BREAKING: Matt Tegenkamp retires from pro running!

JARY Shoemahkur wrote:

Full story here:

http://bit.ly/1m8c1SP

Discuss!

"Saying that he wasn’t willing to give 105% in preparing for this month’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Matt Tegenkamp, a member of two Olympic and three World Championship teams, has ended his professional running career."

A class act, a great competitor, and someone who was on top of his game for 15 years. I think in time we will come to respect his range and his longevity. How many other 2:12 guys ran 3:34???:

1500m 3:34.25

1 Mile 3:56.38

3000m 7:34.98i

2 Mile 8:07.07 (AR)

5000m 12:58.56

10000m 27:28.22

Half-Marathon 1:02.04

Marathon 2:12.28

What will his career be? Will he coach?

4th wt the World Championships is also a nice notch.

A class act. Seems this is a time for a lot of retirements. Olympics are forcing decisions and critical thought about careers.

I wish him all the best.

Dr. Steve Brule wrote:

How many other 2:12 guys ran 3:34???:

Don't you mean how many 3:34 guys only ran 2:12?

Dixon did 3:33 and sub 2:09 35-40 years ago.

Who is Pascal Dobert?

Dhdhdjfb wrote:

Who is Pascal Dobert?

I am.

If you read the article it said he's working for Nike in product creation.

Great career. He will be missed. Enjoy retirement, Teg!

Dhdhdjfb wrote:

Who is Pascal Dobert?

Guessing you're not older than 25? Or weren't a track fan before then. US Steeple champion from 1998-2000. Ran 8:15.

I'm breaking my self-imposed Letsrun ban just to say thank you to Teg for a great career. I rooted for you and enjoyed watching you compete, my man. Good luck in the future.

Dingler wrote:

Dhdhdjfb wrote:

Who is Pascal Dobert?

Guessing you're not older than 25? Or weren't a track fan before then. US Steeple champion from 1998-2000. Ran 8:15.

Coaching at BTC now right?

He really did help lead the U.S. back into contention. He was just a hair's breadth from taking bronze at World's in 2007, and while he did eventually break 13, he rarely raced on the circuit, preferring training for championship races, so he could easily have run faster times. Also very notable is that he took fifth at World Junior XC in a loaded field with Bekele first and Ritz third. Clearly his heart hadn't been in it for a few years because he wasn't too old to do it, but a terrific career.

Followed his career closely as another KC runner. Couldn't have been nicer in my interactions with him, but clearly could turn on the fire in training/races.

He was a good lean from a WC bronze.

Always thought he ran too hard in the prelims at Beijing. Seriously wish someone had the video of that heat. He was kicking down Bekele for no reason. Impressive but he didn't have it in the final.

Lots of good US champs races where Lagat always seemed to gun him down.

Not sure if he didn't have the confidence to go with the break or if he just had a mad finish, but he always seemed to come from behind and run people down in his PRs.

Great career. A pleasure to watch.

Who's gonna represent the ginger elite athlete community now?

Arguably one of the toughest, if not toughest, runners to come out of Missouri since Mark Curp.

Dingler wrote:

Dhdhdjfb wrote:

Who is Pascal Dobert?

Guessing you're not older than 25? Or weren't a track fan before then. US Steeple champion from 1998-2000. Ran 8:15.

Indeed. He was 3-time US champ and Olympian. He also is Jerry Schumacher's assitant.

It reminds me of the fact that for nearly everyone in the sport, the sport starts when they are about 15 and goes from their.

A few weeks ago, Weldon - we are same age as Dobert (he's like 3 months younger than us) - was interviewing someone. I think it was Abdi. Abdi was talking about racing weldon back in the day, etc. A younger pro was there. I can't remember who it was. Some recent college grad stud. The younger guys mind was blown. He had a hard time fathoming that this 42 year old guy used to race a guy he's currently racing.

Well this was not a huge surprise, remember that interview he gave a while back about how old he felt (he was like 32 at the time)?

Has Solinsky officially retired yet?