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Podcast 43: Post-London Interview with Ryan Hall
Posted April 27th, 2007 at 8:05 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
In a fitting conclusion to our continuous, three week coverage of the 2007 Boston and London Marathons, today’s episode of The Final Sprint Podcast (#43) features my interview with Ryan Hall.
Ryan, who last joined me for Episode 6 a few days after breaking the North American Half-Marathon record, is once again coming off of an inspiring and record setting performance.
Last Sunday at the Flora London Marathon, a day when the brutal weather forced many elites to drop out of the race, Ryan made a strong statement about his future in the marathon when he crushed Alberto Salazar 
and Alan Culpepper’s American debut record.
In the interview Ryan talks about successfully battling the heat, how he is feeling now, running alongside Meb (who Ryan says has become like a big brother to him) as a for the first half of the race, thrusting himself to the front of the packing to run with the leaders, and the excitement of running his first marathon and setting the new American debut record.
Download the podcast to hear Ryan discuss these topics, as well as what he learned from the race; setting his sites on October’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and the star-studded field expected to be there; if he and Sara are planning to join Dathan Ritzenhein and his wife Kalin Toedebusch as expecting parents anytime in the near future; the other races he plans to enter in 2007, and much more!
Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to youHost: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Ryan Hall
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 12.2 MB
Length: 00:17:50
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Podcast 41: Post-London Interview with Meb Keflezighi
Posted April 23rd, 2007 at 1:55 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
Episode 41 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my exclusive post- London Marathon interview with 2004 Olympic marathon Silver medalist Meb Keflezighi. Meb, who also joined us a few days ago for Episode 40, was an American favorite at yesterday’s London Marathon and ran among the leaders until an injury forced him to withdraw from the race.
In the interview Meb takes us through his race: from the pre-race prayers with Ryan Hall and his family - to what went wrong, trying to fight through the pain and the disappointment of being forced to withdraw in order to prevent serious injury.
Download the podcast to hear Meb discuss these topics, as well as, the effects of the warm weather; why so many other elites were forced to drop out (i.e. - Stefano Baldini [hamstring], Khalid Khannouchi [foot] and Haile Gebrselassie [breathing/chest]); the record-setting, debut performance of young teammate Ryan Hall; and turning his focus to the 2007 Olympic Marathon Trials!
Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to youHost: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Meb Keflezighi
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 11.1 MB
Length: 00:16:10
Check out every episode of TFS’s Podcast in iTunes!
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
Zhou and Lel prevail in balmy 2007 London Marathon
Posted April 23rd, 2007 at 9:07 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
As they mounted the top step of the podium near the finish line of the 26th Flora London Marathon, Zhou Chunxiu and Martin Lel basked in the warm sunshine which conspired with them to defeat two of the best marathon fields ever assembled.
With the mercury hitting 20°C (68°F) by the time the Zhou finished in a world leading 2:20:38, the warm temperatures combined with a cloudless sky had already taken its toll on some of the sport’s top stars.
Haile Gebrselassie, Stefano Baldini, Khalid Khannouchi, Meb Keflezighi, Galina Bogomolova, Ludmila Petrova, Kyoko Shimahara, Kathy Butler, Blake Russell, and Juan Carlos De La Ossa were just some of the athletes who couldn’t finish, while others were forced to jog the final miles to the finish.
Read the rest of this entry »
Impressive debut for America’s Ryan Hall in London
Posted April 23rd, 2007 at 8:00 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Ryan Hall didn’t come to London to prove a point, but that’s exactly what the 24 year-old from Big Bear Lake, Calif., ended up doing.
Joining the lead group in the 15th mile, the North American record holder for the half-marathon, found himself leading the race three miles later, impervious to the nervous glances that his surprised rivals were throwing his way.
“I felt good leading,” said Hall, his lunch plate piled high with slices of pizza and couscous after the race. “That’s why I went to the front. I wanted to taste the lead.”
And the taste was sweet. Although he would fall back in the final miles to finish seventh, his 2:08:24 debut made him the second-fastest American of all-time behind Khalid Khannouchi, and the fastest ever born in the United States.
While stars like Khannouchi and Olympic gold medalist Stefano Baldini were forced to drop out because of the warm conditions, Hall followed coach Terrence Mahon’s orders and made sure he got each of his bottles. The heat was only a minor problem for the Californian.
Read the rest of this entry »
Goumri unphased by warm weather; satisifed with top three finish
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 11:37 PM by Kristin Bland
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
The first words out of Abderrahim Goumri at the post-London Marathon press conference were of gratitude for everyone involved in this unifying race: “First I want to thank the people who work for this marathon, and for the journalists, and for my coach and manager and sponsor.” He then continued by emphasizing the immensity of the London Marathon and his impressive performance:
“The London Marathon is the biggest marathon in the world; it’s not easy. When you’re top three, you’re top in the world.”
Goumri will get 15 days to rest, but then its right back to training. Although he didn’t find the heat to be a major challenge, he was still feeling the effects of last month’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya:
“I was feeling very good at half way and further into the race I said to myself you have a good chance of winning this. With such a great field I feel honored to come this high up and I also believe I could have won if I hadn’t done the cross country.”
Meb forced to drop out of London Marathon at mile 16 with foot/achilles pain
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 11:15 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist and an American favorite in today’s London Marathon, was one of the many elite athletes forced to drop out of the race.
Meb had been running in the lead packs before withdrawing; running alongside fellow American Ryan Hall for most of the race. Meb’s brother and agent, Merhawi Keflezighi, explained to The Final Sprint via email that Meb withdrew from the marathon at mile 16 because:
“The blister flared up again on his left foot. Meb’s compensation for the discomfort led to some pain in Meb’s achilles (on the right foot) … [and] it became too much for Meb to take without enduring more serious injury”.
Other elite male runners to not finish the race included: Olympic marathon gold medalist Stefano Baldini, Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebrselassie, and former world record holder and American favorite Khalid Khannouchi.
The reasons for Baldini and Khannouchi’s withdrawal are thus far unknown, but Gebrselassie told BBC reporters on the scene: “I can not breathe … it is not the weather … maybe I ate something … I don’t know what’s going on.”
CLICK HERE to check out TheFinalSprint.com’s follow-up, audio interview with Meb (Podcast #41) where he takes us through his race, explains exactly what went wrong, why elites such as Baldini, Khalid and Geb also had to drop-out, and the record-setting performance of Ryan Hall.
(Podcast #41 was conducted and published on 4/23/2007)
Martin Lel gets second London title in thrilling sprint finish
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 7:28 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
In a finish reminiscent of the 2003 Flora London Marathon, Kenyan Martin Lel won a four-man sprint on the Mall to take his second title here in 2:07:41. He also won here in 2005.
Making the final righthand bend before the finish line, Lel surged away from defending champion and compatriot, Felix Limo, world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco, and another Moroccan, Abderrahim Goumri. Goumri was the next best sprinter, finishing second in 2:07:44 in his debut at the distance. Limo finished third in 2:07:47 and Gharib, who did most of the pushing in the final kilometers, was fourth in 2:07:54.
“I corrected the mistake I made last year,” Lel told the BBC, referring to how he lost last year’s race in a two-man sprint against Limo.
Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie dropped out just past the 30-K mark. “I cannot move,” Gebrselassie told the BBC shortly after leaving the course. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
American Ryan Hall made an excellent debut, smashing the USA debut record of 2:09:41 held jointly by Alberto Salazar and Alan Culpepper. Hall finished seventh in 2:08:24, running at the front of the race until falling back in the final kilometers.
Kenya’s Lel wins 2007 London Marathon; Hall sets American debut record!
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:49 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
After a dramatic, gutsy finish - Kenya’s Martin Lel has become the 2007 London Marathon Champion in a time of 2:07.42!
Lel, who also won the race back in 2005, was able to out kick Morocco’s Goumri, who was making his debut appearance at the distance, and Felix Limo of Kenya.
Morocco’s Jaouad Gharib, the reigning world champion, South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala and Kenyan world record holder Paul Tergat closed out the top six of this exciting and dramatic race.
American Ryan Hall finished seventh in a time of 2:08:25; setting a new American debut record!
Men take off and speed passed Mile 25
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:49 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
The men are really taking off now and speeding passed the 25 mile mark. Gharib remains in the lead.
It is essentially a track race now as Kenyans Martin Lel and Felix Limo are trying to make a move.
Tergat, Gharib and then Goumri fall to about a yard or two behind the Kenyans. Ramaala is really falling back.
It’s all about speed now as the men approach the last 600 meters …
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Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
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Gharib makes a surge and holds solo lead
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:47 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
World champion Gharib looks very strong and is making a big break now that the men have passed the 40k mark and approach Big Ben and Westminster square. Goumri is unable to keep up with his training partner, but joins Lel, Limo and Raamala. Tergat continues to struggle.
This is going to come down to the wire!!!
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Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
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Recent Comments
Page 2 Articles
- Kiplagat still leads; Adere and Johnson are really struggling
Kiplagat is continuing to push the pace. Wami and Zhou are struggling just a little to keep up and are consuming a lot of extra water.
Dita is now in fourth and Kosgei is in fifth.
Johnson has fallen to seventh as Yamauchi, who is looking very strong, passed her a moment ago. […] - Men’s Splits at 15k
Men’s 10 mile time is 48:32, with a projection of just over 2:07. The 15k splits are 0:45:13 for the top three Limo, Ramaala, and Gharib. America’s Khannouchi, as well as, Gebrselassie, Lel, Cherono, Tergat, and Ossa holding splits of 0:45:13.
Gharai looks very determined, obviously here this year not to just place, but […] - Three female leaders packed closely for now, but Kiplagat beginning to speed-up again
Kiplagat, Zhou, and Wami are the three packed together in front. Kiplagat has frequently glanced over her shoulder to see how things are shaping up behind her and is starting to stretch the pace a bit.
The time at mile 17 time was 1:30:43 as the lead women, still close together, are now […] - Kiplagat leads and picks up pace; Adere falling off a bit
Lornah Kiplagat, the world 20km and XC champion, as well as Zhou and Wami lead the women.
Adere, the 2006 Chicago Marathon champ, has fallen just a few seconds behind the leaders as the pace has begun to pick up. Johnson continues to trail by about 30 seconds.
***** ***** […] - Women’s Half-Marathon Update
The women’s half marathon split is 1:09:58 for the leading five; Zhou, Kiplagat, Adere, Wami, and Dita; and 1:10:37 for Johnson in sixth.
The Australian Beita Johnsosn is slowly dropping off even more (30 seconds or maybe even a bit more off the lead pack at this point). This was certainly not expected. […] - Leading men packed together
At nearly 7 miles, the leading men include: Limo, Gharib, Cherono, Lel, Gebrselassie, Ramaala, Kannouchi, De la Ossa (Spain), and Tergat.
The experioenced Olympic gold medalist from Italy, Stefano Baldini, and Americans Meb and Ryan Hall, among a host of other, are only a few seconds behind in a large second group.
This race […] - Men finish 6 miles; on pace for about a 2:09 finish
The men are running at a pace that would lead to a finish time of about 2:09. Mile 6 was run in 4:51.
The lead group still includes all of the favorites and they are essentially ignoring the pace makers.
Water is key and all of the lead men, including Geb who had hydration […] - Women finish first 20km
After 20km, the women are on pace for a 2:20 finish. Zhou is in the lead; followed by Kiplagat and the other favorites.
However, Benita Johnson is now more than 30 seconds off the lead.
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Check […] - Men pass 5k mark and grab water at the first stop
Men have now finished the first 5k and passed the first water stop; all of the men stopping to grab a drink (hydration will be crucial as a result of the unusually warm weather).
The tremendous leading group includes Limo, Geb, Ramaala, Tergat, Baldini and many others.
***** ***** […] - Men begin to pick-it up
The men are starting to roll after the second mile, following a slower start with a two mile split for the men at 9:58. They made the 1st mile at a 4:59 split, and the 2nd at 4:56.
The men are aware of their slow start and the group is beginning to slowing […]
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On August 29, 2008
Ray Sharp said:
Ryan, Congrats to you on being a true world-class runner and leading the way for a resurgence of...