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What he’s Done:
5k - 13:16.03; Half-Marathon - 59:43 AR Marathon 2:06:17

2008 Olympic Trials - Men’s Marathon champion

2nd-fastest marathon ever by an American: 2:06.17 with 5th place finish at 2008 London Marathon

3rd in 2009 Boston Marathon - 2:09.40



  Ryan Hall wins to the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials
  Photo by John Nepolitan

On overcoming challenges at each new level: Things haven't been all great for me since my high school days. The biggest attribute that has allowed me to get to where I am at now is the grace of God that has allowed me to get back up after repeated failures.  Most runners go through tough patches. Those who are able to hang on and keep things in perspective are the ones who come out the other side.

Having good support in this sport is huge.  Without my wife, family, friends, teammates, and coach I wouldn't be where I am at right now. I know for certain I wouldn't even be running right now if my wife, Sara, hadn't encouraged me through some of those hard times at Stanford. I think that one of the huge keys for Americans to get back to the top of distance running is to get groups together.  We need more and more of these opportunities, so more kids can continue to run post-collegiately. 

Jesus taught me the importance of giving back. He said that he who wants to be the greatest should be a servant of all.  I am still trying to figure out how I can serve others through running.  It has been exciting to get involved with Team World Vision and other charities where I can do what I love to do and leave a more lasting impact than winning races or setting records. 


On his pre-race ritual: Pray!


On the Boston Marathon: I learned a lot about the course, my competitors and my ability to come back when I am not having a great race.  I will definitely run the race differently next time out.  The course was more challenging than I was expecting and the conditions were tough out there with the wind.  I know that I need to change my tactics slightly, but I feel like it was a very good first outing and that I am really close to really nailing it.

Some of the best training advice I have gotten came from Irv Ray, currently the coach at UC Riverside, when he told me "let the training come to you."  It is easy to overtrain and to get too ambitious or too impatient and strain in training.  It is never good to race workouts.  It is about putting in solid work over a long period of time.


On his go-to workout:  12 mile tempo run at 4:50 pace at 7,000 feet over hilly terrain. 

My faith has given me the ability to get up when I have fallen down, the boldness to go for it when it would be easy to run conservatively, the belief that with God anything is possible, and the power of running in the Spirit.  There are few things better.


  Back in 2001: Big Bear HS coach Mickey Hall and son
  Ryan at the CA Masters Meet - Photo by Rich Gonzalez

On what he'd be doing if he wasn't a professional runner: Starting an orphanage somewhere in a developing country.


Parting words: Being a professional runner has been a little different than I expected.  I wouldn't even describe it so much as a job than as a lifestyle.  I know that the lifestyle doesn't suit everyone, but I love it.  I have about one month per year when I don't have to worry about my physical self (meaning time off from running, cross training, therapy, etc), but the rest of year I have no days off, no holidays, no days when I can request three days off to go on a fishing trip. 

I have to constantly be paying attention to what I am eating, getting enough sleep, and training hard. 

My life is 90% mundane, repeating the same schedule every day, and 10% the glory of traveling the world and the excitement of racing, but even then I spend most of my time in hotel rooms all over the world waiting to race, not out exploring the city (but there is some of that post-race).  I love my life.  But it isn't for everyone. 

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