Hall Withdraws from NYC Marathon with Hip Injury, by Chris Lotsbom, RRW, used with permission

One of the most talented athletes in American distance running, Ryan Hall, has, once again, pulled out of a major event, this time, with a hip injury. This story by Chris Lotsbom, of Race Results Weekly, tells the sad story of how Ryan has been unable to break a cycle of injuries that dates back to early 2012.

Hall is, without a doubt, one of the most talented athletes in American distance running. He is also, one of the most problematic, from coaching relationships with storied coaches and advisors, to moments of brilliance followed by moments of mediocrity.

We wish Ryan Hall nothing but great racing. He is the American who could, on the right day, run a 2:03 marathon. The problem is, Ryan Hall has to stay healthy and focused, which seems to elude him at this time.

HALL WITHDRAWS FROM NYC MARATHON WITH HIP INJURY
By Chris Lotsbom, @chrislotsbom
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

The 2008 USA Olympic Trials Marathon champion Ryan Hall of Redding, Calif., has withdrawn from the ING New York City Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, November 3. Hall, who turned 31 on October 14, had been struggling with a painful hip injury and finally decided that he had to cancel his participation in the race.

“In my zealous efforts to have redemption in this year’s ING New York City Marathon, I overstepped the first and most important rule–making it to the line healthy,” said Hall through a statement provided by the New York Road Runners. “A long string of very aggressive training has aggravated my hip and it has not been able to fully calm down, such that I don’t think racing on it is wise. I am very disappointed that I won’t be lining up on November 3rd as I had so looked forward to, but I am refocusing now on getting back to 100% and going after some big goals in 2014.”

Hall continued: “Redemption will have to wait, but it will be all the more sweet.”

Hall’s last completed marathon was the 2012 Olympic Trails in Houston where he finished second. He competed in the London Olympic Marathon, but failed to finish due to a leg injury.

With Hall sidelined, the other top Americans in New York’s men’s field includes 2004 Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi, two-time fourth-place Boston Marathon finisher Jason Hartmann, last year’s eighth-ranked U.S. marathoner Ryan Vail, and 2013 World Championships team member Jeff Eggleston.

ENDS

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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