It might be unfair to group Ritz who is only 37 and will be Bernard Lagat's age (45) when the Olympics are in LA in 2028 but we did.
Our picks are here, plus some classic old LRC photos.
What do you all think?
It might be unfair to group Ritz who is only 37 and will be Bernard Lagat's age (45) when the Olympics are in LA in 2028 but we did.
Our picks are here, plus some classic old LRC photos.
What do you all think?
The question: Which “old guy” — Dathan Ritzenhein (37), Bernard Lagat (45), Abdi Abdirahman (43)– has the best shot to make the team?
Answer: Lagat in the 10000m may be the best, of those odds, in making "the team".
I'd have to say Abdi. I'd love for Ritz to fulfill more of his promise, and Lagat is the best story, but Abdi just keeps on surprising.
I'm going with Lagat. His training looks great. The Trials will not go out too fast.
Love the black cactus. He has a shot. I just think Lagat looks serious and great lately. He always steps up.
I agree Ritz just has not handled the last 5 years well.
Lagat did 6 weeks in Kaplagat, Kenya on hills specifically for the Atlanta marathon course.
You can always count on Abdi getting his "timing" right, but if Ritz is healthy and actually training decently he should be better. Lagat will be fun, but probably no higher than 5th.
wrote:
I'm going with Lagat. His training looks great. The Trials will not go out too fast.
Love the black cactus. He has a shot. I just think Lagat looks serious and great lately. He always steps up.
I agree Ritz just has not handled the last 5 years well.[/quote]
September 2016, three years, four months ago, Ritz ran 60:12 at Great North.
But the marathon has indeed not been kind to him the last several years. Yet, with the exception of 2016, he has always shown up when it counted. And then there's this:
Best two marathons for Ritz--
Chicago, October 7, 2012, 2:07:47
Weather at start: 40 degrees; wind WNW 6 mph
Houston, January 14, 2012, 2:09:55
Weather at start: 40 degrees; wind WSW 5 mph
three 8 mile loops; finish with 2.2 miles
Next marathon:
Atlanta, February, 29 2020 . . .
Weather forecast for 12:00 pm start: 40 degrees; wind NW 9 mph (Weather Underground)
three 8 miles loops; finish with 2.2 miles
Yes--the weather in all three cases is exact: 40 degrees, relatively low winds (from the west). I know: crazy coincidence.
Something to consider ... the Hansons Fb page recently notes Ritz is the only runner at the trials who has been under 2:08 without carbon-plated shoes (as well as his 2019 half result), and he will be wearing the Hyperion Elite in Atlanta. .... https://www.facebook.com/HansonsBrooksDistanceProject/posts/2830208093682243?__xts__[0]=68.ARAtWtB_5_ZFTMA-0cefYgcDhEzSih4iGvERojvnT3ImyruJCsJYwgBHT8hc2lM9JUpGhsCVjy_qzACkjhCcgC4j3FXbwwyYd0W-AbiTT1UkS9wGGFC6guWV3cHpq_dRu8mW3D9dT17Zoj4zWhHDQ9OjxkOd44nnUv5UhHUqMCp1xCXj0f8A8byIE1BtZeJ17Jv5HQdqfJaWTfZZBBuyoyyiVQ1Hn5JVnn2SBj_NcTuTVtY1OALAnpTRshICgoqG3RAVVjSjYGlld2yuXOKDHRQCZZy-2SRg9OLZc5ByOCEHEk3L6CojJSr3GWhbke3N5duHRGOfkwX1Wjmskn0N8w&__tn__=-R
Is Lagat only running the marathon trials? I think he should do both the marathon trials and 10,000m because as much as I believe in him, what if he doesn't do well? He should do 10K to fall back on.
He'd need the standard in the 10 to go to Tokyo, which is 27:28. The chance for that is less than slim.
I will go with Ritz.
I think he has the lifetime base and experience to pull it off. He very rarely has a good marathon day, so maybe he is "due".
What about Ritz's shoes? wrote:
Something to consider ... the Hansons Fb page recently notes Ritz is the only runner at the trials who has been under 2:08 without carbon-plated shoes (as well as his 2019 half result), and he will be wearing the Hyperion Elite in Atlanta. ....
https://www.facebook.com/HansonsBrooksDistanceProject/posts/2830208093682243?__xts__[0]=68.ARAtWtB_5_ZFTMA-0cefYgcDhEzSih4iGvERojvnT3ImyruJCsJYwgBHT8hc2lM9JUpGhsCVjy_qzACkjhCcgC4j3FXbwwyYd0W-AbiTT1UkS9wGGFC6guWV3cHpq_dRu8mW3D9dT17Zoj4zWhHDQ9OjxkOd44nnUv5UhHUqMCp1xCXj0f8A8byIE1BtZeJ17Jv5HQdqfJaWTfZZBBuyoyyiVQ1Hn5JVnn2SBj_NcTuTVtY1OALAnpTRshICgoqG3RAVVjSjYGlld2yuXOKDHRQCZZy-2SRg9OLZc5ByOCEHEk3L6CojJSr3GWhbke3N5duHRGOfkwX1Wjmskn0N8w&__tn__=-R
This is interesting, how fast would Dathan have run that day with carbon plated shoes?
Abdi 2:11 at NYC is by far the most impressive marathon any of the three of them have run since Dathan's 2:07.
The fact that Lagat has been training in Kenya means very little to me. he did 30k at 5:32 pace (hills worth about 8sec/mi) at 8100' in Kenya which is worth about 20sec/mi. that's great, but it doesn't mean he will translate that to a great marathon. From what I've read about Lagat's past marathon training, he might have overdid it in Kenya this year. I bet he blows up at mile 20
Going with Abdi.
over and under wrote:
The question: Which “old guy” — Dathan Ritzenhein (37), Bernard Lagat (45), Abdi Abdirahman (43)– has the best shot to make the team?
Answer: Lagat in the 10000m may be the best, of those odds, in making "the team".
Ritz has lost the marketability that he had in his 20's now that he has a lot of gray hair. He's just a middle aged man now who looks older than 37...
Push
What about Ritz's shoes? wrote:
Something to consider ... the Hansons Fb page recently notes Ritz is the only runner at the trials who has been under 2:08 without carbon-plated shoes (as well as his 2019 half result), and he will be wearing the Hyperion Elite in Atlanta. ....
https://www.facebook.com/HansonsBrooksDistanceProject/posts/2830208093682243?__xts__[0]=68.ARAtWtB_5_ZFTMA-0cefYgcDhEzSih4iGvERojvnT3ImyruJCsJYwgBHT8hc2lM9JUpGhsCVjy_qzACkjhCcgC4j3FXbwwyYd0W-AbiTT1UkS9wGGFC6guWV3cHpq_dRu8mW3D9dT17Zoj4zWhHDQ9OjxkOd44nnUv5UhHUqMCp1xCXj0f8A8byIE1BtZeJ17Jv5HQdqfJaWTfZZBBuyoyyiVQ1Hn5JVnn2SBj_NcTuTVtY1OALAnpTRshICgoqG3RAVVjSjYGlld2yuXOKDHRQCZZy-2SRg9OLZc5ByOCEHEk3L6CojJSr3GWhbke3N5duHRGOfkwX1Wjmskn0N8w&__tn__=-R
I probably shouldn’t have been as dismissive as Ritz but he just hasn’t shown it in full marathon and with health. That tweet seems to indicate they think he’s in good shape.
wejo wrote:
It might be unfair to group Ritz who is only 37 and will be Bernard Lagat's age (45) when the Olympics are in LA in 2028 but we did.
Our picks are here, plus some classic old LRC photos.
What do you all think?
https://www.letsrun.com/news/2020/02/which-old-guy-dathan-ritzenhein-bernard-lagat-or-abdi-abdirahman-does-the-best-at-the-olympic-marathon-trials/
^^^ Cool pic but swap out Ritz for Meb.... PAC 10 ‘90s!
Then have another pic with Hall, Ritz, and Webb!!! Maybe 2024????
Big fan of all of them! YOURE ALL WINNERS!!!!
Remember when Wejo beat Abdi in the 10k? That was cool!
2020 ‘THON NATTIES IS GOING TO BE 4D CHESS!!! 2:0??????
Cagey vets, hard new comers! YES!
Should I watch in my Jasaris, Eldorets, Kennedys??? Maybe Vaporflys and 1/2 tights???? Mom knows not to knock on my door during race time!!!
I often agree with Jon on a lot of topics, but I'll be going against the grain here. I'm going to have to go with:
Ritz!
Not saying winning the race, but ahead of these other 2.
black cactus, all the way, baby!
I don’t think any of them make it, but I’ll put Lagat as no. 1. Most talented runner of the 3, has had a very good buildup, and higher ceiling than Abdi for me. Ritz I just can’t trust to avoid injury.