I am one lucky intern. My first assignment for MileSplit US was to interview the newest on-the-rise runner our country has witnessed – Ryan Hall. I published the first part of the story on Friday night (https://fl.milesplit.com/
First, let me assure you that I will follow up with Ryan after he claims that American record. Second, more important, is the lesson that we can all learn from Ryan – that any race, regardless of the outcome, can provide inspiration and can improve one’s distance running career. After winning the Gasparilla 15K this past weekend, he remarked, “Marathon training is kind of hit or miss with the races. Sometimes you hit ‘em, sometimes they’re tough. Today was pretty solid; I was happy with everything.” Certainly, Ryan’s positive focus, despite winning the race but not attaining the American record, has been a key factor in enabling him to develop into a world class distance runner.
When I asked Ryan before the race how he would sum up his running experience in one word, he responded, “Resilience.” It certainly took an immense amount of determination and flexibility to decide that his 4:02.62 mile in high school was simply not fast enough for potential greatness in that event. Yet, he used that “weakness” (if you can call it a weakness when someone sets the California state high school record in that event) to transform each of his races into a positive learning experience by remaining patient when races sometimes end in negative results. As Ryan, who grew up idolizing Jim Ryun and Steve Scott, told me, “I wanted the pride from excelling at a more prestigious event, such as the mile, but I wouldn’t realize my true strengths until after I had failed.”
Realizing that his strengths fell in the longer distances, Ryan now has the potential to become one of the greatest long distance runners of all-time, since he has already eclipsed the American record for the ½ marathon (59:43) and his current PR in the marathon – 2:06:17 – is just 2 minutes off the world record. “I believed I could get to this level when I started running at a young age, but I was patient and it didn’t happen until I was 25.”
Ryan claims that although it may be nice to have American records or possibly a world record, “It’s not all about me. I want to leave a legacy with my running, hoping that there will be future young Americans that will surpass my records and propel American distance running to the next caliber.” Ryan hopes that these young stars will have the confidence to run with the highest caliber runners, will be willing to fail, and will never give up until they have achieved greatness.
During my pre-race Q & A session with Ryan, he mentioned that a scripture passage emerges in his head during his races. In Isaiah 40:29-31, it reads, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Ryan believes that optimism is the key to all of his races and that one should look at every angle of a race after the fact; never be disappointed, since we can learn something from any performance. “Don’t expect anything and be ready for everything,” Ryan noted, was a valuable lesson he learned from his coach, Terrence Mahon.
Ryan gave his thoughts on his performances at the 2008 Olympic Marathon in Beijing, “Everyone on the starting line dreamed of winning, but only one won – but this is not important – the journey was what was important. Dream big, but let your dreams inspire how you live today. Dreams should not be about the end goal, but rather about day to day living.” He added, “I am grateful for finishing tenth at the Olympics, not first, since I will be able to learn much more from that experience since my marathon career is very young.”