. Longer workouts are not better

6. Get your ZZZs

7. Use training variables associated with greater T (70-85% of 1REP MAX)

I bet Ryan doesn't follow 1, 2 and 3. We KNOW that he doesn't do 4, his long runs are basically the opposite of 5. Same with 7.

The only thing I believe he could be doing is 6 - getting enough sleep.

Ryan's downfall reminds me a bit of Salazar's. Ryan's career lasted a bit longer, there are some parallels. Both were running very well, there races started to get shakey and then the wheels just fell off. Ryan doesn't sound like he knows what his problem truly is. The low T could be one of the issues he is having (maybe it is the only physical problem). I recall Salazar went to all kind of various specialists who all had their own ideas, theories, etc., he tired various treatments, etc., but he was never able to comeback to top form. It appears Ryan is likely going to share the same fate.

Hall is barking up the wrong tree. Short of getting his balls cut off, he's going to have much more T than a woman, so he should be running 2:15 at the very least.

The only Olympics you were in was the Special Olympics for Bipolar Narcissists.

Show me in print where Bill and Frank said they ran too many miles.

BS regarding Jerome Drayton.Perhaps I will ask Jerome the next time I run into him (assuming he attends the Toronto Olympic Club banquet - I know where to find him if he doesn't show again).The reality is Jerome Drayton (and Bill Rodgers) believe modern runners are NOT RUNNING ENOUGH.They may or may not have had Low T in the seventies but the reality is, IT DOESN'T MATTER.Even blessed old Ed Whitlock has lower than average T (based on medical tests run on him and other elder statespeople of running) and it sure doesn't stop him.The reality is Ryan Hall desperately wants to know why he isn't performing anymore and will latch on to anything.He sounds like a hypochondriac.

sdmiler wrote:

Ryan's downfall reminds me a bit of Salazar's. Ryan's career lasted a bit longer, there are some parallels. Both were running very well, there races started to get shakey and then the wheels just fell off. Ryan doesn't sound like he knows what his problem truly is. The low T could be one of the issues he is having (maybe it is the only physical problem). I recall Salazar went to all kind of various specialists who all had their own ideas, theories, etc., he tired various treatments, etc., but he was never able to comeback to top form. It appears Ryan is likely going to share the same fate.

With all of the NOP stuff that's been going on Ryan probably wouldn't want anything to do with them, but Alberto Salazar is one of the few coaches who could help him turn this thing around, seeing as how he went through pretty much the same ordeal that Hall is going through and basically built a system with NOP to prevent this type of slump/burnout.

The timeline tells the tale:

college: No sex for most of the time, runs mediocre, then pops 13:15 when he loses his virginity to Sara.

Early Pro: Gets it on with his hot new wife like there is no tomorrow. Pops a 59:43 and on to the marathon for more succcess.

Late Pro: The weariness of traveling as a couple, and Post-Nuptial Shutoff kicks in. Times go south, along with Ryan Jr and his T-levels.

Interestingly red meat is not on this list (not that I claim to know anything beyond folklore and rumor). Why isn't it...?

Bodybylder wrote:

There's a good article on bodybuilding.com about this. Instead of posting a link, I'll do you a favor an summarize the "7 smart ways to boost testosterone":

1. Eat Fat

2. Don't avoid cholesterol

3. Consume test-bossting ingredients (they name zinc, Vitamin D among others)

4. Favor multi joint free-weights movements

5. Longer workouts are not better

6. Get your ZZZs

7. Use training variables associated with greater T (70-85% of 1REP MAX)