Apparently, faith-based training didn't work out for marathon runner Ryan Hall. On Dec. 7, the two-time Olympian announced that he would begin working with Italian coach Renato Canova.
Previously, Hall had been running without a coach using a faith-based program that allowed God to guide his training schedule.
Under his self-implemented faith-based program, Hall finished fourth at the 2011 Boston Marathon with an unofficial time of 2:04.58. He then went on to finish third at the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:08.04. Hall finished second at the 2012 U.S. Marathon Olympic Team Trials in 2:09.30.
That was the last time Hall finished a race at the marathon distance. The then-29-year-old dropped out of the 2012 Olympic Marathon around mile 11 due to hamstring tightness.
Then, in September, Hall withdrew from the 2012 ING New York City Marathon long before it was canceled, citing a quad strain.
Ryan Hall Teams Up with Renato Canova
After a disappointing 2012 season, Hall decided it was time to combine his faith-based coaching experiment with the expertise of Canova, who is one of the most renowned coaches in the marathon world.
Hall believes that Canova's coaching style is the perfect fit for himself.
"I have been exploring faith-based coaching and applying everything God has taught me through all (of the) amazing coaches under whom I've trained. During this time I spent a considerable amount of time exploring, experimenting, and researching various training tactics. I've had my ups and downs, but I look back at this season satisfied and happy to have gone through it," Hall said in the statement.
He added: "Now I feel God bringing me under a new coach to learn from and work with. In my study of training I have been drawn to the training methodology of Renato Canova. His system is different than anything I've been exposed to in the past and his athletes are flourishing under it."
Canova has coached two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Abel Kirui. He's also worked with Moses Mosop, who posted the second-fastest marathon time in history at the 2011 Boston Marathon.
Hall's Journey from College to Faith-Based Training
When Hall graduated from college, he was heralded as the next great American distance runner. Working under coach Terrence Mahon, who also coached Deena Kastor, Hall set the American record in the half marathon, running to a time of 59:43. Hall also won the 2008 U.S. Marathon Olympic Team Trials and went on to finish 10th at the 2008 Olympic Games.
It was in 2010 that Hall decided to strike out on his own, moving from Mammoth Lakes, Calif., to Redding, Calif., where he and his wife Sara could attend Bethel Church. Bethel is a non-denominational congregation, and Hall felt at home there. In fact, in January, Hall told me that he was even taking classes at Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry.
It was around the same time that he began working on his own that Hall seemed to have some success at the Boston Marathon and the 2012 trials. It has become clear that the success was short-lived, though, which is why Hall has decided to team up with Canova, he says.
Hall Hopes to Incorporate Old Strategies into New Training Regimen
In a statement, Hall said that he doesn't believe his new training regimen will be drastically different than his training regimens in the past. In fact, he hopes to incorporate ideas from all of his previous coaches, including God, he said.
"While this is certainly a new chapter in my career I don't feel like it's a huge departure from how I have operated in the past. I take all the lessons I learn with me every step I take, whether it is from my Dad, (high school coach) Irv (Ray), (college coaches) Vin (Lanana and) Andy (Gerard), Terrence, or God," Hall said in the statement. "It's impossible to separate any step in my journey, as it is all related and leading me to what I believe is my big breakthrough that is coming sometime in the future. I have my own unique road that has had many exciting ups and heart-breaking downs, but one thing I know is that my journey is not over and the best is yet to come."
Sandra Johnson is a longtime Olympic fan. She completed her first marathon in 2011, and while working for the United States Olympic Committee and living in the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Johnson had the opportunity to immerse herself in the Olympic Movement. Follow her on Twitter: @SandraJohnson46
