I didn't run the race, but was there. Ran on the course before the race started. The wind was gusting across to strong headwind. NOT conducive to leading. Ritz's best chance to finish top 3 was to hang in the pack and then race the final 10 miles. I am a Ritz fan, but he ran the dumbest race I've ever seen. Yes, Ryan Hall pushing the pace in LA that year was in the same realm. Has anyone ever led the first few miles of the NYC Marathon and finished top 3? Ever?
He should have happily allowed it to become a jog fest and then run a 1:01-1:02 second half.
Everyone can have different opinions. But leading the first 5 miles of the NYC Marathon yesterday was a strategy destined to fail.