Dathan Ritzenhein Plans to Resume Racing Soon

Published by MLive on July 25, 2014

Dathan Ritzenhein has officially moved back to West Michigan, proclaimed himself nearly in top training form and is on the verge of racing again.

“I’m really excited,” the 31-year-old three-time Olympian said Wednesday while working the Grand Valley State cross country camp. “I got the itch again and the fire is really there. I’m ready to get back out there.”

Ritzenhein has not competed this season following a sports hernia injury late last fall while weight training. Earlier this year he planned to compete in the Boston Marathon, but pulled out in early March, a month ahead of the race.

Now, Ritzenhein hopes to compete within the next month.

“I’d say I’m about 85 percent of normal training and intensity,” he said. “Within the next couple weeks I’d say I’ll be training as hard as I normally would.”

Where will he race? Ritzenhein did not make a commitment, but it will probably be a half-marathon or 10K road race. He said he did not feel ready for a full marathon, nor has he done enough speed work to run anything shorter.