Run the Half Marathon with Ryan Hall in 2015!
Race Date: June 13, 2015
In addition to running the Utah Valley Half Marathon Ryan Hall will be speaking at our fitness expo on June 12, 2015. Ryan Hall is one of the premier American long distance runners of his generation. His accomplishments include winning the marathon at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials and placing tenth at the Olympic marathon in Beijing, China. He currently holds the U.S. record in the half marathon (59:43), becoming the the first U.S. runner to ever break the one hour barrier.
As a prep athlete, Ryan competed for Big Bear High School in California. Ryan was the California state cross country champion both his junior and senior seasons. During his senior season, he finished third overall at the Foot Locker Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
Collegiately, Ryan ran at powerhouse Stanford University. In his college debut, he finished 76th at the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championships. In his cross country sophomore season, he won the Stanford Invitational and the Notre Dame Invitational. He was named first team all Pac-10 and earned All-American honors. In 2003 he was named the Pac-10 Cross Country Athlete of the Year after leading Stanford to the NCAA championship. In 2004 he once again earned All-American status. During the 2005 track season, Ryan won the NCAA championship 5000 meters race in 13:22.32, earning his first ever individual NCAA Championship title. He graduated from Stanford with a BA in Sociology.
In 2006 Ryan won his first professional title at the 12K national cross-country championships. That same year, Hall won the Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, New York, with a course record 28:22. He then broke the American 20K record on October 8, 2006, running a 57:54.
On January 14, 2007, Hall won the Houston Half-Marathon in a time of 59:43. He became the first American to break the one hour mark in the half-marathon, a time which had stood since 1985. Later in 2007, Ryan took 7th in the London Marathon. His time of 2:08:24 was the fastest marathon debut by an American. In November, 2007, Hall won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in a Trials-record 2:09:02 in New York City, New York. His win qualified Ryan for the 2008 USA men’s marathon team competing at the Olympics in Beijing, China.
In 2008, Hall placed 5th overall at the London Marathon with a time of 2:06:17. Hall was the second American to cross the finish line the 2008 Men’s Olympic Marathon, placing 10th with a time of 2:12:33.
In the 2009, Hall ran the Boston Marathon for the first time in his career, finishing third overall in 2:09:40.
In 2010, Hall finished fourth in the Boston Marathon, running at that time what was the fastest time ever by an American at 2:08:41. He also placed fourteenth in the Philadelphia Distance Run half marathon. He won at the 2010 USA 7 Mile Championships.
In 2011, Ryan made his third consecutive Boston Marathon appearance. On April 18, 2011, Hall ran the fastest marathon ever by an American, 2:04:58, finishing fourth overall. However, this is not considered an American record as the Boston course is not eligible for records.
In 2012, Hall finished second in the Olympic marathon trials in Houston, Texas with a 2:09:30 time. His finish secured a spot on his second London Olympic team, Ryan’s second Olympics. Unfortunately, Hall was forced out of the Olympic marathon around the eleven mile mark with a hamstring injury.
In 2014, Ryan once again returned to Boston Marathon and ran a 2:17:50, finishing in 20th place.
Ryan Hall’s personal bests include 3:42.70 in the 1500 meters (2001), a 13:16.03 in the 5000 meters (2005), an American best 59:43 in the half-marathon (2007), and a 2:04:58 in the marathon (2011)
Ryan and his wife Sara formed the Hall Steps Foundation in 2009. The Hall Steps Foundation is a non-profit movement to fight global poverty through better health. Their goal is to build a community and provide each member an opportunity to take their own STEPS toward relieving suffering and helping the poor rise out of poverty.
