Saving the best for last.

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Two things about the above picture:

1.  Who drinks smoothies in the dead of winter?  I am actually a little mad that the banana did not blend properly and I didn’t notice until I got to school.

2.  As you know, I love all things running related and when Mark Matthews offered to send me his book, The Jade Rabbit, I was STOKED.  I have really really enjoyed reading this story and highly recommend it.  The Kindle version is just $3.99 and the paperback version is $10.99 on Amazon, you can find it HERE!  I don’t want to give away the whole storyline but the book is about a social worker that is a very speedy runner, she uses running to help her deal with the stresses of life and also for all of the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits.  The main character is going through marathon training (which I loved reading about because I could understand the ups and downs of what she was going through) and overcomes many obstacles along the way.  VERY entertaining!

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I am saving the best for last, today I am covering the last Olympic Marathon Trials athlete before the trials that are TOMORROW!

We are talking about Dathan Ritzenhein.  Why am I extra excited about Dathan (besides the fact that his marathon PR is an incredible 2:10 and his 1/2 marathon PR is an hour flat)?

Because I am having an interview with him on Sunday all about running nutrition and every other random question that I have for this elite runner.  Look forward to an informative post…..I am counting down the hours…..I hope he says that swedish fish can help me get that marathon PR.

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Seriously, read through those stats above again, WOW!

Dathan was an incredible runner starting in Rockford High School in Michigan where he set many state and national high school records.  As a senior he set the high school 5k record with a time of 13:25 (I wish I could finish my second mile of the 5k in that time).

He then went on to run at the University of Colorado in 2001.  He experienced stress fractures during his college career (he had to redshirt during his sophomore track and cross country season) but came back strong the following year and won the Big 12 title.

Dathan’s marathon debut was at the 2006 New York City Marathon (the best marathon ever) and he finished in 2:14:01, 11th place!

Dathan finished 2nd in the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials and he went to the Beijing Olympics where he finished in 2:11:59 in (9th place) and Ryan Hall finished right behind him in 10th place.  The following year he set is personal best at the 2009 London marathon with an incredible time of 2:10:00.

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(Image SOURCE)

I think the following picture is awesome and how cool would it be to be the FIRST to cross the finish line…someday;)

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(Image SOURCE)

Dathan now lives in Portland, Oregon where he trains with Alberto Salazar in 2009 and in the same year he took third at the World Half Marathon Championships with a time of 60:00.  He is the second fastest American to ever run the 1/2 marathon….just 17 seconds behind Ryan Hall.

Dathan is married to Kalin Toedebusch (also a distance runner) and they have two children, a boy and a girl.

First photo is from his blog, check it out here, it is really inspirational!

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Any questions that you want me to ask Dathan for you?

What do you think your body is capable of in regards of a 1/2 marathon PR?  What is your current PR?

Have you read any good books/running books lately that you would recommend?

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48 comments

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Thanks for the book recommendation, I’ll be sure to check that out. It’ll serve as good inspiration as I train for my first full marathon.

I am so excited to follow the trials! I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for him :)

My 1/2 marathon PR is crap. I always hit a mental block on race day and pulled my calf muscle @ mile 5 last time. I’ll nail it this year though, 2012 is the year of running!

I’m currently reading The Long Run and really like it so far. It has a great style!

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I really want to read The Long Run! Thanks so much for reminding me about it. Pulled calf muscle…BOO!

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I think my body is totally capable of a 1:40 half :) Or at least hope it is because that will be my next goal! Current PR is 1:46.
I read Born to Run a few months ago and loved it.

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Lindsey, you totally have that 1:40 in you!! I know it! Born to Run is incredible!

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Thanks Janae! 2013 will be the year :)

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I thought you would appreciate this video on Team USA Minnesota. The rate at which their legs move is amazing.

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MICHELLE!! Thank you so so so much! That was the best after-school treat ever to watch them (especially right before I am about to go for a run). You are right about their legs…incredible. I bet they are so nervous right now..can you imagine? Thanks again and I can’t wait to show this to billy!

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That is a sweet video. Thanks for the share!

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My brother ran against Dathan in HS cross country. He and my dad then stalked his entire collegiate career; I will have to send them the link to this post.

Swedish fish are basically the same as gu chomps. Use them mid race.

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So…I grew up (and still live in) a little town about 45 minutes north of where Dathan grew up. And…I was in high school when he set all of his awesome high school records. Yeah – we’re almost BFFs. (Okay – no where near it – but I can dream!) All of the cross country team knew him and knew he was going to do great things — clearly they were right! :)

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That has happened to my one too many times. I usually notice when I’m pouring it out of the blender and one part goes “plop!” — eeeeeewww :)

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when you say marathon debut, do you mean that was actually the first marathon he’d ever run, or just his first one as an elite runner? Lol I’m going to guess first one ever, but I wanted to double check…

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His first marathon ever run!! Isn’t that crazy cool?

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that blew my mind!!!!

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I am beyond excited that you are talking with Dathan!!! He is by far my favorite mens runner. I actually ran in races that he was in during high school and saw him set his 5k record in high school at the state meet. It was amazing. Our cross-country team actually made shirts for a race he ran in Bath, MI. I would love it if you could ask him if he remembers that:) I agree with Megan that I knew even then he was going places. Enjoy the interview!

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Wow! He is pretty amazing! :) Hmm a question to ask him… As a beginner what advice would he give to a person just starting out who might be on the latter scale of 30. Like waaaay latter. :) Like just the other side of 35 :)

That’s super cool that you get to interview him!!

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I have only ran 1 half marathon and I did it with 6 weeks of training in 1:54. So I would like to think my body is capable of 1:45-1:50 if i trained for a while!
And I drink smoothies in the dead of winter, thats who! Just turn on the fireplace to keep warm :)

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The Hunger Games series! Not running related but I’m addicted!

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reading Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
love smoothies all year long!
stubborn banana! same thing happens with me when I make banana soft serve in the magic bullet

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You’re interviewing him!? Janae! That is so incredible.
I am speechless…I can’t even think of any questions. He’s just amazing.

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Great book recommendation!

How cool that you are interviewing Dathan! Those are some pretty amazing stats! Can’t wait to see the Q & A!

I would love to qualify for Boston one of these days. I think I am capable of doing so just need to push myself out of my comfort zone.

Current PRs: 3:54 marathon (Marine Corps this past October) & 1:45 half marathon a couple of wks ago at this NYE race I ran. My word for 2012: Fearless! :-)

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I know that you are capable of BQing! I can’t wait to read all about it. FEARLESS…love that!

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That is so awesome about the interview. I think the Swedish fish question is a very good one ;)

I have only ran a couple of halfs and I know I could run them faster because I when I finished the last one I felt like I could have ran it again. I ran it in 1:42. Sometimes it is nice to run and just have fun though, right? I know I could do 1:38 if I actually did push myself…if I could ever stay injury free long enough to friggin try!

I recently read ‘These Is My Words’ and I have to say it has been one of my favorites. Ever. It takes about 60 pages to get into, but I promise that you will love it after that. It’s not a running book, please forgive me.

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1:42….holy cow you are awesome and I know you can get that 1:38. I will have to read ‘These Is My Words’ thanks for the recommendation!

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Awesome!! Ask him if he’s ever dealt with shin splints or heel pain and how he fixed himself … oh wait, maybe those questions are purely selfish and for my own personal benefit right now! ;)

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My half PR is 2:07, and my new year’s resolution is to get it under 2 hours. Excited!

If you liked The Hunger Games, check out Divergent by Veronica Roth. It’s AMAZING…I couldn’t put it down.

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I loved the Hunger Games so you better believe that I am going to get Divergent! You’ve got that sub 2!

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THose runners AMAZE me!! I wonder how much of it is genetics/body composition/natural ability – whatever it is, it’s unbelievable. I would LOVE to know about running nutrition, I think that’s always what I’m most interested in and I think a big part of running and running at speeds like that is nutrition. I’d like to think I’m capable of low 1:20’s for a half, my PR is 1:29 – I don’t have a clue, really, though:) I have not read ANY running books lately. should probably start. maybe with the one you mentioned.

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My HM PR is 2:05, and my current goal is the sub 2. (did you say you wanted to fly in and pace me?)

You crazy fast runners that write and read this blog, you inspire me!

Book I got for Christmas and love……Mile Markers by Kristen Armstrong…..and a quote from her book that describes me as a runner to a t is:
“I am not particularly fast, or talented. I don’t talk much about split times, best training programs for varying distances, or how it feels to win my age group. But here is what I do know, and maybe you can relate: I love running.”

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YES YES YES YES!! I totally will and you’ve got that sub 2 Erica! OH MY GOODNESS…are you serious?!? I got Mile Markers from Billy for Christmas too on my iPad and I am hooked and I love that quote. Seriously we are so alike.

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I am so so so so SOOO excited for tomorrow! Who do you really truly hope will win? I cannot believe you get to interview him! I can’t wait to read it. How far are you running this weekend? When’s your next race?

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I’m a lot older than most of you and my HM Pr is 1:59. I am hoping to get to 1:55, but that is probably my limit. I have a Half in Feb and March, so we shall see. I am reading Hal Higdon’s Marathon Training, already thinking about MCM in October.

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Bethany that is awesome, you’ve got that 1:55. Please let me know how your Feb and March halves go! YOU’VE GOT THIS!

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My HM PR is 1:53 but I hope to break that this year. I’ll be very happy with 1:45.

Question for Dathan: Who inspires him?

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YOU’VE GOT THAT 1:45…I know it. Okay, I LOVE your question and will definitely be asking him. Thanks!

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Janae, where can we watch these olympic trials? Are they televised?

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I still make smoothies for breakfast in the winter! My usual mix is frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, soy or almond milk, yogurt, and baby spinach!

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I think I am capable of a 3:00 marathon, but it will take work. My current PR is 3:15…Sunday I’m shooting for a 3:10 but I have had a bad week so we’ll see. If I fall apart I have RnR New Orleans in March to fall back on!

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I just bought Kazuo Ishiguro’s memoir “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.” He’s a pretty literary dude but writes about running in this one- I’m waiting until I get closer to my marathon to read it.

I’m not going to say my PR, but, realistically, I think it could get about 7 minutes better.

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I LOVE to read. I would ask him about his diet regiment..whether he cuts anything out the week before the big events..what he stays away from and what he thinks are the best things to have year round to consistently run on.. What the worst thing for your body you can do before a marathon..

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The only running book I’ve read is “Once a Runner” – I liked it!

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I <3 Dathan!! I'm definitely routing for him to win tomorrow. He's had some serious injury comebacks too!

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Thats awesome about the interview! Can’t wait to read it! My half PR is 2:18:41 and I am planning to break it soon. I think with a lot of hard work I could eventually break 2 hours. Not sure about a marathon. Hopefully I’ll find out later this year!!

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Those stats are just mind-boggling! I can’t even imagine what it must be like to move at those speeds!

I love that quote from Mike Markers that you and Erica were talking about a few threads above.

My half PR right now is from last April – 2:15. I oh-so-desperately want to get that under 2:10 this spring!

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Christine – That is what I am reading right now too. It’s by Haruki Murakami. He is a very famous novelist in Japan but I did not know until recently he was a runner.

My HM PR is 2:00:53 and I am hoping to break 2hr wall this year. And sub 4:30 for full (current PR is 4:33).

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I think I can get a 1:40. My current is a 1:44 and some change from a really rainy and cold Dallas half last month.

I wish I felt like I could PR tomorrow in Houston, but I don’t even feel ready for the race, let alone PR worthy

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I remember first hearing about Dathan when I was in high school running cross country and track – one of our guys was racing at the national level and then he/Dathan ran together at CU. Love a good 1 degree of separation from someone I see on TV :)

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The tigers curse series is awesome and i am liking the eternal ones series as well. I am number 4 series is good. All of these plus divergent and mortal instruments have sequals coming out this summer!!!

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