Some in the running scene might believe it’s risky for Dathan Ritzenhein to make his debut in the marathon at the relatively young age of 23, but he weighed the risks and is convinced it’s a shrewd decision.
The former University of Colorado track and cross country star will make his eagerly awaited marathon debut Nov. 5 at the New York City Marathon, believing the experience will help him challenge for medals in the marathon at the next two Olympics – and make him stronger on the track.
The Boulder resident also knows Alberto Salazar gave the sport a major boost in the United States when he won the first of three consecutive New York marathon titles in 1980 at age 22.
“For the past 20-something years there’s been a trend of people not moving to the marathon (or) waiting a long time,” Ritzenhein said Thursday at a Denver news conference announcing his decision. “That didn’t go too well for most Americans, because there was a deep lull for a long time in American distance running. I don’t see that it would be good to continue doing the same thing when prior to that guys like Alberto were out there and really changed the sport – and ran really well on the track after the marathon.”
New York Road Runners president Mary Wittenberg said she believes Ritzenhein can gain more exposure from doing well in a major city marathon than he ever could achieve on the track, helping himself and the sport. Wittenberg and Ritzenhein’s coach, Brad Hudson, say they believe the marathon gives American runners the best chance for success in the Olympics, as evidenced by the medals Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi won in the 2004 Athens Games.
“I think Dathan going to the marathon early could be a watershed moment,” Wittenberg said. “This could become the wave of the future. Americans can absolutely, positively, compete in the marathon on the world level. We’re a culture that thrives on success, and it only makes sense for these athletes to go where they’re going to be successful and be stars.”
Another factor in his decision: New York is expected to host the men’s marathon trials for the 2008 Olympics in November 2007. The 5,000 and 10,000 meters will be Ritzenhein’s “main focus” for the next year or two, but he thinks his ultimate success will come in the marathon.
“For me to wait until I’m in my late 20s or early 30s, I think I would be missing an opportunity to gain the experience that would make me most ready for the 2008, 2012, maybe 2016 Olympics,” said Ritzenhein, who ran the 10,000 meters in Athens. “At that point in my career I want to be an experienced marathoner.”
Hudson thinks Ritzenhein will run well in his debut.
“If he has a good day, he should be up there,” Hudson said. “If he doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world, it’s just one race. We’re taking it as seriously as we can, but it’s one race to see if we should go this direction (the marathon) for as early as Beijing (2008 Olympics). For London (2012), I think for sure he will be in the marathon.”
