 No run today but I was truly inspired by Ryan Hall's 1/2 marathon performance today. The 7th fastest man ever at the 1/2 marathon is now an American. What is most impressive is that he ran by himself from start to finish. He beat Meb by over 2 minutes and beat the American Record by over a minute. This breakthrough race for him should show all that American's can run with the African runner's. And to think he has never raced a 10K. He has always been a mile and 5K runner until recently when he set the American record in the 20K at his debut for a race longer than 5K. And then today he goes out and shatters the 1/2 marathon record. Along the way he also ran splits for 15K, 10 miles and 20K that were all faster than the current American Records.
Todd Williams - 15K=42:22 in 1995 / Ryan Hall split = 42:21 Greg Meyer - 10M=46:13 in 1983 / Ryan Hall split = 45:33 Ryan Hall - 20K=57:54 in 2006 / Ryan Hall split = 56:36 Mark Curp - 1/2M=1:00:55 in 1985 / Ryan Hall New American Record = 59:43 Only runners to ever have run faster in a 1/2 Marathon are: (None Aided Course)
Paul Kosgei (KEN) 59:07 Zer. Tadesse (ERI) 59:15 Sam. Wanjiru (KEN) 59:15 Paul Tergat (KEN) 59:17 Robert Kipchumba (KEN) 59:27 Evans Cheryuiot (KEN) 59:29 Ryan Hall (USA) 59:43!!!! Even if you add in aided course times he is still the 13th fastest man ever over a half marathon! Overall there have only been 17 men in the world that have ever run under an hour on a certified course. Before today every one of them had been an African born athlete. What an awesome run by an American runner who is only 24 and has never raced at this distance before.
| 