Ritz confirms he'll be running the 10,000 at the Trials

This.

Even a week or two in LA prior to the trials would have helped his chances. He underestimated the weather, his competition and the marathon distance. Also agree to your point on the direct sunlight, there is no way to simulate that with extra clothing. Bottom line is he wasn't committed. If being away from your family for a week or two is too much to sacrifice then you really don't want to make an Olympic team that badly. People put their entire lives on hold to make an Olympic team. This a problem when athletes have contracts that are not tied to performance, they lose their hunger. I also think if he had a coach who would have taken care of the details in regards to his preparation that he would have made the team. Many nistakes were made.

Ritz Carlton wrote:

Say anything you want, but it was the heat that caused cramping.

Too bad he could not afford moving to LA for a couple of months

for adaptation and training on the course. No extra layers of clothing

or anything indoor can substitute for that. We all heard the stories,

yes, including the one about that Alaska woman who won LA marathon, etc

but that's more of an exception. Running in direct sun for two hours is very

tough, even in cooler temps.

Dude, you don't have to hit "enter" at the end of every line. The cursor will jump to the next line automatically when you reach the end.

Ritz has always had big problems with cramping. He missed the team in 2012 due to cramping the last few miles even though temps were ideal. He even reported having some spasms early on in that race that he was able to overcome by falling off the pace briefly. He was struggling with cramping and fueling strategies all the way back to before 2010. Who knows what sort of acclimation work he did before LA. If he showed up in LA the week of the race after doing his entire training cycle in MI, then it would not be surprising that everything locked up on him very early in the race.

It is the Olympics and probably his last shot. Why not take one last swing at it. If he can stay healthy and capitalized on the marathon base, he must just be in the mix. The US trials are still not very deep at 10k. True and Rupp are favorites if not a lock. But after that, it is up for grabs.

A distinct possibility. Especially since Ritz was a prime favorite for the race. These kinds of things happen more then we think at that level, especially when money is involved.

asdfads wrote:

i just can't even... wrote:

maybe the dumbest thing I've ever read here...and that's saying a lot.

Yeah it isn't like Ritz has ever cramped in a marathon before. Clearly must have been a spiked drink. Or maybe someone spiked his drink in his other 7 or so marathons just to throw us off the scent.

Here's the deal. There's something special about being a runner and even more so to being an elite one. I cannot even fathom what its like to be an Olympian, or to have run at the Olympics. But I can understand giving it one last shot.

It's just, when you reach a certain age, you know that you don't have it like you used to. Your body takes longer to recover, etc and on occasion, like some sick joke, you have a great day or two and you feel like maybe, just maybe, you can saddle up with the guys and ride one last time.

Maybe Ritz doesn't have it anymore. Maybe he's washed up. Maybe he'll get injured and that will be the end of it. Or... maybe there's a good chance that he can saddle up for that one last ride and make the Olympics one last time. If you had a reasonable shot, wouldn't you take it?

Will True run the 10k? Or will he run the 5k? I love ritz but it seems making the team in the 10k will be one tall order.

indeed, he could as well have brought his family early to L.A. for a week. He doesn't have quite the desire he used to, which entails real sacrifices. But Meb was there with his whole family and trained in Gainesville.

I wish him the best. You know that if healthy, he'll be in contention for a spot in the last lap.

No way Braun will be running the 10K Trials. He has a torn labrum which forced him out of the marathon trials. No way will he be able to get fit enough for the 10K trials. A torn labrum takes months to recover from. At best he'll be jogging by June.

While I'd certainly like True and Jenkins in the 10k, I think they both prefer the 5k. Maybe this will change. But after Rupp, we probably have a bunch of guys that can run 27:45-28:10. Hopefully I'm wrong and we will have more consistent sub 27:30 guys. But until then... Sure, why not Ritz?

Setting aside all the sniping and delusional theorizing ... I'd just like to add my two cents that Dathan Ritzenhein is a remarkably good egg, and I admire his indefatigable desire to keep trying. Go Ritz! To the rest of you ... enjoy the hate ...

- Great post!

- Ritz made a huge decision in leaving NOP to both train himself and run by himself there in Michigan. His time has likely come in the marathon and track, but I agree that this would be a tough cat to beat on the road and XC which aren't for everyone. The roads and XC should be where he closes an awesome career. Time to "play to your strengths"!

I like Ritz. he could have a shot at the 10k but my first thought was that he would run Boston this spring and skip the OT. He could run NYC after the Olympics too. If he can get into 2:10 shape he could still be in the lead pack of NYC for a long way and fight for a top 5 on a good day. He seems to think he was in 2:10 shape this week.

Thanks for the correction.

Track Fan 1979 wrote:

No way Braun will be running the 10K Trials. He has a torn labrum which forced him out of the marathon trials. No way will he be able to get fit enough for the 10K trials. A torn labrum takes months to recover from. At best he'll be jogging by June.

I'm certain he thought he was in 2:08 shape . . . and he still thinks this.

Boston? wrote:

I like Ritz. he could have a shot at the 10k but my first thought was that he would run Boston this spring and skip the OT. He could run NYC after the Olympics too. If he can get into 2:10 shape he could still be in the lead pack of NYC for a long way and fight for a top 5 on a good day. He seems to think he was in 2:10 shape this week.

glad you brought up Jenkins. Rupp's doubling in the 10 and marathon likely clears a spot for Jenkins in the 5. After a 13:08 last summer and already with 7:44 indoors, he stands a great shot in the absence of Rupp.

Figure on True and then lots of contenders like Jenkins, Hill, Lagat.

Chelanga now focuses on the 10. Rupp's a lock. True may or may not be in there. Ritz should have a shot. Curtis may focus on it and if he is back in 27:24 shape, he'd be in contention.

I agree: True surely and Jenkins most probably prefer the 5, but the schedule, which is extremely odd, does allow for doubling. The 10 is on July 1 and the heats of the 5 are only 3 days later, on July 4. However, the final of the 5 is five full days after the heats, on July 9.http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2016/U-S--Olympic-Team-Trials---Track---Field/Schedule.aspx

*stipe wrote:

While I'd certainly like True and Jenkins in the 10k, I think they both prefer the 5k. Maybe this will change. But after Rupp, we probably have a bunch of guys that can run 27:45-28:10. Hopefully I'm wrong and we will have more consistent sub 27:30 guys. But until then... Sure, why not Ritz?

Dathan, stick a fork in the naysayers, use all your talent/energy and complete your goal of running sub-27, this year.

Ritz is battling for two available spots in the 10000m.

The problem his since he stopped track racing at an elite level (and switched to marathons) there are a lot of new, young contenders. Forget about Rupp - that's #1 spot in the bag. He has to duke it out with faster, younger legs. Much like Kara - it's very daunting task and he is going to be humbled. It's not like it was - guys won't just roll over to Ritz just by hearing his name.

Bernard Lagat is going to get in the action toonever count him out

Montesquieu wrote:

Gave this a bit more thought. This seems to be the list for the contenders to qualify for the Olympics in the 10:

Rupp

Ritz

True

Derrick

Jenkins

Mead

Chelanga

Estrada

Braun

Kipchirchir

Quigley