The quote came at a press event for the River Bank Run 25K which Ritz will be running this year.
Do you think it's a true statement or not? I'd never thought about it until I read the quote but I'm inclined to say, "Yes."
Ritz has run 3 of the fastest 8 half-marathon times in history according to Track and Field News. His 60:00 also came in a championship race - the 2009 World Half Marathon Champs - where Ritz won a bronze.
All-Time US Half Marathon List According to TFN
59:43 Ryan Hall (Asics) 01/14/07
60:00 Dathan Ritzenhein (Nike) 10/11/09
60:51 Diego Estrada (Asics) 01/18/15
60:55 Mark Curp (New Balance) 09/15/85
60:57 ————Ritzenhein 09/16/12
61:00 Meb Keflezighi (Nike) 10/04/09
61:07 Abdi Abdirahman (Nike) 09/17/06
61:10 ————Ritzenhein 03/17/13
61:17 Khalid Khannouchi (unattached) 09/17/00
61:20 Galen Rupp (Nike Oregon Project) 12/13/15
http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/01/dathan_ritzenhein_to_make_long.html
TFN list here:
http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-lists?list_id=10&sex_id=M&yyear=2008