Arcadia\'s \"Dream Mile\" was billed as the most competitive HS mile race ever, and rightfully so. Webb vs. Hall vs. the Jeffersons vs. Pilkington vs. a handful of other mile studs had the media frenzied and the running community holding on to its seat. Some expected a sub-4, others a national record. But in the end, some people were left disappointed, with Webb running a 4:01.81 to win. Ryan Hall was unable to live up to expectations, but not necessarily his own. As soon as the race ended, the criticism and negativity began to run rampant in chatrooms and message boards, but how a 4:08 mile can ever be considered \"bad\" will remain forever evasive to me. Nevertheless, amidst the onslaught of criticism from the media and running community, Ryan Hall somehow manages to keep his head clear, and his goals in sight.
A small town in the mountains of California, Big Bear Lake has a population of no more than 6,000. In fact, Big Bear HS only has a cross-country team, and no track team. For many this would mean no track season, but for Ryan Hall, it simply means training without a team. Hall trains with fellow Big Bear XC and \"track\" runner Art Avitia, and is coached by his father and Irv Ray.
Along with fellow Californian Sara Bei, Wyoming stand out Alicia Craig and Florida star Mike Swope, and many other runners, Ryan Hall is a devout Christian. In races, his strategy is as follows: \"I put myself in a position to win, and trust the lord with the outcome...I want people to see God\'s power through me when I run in full flight.\" Hall also notes that when he leaves Big Bear he would like to be remembered for his \"passion for the sport and determination on the track.\"
Back to race strategy... While some runners believe in sitting and kicking, Hall is a polar opposite. He boldly states, \"I would like to see anyone, [Hicham] El Guerrouj even, put as much effort going through 1200 as I have done in the past mile races.\" Some may feel this is not the way to run a race, but for Hall, it\'s his strategy. \"I put myself in positions to win races and run fast times through 1200 no matter how I am feeling. I know I could come through 1200 relaxed and then kick big, but I would rather put myself in a position to run fast and then kick if I am able to.\"
Most recently the Big Bear, CA senior blasted a 1:51.74 at the De Anza league finals. His time was a league record, by nearly 9 seconds. He also won by about 9 seconds, which makes us wonder what he could produce against such 800 talents as Webb, Marc Sylvester, Johnathan Johnson, and others. But, as we all know, the 800 is not Ryan\'s specialty. That would be the mile/1500.
Although his mile performances this year have been \"under par,\" a 4:10.68 at Mt. SAC and 4:08.37 at Arcadia, Hall still has his sights set on one primary goal. \"I am still trying to qualify for the USATF Championships in Eugene [Oregon]. The qualifying mark is 3:59.3. I try to keep the majority of my goals private to keep the media from hyping things up.\" But he adds, \"I have some other goals to go after, my goals are very time oriented, I want to run very fast. I have big dreams, dreams that are far bigger than my coaches\' goals for me.\" Running very fast is something that Ryan does quite well. Last year he ran a 3:45.12 1500 at the Maine New Balance Distance Festival, which is a 4:03.2 mile equivalent. With a time like that, a 3:59.3 certainly seems within reason.
Last month, Hall posted a 2:56.6 1200 time trial. Last year at the same time he ran a 3:02 in a similair time trial, so he feels that he is right on track. \"I was very excited about my [2:56.6] because last year I ran the 3:02 in practice, and by the end of the year I was able to go through [1200] two seconds faster than that and finish well.\" However, there has been speculation that Ryan \"hit a peak unintentionally\" or that he is \"leaving his meets in the workouts.\" To the latter Ryan says, \"This is true to some degree, and that is why I don\'t run well early. But when it comes time to lay off the training I always feel good when it counts, at the end of the year.\" So, it seems that if we are to expect a sub-4 out of Hall we shouldn\'t do so for quite some time still. In regard to his peak, he says, \"I am nowhere near a peak, and I am sure i won\'t be until May/June/July/August.\"
Based upon Ryan\'s 2:56, many feel he should be at right about 4:03 for a mile, needless to say, he isn\'t. But, as was already stated, Hall personally feels he is right where he wants to be. Probably the biggest question on people\'s minds is then, what happened at Mt. SAC and Arcadia?? The competition was there, he had already put up impressive times, but in the words of another man \"You can\'t PR every time out.\" And it is clear that Hall notices this, as he says, \"My goal [at Arcadia] was the same as it is for every race: Run hard, have fun, put myself in a position to win and trust the Lord with the outcome.\"
From newspaper articles, to magazines and message boards Arcadia caused hysteria througout the running world. In fact, it was so hyped, it truly amazes me that one, such as Hall, could manage to remain so laisser faire, and just go out to run his race without feeling nervous, or pressured. \"I didn\'t pay attention to any of the pre race hype,\" explains Ryan, \"I stay off the internet all the time.\" Hall goes on to further note that, \"I felt very excited going into Arcadia. I wasn\'t nervous before the race. I just saw it as a good opportunity to possibly run a good early season time.\"
\"I hate to lose.\" -Ryan Hall |
In the end, a good early season time was what he did run, but it could have been better. \"After the race I was pretty upset because I had lost. I hate to lose.\" Nevertheless, it was still a learning experience. \"I wasn\'t particularly happy with the way the pacing set up, and some early mistakes that I made and learned from. I wasn\'t that upset that I placed fourth, because I ran to win. The rest of the guys in that field gave the race to Alan [Webb] before it even started. They chose to run for second, and I ran to win.\"
And while Ryan\'s performance at Arcadia was indeed anything but poor, it wasn\'t suitable for everyone else. Immediately people began to say, more so than ever, that Ryan \"does not belong in the \'Big 3\'.\" Does he belong in the \"Big 3,\" a mere media fabricated title used by the running community to group the top runners, when they shouldn\'t be grouped at all. Ritzenhein\'s specialty lies 2miles and up. Alan Webb is clearly a mile, maybe 800 runner (after his 1:49.2 split at Penn), and Hall, well Ryan Hall is simply Ryan Hall. He can run a mean mile/1500, while at the same time run a 1:51.74 800, 2:56.6 1200, or even a 49 and change for 10 miles, can you say versatile? Hall takes the smart route, and choses to avoid the whole \"Big 3.\" \"I am aware of the \"Big 3,\" although I don\'t spend any time thinking about whether or not I am in the same class as those guys.\" He adds, \"I have a lot of confidence in my program, coaching, talent, and most importantly God.\"
As with Arcadia, Ryan felt no pressure heading into Mt. SAC. It was once more an opportunity to run a fast, early season time. The result was a 4:10.68. There were uninformed assumptions by know-it-all critics, as there always will be. Some said that Hall, \"wanted to see what a 4 minute mile would feel like, and then just took it easy.\" To such claims Hall says, \"Absolutely not. I have never given anything less than my best on the track, I ran as hard as I could for as long as I could. I felt like I belonged in that field and I am glad that I got the experience of an elite race.\" And while 4:10 is an extremely respectable time this early in the season, Hall notes, \"I would always like to have run faster after a race.\"
Of course, there is always the talk of Webb vs. Hall vs. Ritzenhein in the compromised 2400, midway between the mile and deuce. For Hall, this would be a great opportunity. \"I would love to face Dathan in any event on the track, although I highly doubt this will happen since I assume he will be running the 5000 at the end of the year, and I will be focusing on the 1500. But I don\'t see Dathan coming down anywhere near the mile to race Alan and me.\"
After high school and Big Bear, it\'s on to Stanford to join the powerhouse of Stember, Riley, Sage, and Jennings. Accompanying him will be fellow Californians Sara Bei, and Anita Siraki. He has goals set, but as he says, he likes to try to keep them private. As for his choice of Stanford Hall says, \"I felt like Stanford was the best place for me to be spiritually, physically, and mentally.\" As far as his high school career is concerned, the next big step is the C.I.F process this month, and the state meet in June.
On a final note, Ryan adds, \"Everyone, except for the people who really care about you, are your best friend when you are doing well. But as soon as you don\'t meet their expectations they are the first to criticize. There will always be people who say \'it can\'t be done,\' \'you aren\'t fast enough Hall, you don\'t have the talent Hall, you can\'t handle it Hall.\' I put all my faith in God and his power. I have already won the prize. A prize far better and more fulfilling than any race could ever be...\"
Interview granted by RYAN HALL exclusively for fastPREPS.com: May 5, 2001