Men's Marathon Trials: Ryan Hall's Father Recalls His Son's Early Running Days

By Amby Burfoot

Photos By Victah Sailer of (Top) Sue, Ryan, and Mickey Hall; and (Bottom) Chad and Ryan Hall

Ryan Hall was in eighth grade when he did his first run; he covered 15 miles at 7000 feet. A few months later, he ran his first timed mile; it was a 4:43. In his second 20K, he set the American record. In his first half-marathon, he set the American record. In his first marathon, he set the American first-marathon record. You still think runners aren't born?

And we're not talking just physical talent either. You need that for sure. But you also need a fierce mind set. "Ryan was the most stubborn and strong-willed of our four kids," says Hall's father Mickey. "We had to spank him more than all the others combined." Ouch!

About that first 15 miler. Ryan remembers it like this: "I was frustrated because I was sitting on the bench too much in basketball. I told my Dad I wanted to run around Big Bear Lake with him. It's such a beautiful loop. I wore basketball shoes and a basketball shirt. I had done zero running before that, and I remember that it was 15 slow, painful miles. Afterwards, I just collapsed on the couch. It's a miracle that I made it, but it told me that I had a God-given gift to run distance."