TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More!

Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

Ryan Hall: Post-London Recap “It’s Just the Beginning”
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #8)

Posted April 18th, 2008 at 7:00 PM by Ryan Hall

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Ryan Hall

Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Ryan Hall as he begins his quest for Olympic gold! Check back every other Friday for Ryan’s latest entry at http://ryanhall.thefinalsprint.com/

As has become my custom before all my best races, my travel to London was crazy. Before breaking an hour at the Houston Half-Marathon it was a monster snowstorm that left us in a ditch and literally snowed in, before London last year it was nearly missing my flight as I realized that the train from San Diego would not drop me off at LAX like I had thought (although my tardiness did result in me getting the last available seat on the plane…in first class), before the Olympic Trials it was the fires and smoke that made for a juggle in travel arrangements and then an earthquake to shake things up just hours before our flight. So when travel got crazy heading to the London marathon you would think I would be excited to know that a good race was on schedule. However, I had a hard time seeing it that way.
Read the rest of this entry »

12 comments, add yours | Permalink

IAAF Ratifies Half-Marathon World Record

Posted July 18th, 2007 at 10:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Samuel Wanjiru world record half-marathon The IAAF announced today that they had ratified Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru’s most recent world record for the half-marathon, but had rejected his previous mark for lack of a proper doping control. Also, Wanjiru’s record was ratified at a value two seconds faster than was previously reported.

At the Fortis City-Pier-City Half-Marathon in Den Haag on Saturday, March 17, Wanjiru was clocked at 58 minutes and 35 seconds, his second pending world record set this year (he also ran 58:53 at then Ras Al Khaimah International Half-Marathon in the United Arab Emirates on February 9). Surprisingly, Wanjiru’s mark from Den Haag has been revised downward by two seconds to 58:33. No explanation was given for the revision.

Wanjiru’s previous record from the UAE was rejected by the IAAF because the athlete did not undergo a doping test for EPO, the blood-boosting drug which elevates the concentration of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Podcast 6: Interview with Ryan Hall, the new American half-marathon record-holder

Posted January 29th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Ryan Hall, the former standout from Stanford who set a new American record (59:43) at the USA Half-Marathon Championships on January 14, 2007.

Ryan, now 24 years old and the hottest name in American running, will make his marathon debut at the April 22nd Flora London Marathon.

Download the podcast to hear Ryan discuss the half-marathon record, training for London, his Olympic aspirations, the state of American distance running and much more!

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, select save as).
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you

Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Ryan Hall
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 14.7MB
Length: 00:21:30

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

Read the rest of this entry »

6 comments, add yours | Permalink

Ryan Hall picks London for debut marathon; opts out of USA XC Champs in Boulder

Posted January 27th, 2007 at 5:00 PM by Allyson Rosen

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Olympics

Ryan Hall, who set a new American record for the half-marathon on Janary 14th, has made his decision; choosing Flora London for his marathon debut.

Hall, who yesterday was interview by Adam Jacobs, TFS’s Editor, confirmed his London registration and decision to withdraw from the February 10th U.S.A. XC Champs in Boulder.

Wish you could see Hall race before the April 22nd London Marathon?
You can! Hall told Adam that he will also be running in the U.S.A 15k Champs at the Gate River Run in Jacksonville on March 10th.

Check back on Monday for the interview and listen to Hall discuss setting the half-marathon record, training for London, his Olympic aspirations and much more!
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Ryan Hall sets new North American record for the Half-Marathon (59:43)

Posted January 14th, 2007 at 5:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Ryan Hall battled the elements to become at the first North American to ever run a half-marathon in less than one-hour at today’s Aramco Houston Half-Marathon. The half-marathon served as the USA Half-Marathon Championships.

Hall, who is only 24-years old, ran triumphantly against an all-star field to set a new North American half-marathon record with a time of 59 minutes and 43 seconds. [Click here to see video footage of his record-setting performance].

Hall flew past the previous record of 1:00:28 which had been held by German Silva and Dionicio Cerón since 1994. Hall also set a new American record, beating Mark Curp’s 1985 time of 1:00:55.
Read the rest of this entry »

5 comments, add yours | Permalink