Socialing The Distance featuring Dathan Ritzenhein, Head Coach, On Athletics Club

Socialing The Distance featuring Joe Klecker ( prior to his race at the PARIS TEN, March 16, 2024)

Socialing The Distance featuring Geordie Beamish (complete interview), before he won Gold in Glasgow

Socialing The Distance with Larry Eder Featuring Robert Griffin III, ESPN analyst & former NFL Quarterback -2011 Heisman Trophy Winner -2012 Offensive ROY -Pro Bowl Quarterback Clip: Thoughts on Jim Hines & Track Toughness

RunBlogRun presents Socialing The Distance

with Larry Eder

Featuring Dathan Ritzenhein

Dathan Ritzenhein is a prime example of how a promising athlete can develop into a 3 time Olympian and a man who owned the American record at 5,000m (12:56.27), and a man who also broke 2:08 (2:07.47) in the marathon.

In the interview, it was obvious, to the interviewer, that Dathan Ritzenhein is in the next evolution of his athletic career, as a coach. Dathan is the new Head Coach with the new On Athletics Club, the new elite club sponsored by On running, the Swiss company that has been shaking up running over the past half decade.

Dathan Ritzenhein, photo courtesy of On running

Dathan will be coaching some young middle distance athletes, including Joe Klecker, Ollie Hoare, Geordie Beamish, Carlos Villareal, Alicia Munson, Leah Falland, Emily Oren and Alijca Konieczek.

Based in Boulder, Dathan has been organizing and working with the athletes for 5-6 weeks.

The club is in its infancy, but, already, it is opening some eyes. Last weekend, at the Music City Distance Carnival, Ollie Hoare went 3:34.63, setting a new Tennessee record, breaking the record by Steve Scott. A 4 second pb by Joe Klecker, who went 3:37.55, and a good run by Carlos Villareal, who went 3:42.48. Leah Falland went 4:11.25, just .1 of her PB! Alicia Munson set a 13 second PB and Emily Oren went 4:14.77, a 4 second PB.

Dathan Ritzenhein loves coaching. It is obvious. He has some exciting talent with his On Athletics Club squad (OAC). We can not wait to meet them all and see Dathan live, in action, coaching his new club.

It is also exciting to see On running investing in our sport and these amazing young athletes.

Thanks to Dathan for his time. Thanks to Mike Deering on managing the production.

For more information: www.runblogrun.com

Time Stamps on Dathan Ritzenhein

0:00 – Introduction

0:37 – Located in Boulder, CO

1:28 – First competition for the team

2:06 – Evolution of Elite Group Training

3:20 – Athletes Coached by Dathan

5:02 – Philosophy of Coaching

6:56 – How long does it take to make a runner elite?

9:36 – What does On Running want you to accomplish with the club?

11:24 – What was tougher Under 13 min for 5km or under 2:08 in marathon?

12:58 – Experience over 10km

14:38 – Bringing athletic experience to coaching

16:35 – Teaching athletes to save your strength

19:28 – COVID effect on group training

21:04 – Team Setup in Boulder

22:06 – When do you expect the sport to return?

23:53 – Current Fitness (Personal)

25:11 – Family

25:59 – Can shoes offer an unfair advantage?

28:49 – On The Blocks

31:40 – Advice to yourself at 15

33:30 – Outro

35:21 – Epilogue

For more information: www.runblogrun.com

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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