Ryan Hall Video Series

Although I am not Christian I really appreciate where Ryan is coming from. People who put down others for haveing faith (for seeing the world differently than they do) are just insecure. Ryan is trying to do what gives him satisfaction in life. Good for him. If we were all really sincere with ourselves we would have to admit that there may be more than one valid way to live life, maybe we'd start looking at the world a little more lovingly.
As a runner who is not Christian I do not really find it so crazy or difficult to understand that Ryan takes direction from God. So he prays for direction and then follows his "inspiration" or whatever word should go there. to assume he's hearing voices from God is the product of an unconsidered bias.
Good on ya Ryan!

Interesting video and wow I wish I had access to bike trails and scenery like that! With that said, I find many of the posts here to be really strange. Some are threatened by his Christianity; I've never understood how non-Christians get so uptight about how Christians give credit to God. If you don't believe, your choice. I do feel, those of us who are Christians will often find our lives becoming off-course when we are not spending enough time with God. As for his choosing not to have a coach, it seems to be working pretty good for him! I went from a HS program where I had great, hands-on coaching...to a college program where the coaching was almost non-existent. We distance men (few of us) ended up coaching ourselves. For some, especially those who listen to their body and in Ryan's case listen to God, that can be a successful method. Rocky scoffs at Ryan having obstacles in his life--even those who have seemingly won the talent "lottery" and have scholarships, etc., still face tremendous hurdles. I'm not sure what Ryan's are, but they could be injuries, illness, love, family, schoolwork, hard decisions, studies, and myriad other tough situations. As John L. Parker said in his follow-up to Once A Runner (Again to Carthage): "Every single last one of us who isn't still a child, is carrying some kind of very heavy burden."

How has your road been "rocky," Ryan?

This is a akin to professional sports teams overcoming "adversity." I can't believe that being a D1, full-ride athlete at Stanford (presumably not having to work a "real" job between high school and now), getting a shoe contract right out of college and having amazing success both athletically and financially is that difficult to deal with.
Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for Ryan and the other Americans, but someone who makes six figures for running has not had a rocky road. How about some perspective?

i think we all just found out why he is such a great runner and person...... fly fishing. i just put on my wafers.

It's just interesting to hear what motivates people. I'm atheist as hell and admittedly cringe at the incessant god references, but it's nice to hear a bit about the personal side of someone we all watch and admire. And if god's speaking to him, we got ourselves a modern day prophet! It's exciting...

People need coaches/mentors/advice more when they are just starting out and have a lot to learn. I think Ryan could benefit from a (human) coach, but it's not as important now that he's so good.

how exactly does god tell him everyday what to do... im pretty sure what got ryan through his "rocky road" and tells him of his daily workouts/running schedule is from him and his family...

He is absolutely bat siht crazy.

i think what he means when he says "God" is really just the world around him that "God" has created.. He obviously believes that everything happens for a reason and is just saying how "God" has prepared him to be able to train "on his own". and by "on his own" again, he's not on his own. he's getting advice from numerous people (that "God" has led him to) and of course going off of his own past experiences (that "God" has led him on). he even says he is not against having a real coach, if "God" leads him to that person. In summary, I don't think his thinking is all that different from a majority of people in the world, in that he believes everything happens for a reason. Saying "God" all the time just makes it sound more controversial and a bit more dramatic

I think what he has to say is beautiful and inspiring. What better reason to run then to feel and trust in your connection to God and then use your success to help others in need. As in The Steps Foundation.

I don't consider myself a very religious person but I think what Ryan means by his faith base training is using his inner spirit/ subconscious to guide him each day. I'm sure all of us have experienced a moment when something inside of us said to do this and it just felt right.

He is absolutely bat crazy.

First, he need to find a real coach!!! He ran great at Boston just because he still had base from Mahon... Every race after that has been disappointing.. He should have crushed Meb at trials running in at leas 2-07 range and all other runs haven't gone well ether. I absolutely LOVE Ryan and support his religious beliefs ,but I think he need to find a human coach... He's been getting a lot of attention lately, so that can trigger performance ether way will he rise to the to the occasion at London, I really hope he does and I will root for him and that determine my final opinion about his self-coaching philosophy.

To all the Anonymous Cowards out there: " What is your problem?" Ryan was mocked when he announced his decision to allow his faith to dictate his training, and then busted a 2:04 at Boston. Ryan is an inspiration to many. Meb shares that same faith in God and both will do well in London. Rex Nullus, Sed Rex Jesus.