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Lead Stories: Sunday, July 20, 2008

Dathan Ritzenehin: The Not-So-Casual Life Of A Professional Runner
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4)

Posted April 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 PM by Dathan Ritzenhein

Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Dathan Ritzenhein

Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Dathan Ritzenhein! Check back every other Tuesday for Ritz’s latest entry at http://dathanritzenhein.thefinalsprint.com/ as he prepares to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics!

This week I went looking to trade in our truck for a more eco-friendly, family-friendly vehicle. While I thought I found something I liked, it wasn’t quite what my wife had in mind. Apparently a coupe isn’t as practical as a sedan when kids are involved. While we were there I was asked my occupation by the salesman. I always hesitate when answering this question because responding with “professional runner” isn’t a typical, run-of-the-mill occupation. Even here in Eugene, track town, USA, I still get odd looks and unusual responses to that answer. Such as, “You run for fun? What kind of job is that?” or “Wow! You must have a lot of time on your hands if all you do is run!” Well, I thought I would answer that response first by saying, I’m actually very busy, and secondly I will give a common play-by-play of my daily life.
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Dathan Ritzenehin: Keeping That Competitive Edge
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #3)

Posted April 8th, 2008 at 11:45 AM by Dathan Ritzenhein

Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Dathan Ritzenhein

Well, my break is officially over, and I’m back in the swing of things. Being an athlete I find myself extremely competitive. I’m especially competitive when I’m not running, but not by choice, it’s just who I am. I think it’s because I’m not outside seeing people, running my old routes, and challenging against myself and the clock in workouts.

During this break I found myself competing against my wife in many things. Luckily she didn’t want to divorce me after this latest break. We have this little game on my phone, bubble breaker that we compete against each other to see who can get the best score.
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Dathan Ritzenehin: Putting Things Into Perspective
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #2)

Posted March 25th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Dathan Ritzenhein

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Dathan Ritzenhein

Hayward Field is finally complete and track season has officially started in Eugene! Yesterday my wife, daughter and I spent the afternoon watching the Oregon Preview meet. It was a great day. It was warm and sunny and just so nice to sit in the sun and watch instead of competing. It still amazes me at how much the community of Eugene, Oregon supports track and field. No where else would you find 5,000 fans who turn out for a season opener track meet. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the season brings. If this is the turn-out for the preview meet, having the trials here will be unforgettable. It will probably be like the Prefontaine Classic for 10 days straight.

With the trials just around the corner, the town is full of enthusiasm and pride. It really has made me look forward to having the Olympic Trials here in Eugene. Not only did the track get an update, the entire town seems to be sprucing things up as well. The trails are being groomed, new woodchips are being spread, and roads are being resurfaced. We live only a half mile from the Rexius Trail and every day it seems that more and more people are out running or walking on it.
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Dathan Ritzenehin: XC Champs, Alter-G & Olympic Training
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #1)

Posted March 12th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by Dathan Ritzenhein

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Dathan Ritzenhein

This past month has reinforced in me that hard work, dedication, and focus can really pay off. I wouldn’t say that leading up to the US Cross Country Championships I was 100% confident going into the race. My ultimate goal was to just make the team. For the past four weeks my training log resembled something of a rollercoaster. The highs and lows were dictated by the training my leg would allow.

After returning from a cross country race in Edinburgh, Scotland a few weeks ago, I noticed a slight pain in my IT band and lateral quad. At first it was minimal, and I was able to train through it with not problems, but after a grueling week of traveling it began to hinder my training. Fortunately, I had the Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill on which to supplement most of my training.
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Ryan Hall: Keeping Perspective
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4)

Posted March 4th, 2008 at 4:56 PM by Ryan Hall

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

To be completely honest, I was bummed after XC Nationals. I was in good shape and ready to go, or so I thought. My expectations were high and I was hoping to kick off 2008 with a bang, so I was naturally a little bent when things didn’t turn out how I had hoped. Finishing fifth wasn’t a terrible performance and my hat goes off to Dathan and the rest of the guys on the team (I am sure we will all be proud of how they represent the US at Worlds), but it just wasn’t building the momentum I was looking for heading into London. Afterwards, there were lots of reasons, of which I constantly kept reminding myself, for why I didn’t perform well, but that didn’t keep me from getting a little bummed. Even so, I welcome these humbling experiences because they get me fired up. I had humbling experiences that preceded all of my best races.
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Sore IT Band May Hamper Ritzenhein At US Cross-Country

Posted February 13th, 2008 at 8:38 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

As one of the top entrants in Saturday’s U.S. Cross Country Championships here, Dathan Ritzenhein has to deal with an obstacle besides strong competition from Ryan Hall: a sore iliotibial band.

Ritzenhein, who finished third at last year’s Championships, still feels soreness in his leg from running the Event Scotland Great Edinburgh Cross Country on January 12. That invitational competition utilized the same course which will be used at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships on March 30. “Ritz” found it challenging.
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TFS News Briefs: 2/12/08

Posted February 12th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs

TFS News Briefs
UK Athletics Allows Chambers to Compete But Is Not Happy About It
UK Athletics, the governing body of British Track & Field will allow previously-banned sprinter Dwain Chambers to compete in the IAAF World Indoor Championships. The relented after Chambers threatened a lawsuit; however, they are not happy about it and have issued a strongly-worded statement expressing their displeasure.
Read more at: [Yorkshire Post, UK]

Hall Won’t Compete in World X-C Championships
Ryan Hall, in a phone call to the New York Track Writers Association, told them that he would not compete in the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships (Edinburgh, Scotland, March 30th) if he were to qualify, saying,” I don’t think I would go because I don’t think it would fit into my [London Marathon] buildup.” Since Hall was probably a shoe in, that leaves one extra slot for a determined runner who might not otherwise make the team.
Read more at: [NY Times]

WCSN Has Impressive 2008 Schedule
WCSN has an impressive lineup of track & field and cross-country events, including the IAAF World Track & Field Indoor Championships (3/7-3/9 in Valencia, Spain), the IAAF World Cross Country Championships (3/30 in Edinburgh, Scotland) and a host of IAAF Super Grand Prix, Grand Prix and Permit meetings throughout the year.
Read more at: [WCSN]
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Hall Ready For San Diego Turf Battle at USA XC Champs

Posted February 11th, 2008 at 4:39 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

The first time Ryan Hall raced the 12-K event at the USA Cross Country Championships it was in frosty conditions in New York City’s Van Cortlandt Park in February, 2006. Spectators shivered, but Hall was on fire, romping to victory over his closest rival, Jorge Torres, by 27 seconds.

It is was in that race that Hall, last November’s U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon champion, saw the future.

“That kind of opened up my eyes a little bit to the longer distances,” said Hall on a conference call today from his home in Big Bear Lake, Calif., where he is preparing to leave for the U.S. Cross Country Championships in San Diego next Saturday.
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Movie Review: “Showdown”
Five Elite Distance Runners, One Dream

Posted August 22nd, 2007 at 2:35 PM by Lara Johnson

Section: Motivation, Movies, Special Features, TFS Reviews

I have long been intrigued and inspired by those runners who compose the elite category. What is it they possess? What is their training like? What is their motivation? And what happens when these top athletes compete in one grueling race?

In his new film, “Showdown: Five Elite Distance Runners, One Dream,” creator Peter Han uncovers some of these mysteries as he takes viewers on a journey from the living rooms and training runs of 5 elite distance runners to the finish line of the 2007 U.S. Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colorado.

“Showdown” is a documentary-style film with cinematic appeal. Through personal interviews, race clips, photos, and commentaries, it narrates the preparations of 5 elite men of differing backgrounds: 2-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, 2-time Olympian Alan Culpepper, Olympic silver-medalist Meb Keflezighi, high school and university level champion Dathan Ritzenhein, and 10,000 meter champion Jorge Torres.
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Podcast 72: “Showdown” running documentary writer/director PETER HAN

Posted August 10th, 2007 at 6:30 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Movies, Cross Country, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 72 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast features my interview with the PETER HAN; the Writer, Director, and Producer of the new running documentary “Showdown: The Race for the 2007 US Cross-Country Championship”.

Showdown, which uses the slogan “Five Elite Distance Runners, One Dream”, chronicles the race to the race - showing what elites like Meb Keflezighi, Jorge Torres, and Abdi Abdirahman, do to prepare themselves for the crucible of world-class competition.

In the interview Peter talks about where the concept for “Showdown” originated, how it all came together, the experience of working with Meb, Jorge, Abdi, Alan Culpepper and Dathan Ritzenhein and being motivated by watching them give it their all day in and day out.

Download the podcast to hear Peter discuss these topics, as well as, his previous and successful film about Ironman triathletes called “What It Takes”, the resurgence of American distance running, possibilities for future running and athletic documentaries, and much more!

Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Peter Han
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 13.9 MB
Length: 13:12