RunnerAmericanMaleOlympian

Ryan Hall (runner)

Ryan Hall is a retired American long-distance runner, notable as the first American to run a sub-hour half marathon (59:43) and the only American to achieve a sub-2:05 marathon (2:04:58).

1. Overview

Ryan Hall, born on October 14, 1982, in Kirkland, Washington, is a distinguished retired American long-distance runner. Throughout his career, he held the U.S. record in the half marathon from 2007, becoming the first American runner to complete the event in under one hour with a time of 59:43. Hall is also recognized as the only American to achieve a sub-2:05 marathon time, recording 2:04:58 at the 2011 Boston Marathon. While this outstanding performance was an personal best, it was not recognized as an official record due to the course's characteristics. Hall's remarkable career included winning the marathon at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials and securing a tenth-place finish in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. His dedication and achievements have established him as a significant role model for young runners globally, contributing profoundly to the development and visibility of the sport.

2. Early Life and Amateur Career

Ryan Hall's foundational years and athletic development as an amateur laid the groundwork for his future professional success in long-distance running.

2.1. High School Career

Hall emerged as a notable runner during his junior year of high school. He graduated from high school in the same year as prominent runners Dathan Ritzenhein and Alan Webb, finishing behind them at the 2000 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. His younger brother, Chad Hall, later followed in his footsteps, winning the national meet in 2006.

During his junior and senior seasons at Big Bear High School, Hall was the California state cross country champion. In his senior season, he placed third at the Foot Locker Nationals in Orlando and also established a new course record at the Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational in 2000. On the track, he became the National Scholastic mile champion in his junior year with a time of 4:06.15. In his senior season, he set a state record of 4:02.62 in the 1600 meter run at the CIF California State Meet, having also won the state title in the 3200 meter run during his junior season with a time of 8:55.12. Hall's early career also included competing in the 1500 meters at the Peregrine Systems U.S. Open at Stanford, running 3:42.70, and participating in the 2001 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

2.2. Collegiate Career

Ryan Hall's collegiate career at Stanford University was marked by initial injury setbacks but ultimately saw him achieve significant milestones. In 2001, Hall made his college debut by winning the Murray Keating Invitational and finished 76th at the NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship. He red-shirted the 2002 track season due to injuries that initially hindered the promise he had shown in high school.

In his sophomore year of cross country, Hall secured victories at the Stanford Invitational and the Notre Dame Invitational. His strong performances earned him first-team All-Pac-10 honors and All-American status with a 37th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. In 2003, his freshman year of track, he set a personal best of 3:43.37 in the 1500 meters. The pinnacle of his collegiate cross country career arrived in his junior year in 2003 when he was named the Pac-10 Cross Country Athlete of the Year. He led Stanford to the NCAA Championship by finishing second, closely behind Dathan Ritzenhein of Colorado. His 2004 track season was shortened by injury, though he did record a personal best of 13:45 in the 5000 meters, marking his transition to longer distances from the 1500 meters. He returned from injury to finish 26th at the 2004 NCAA Championships, again earning All-American recognition.

The breakthrough expected from Hall since his high school days materialized during the 2005 track season. He claimed his first individual NCAA Championship by winning the 5000 meters in 13:22.32, narrowly beating his teammate Ian Dobson in a dominant performance by both runners. Hall completed his academic journey at Stanford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

3. Professional Running Career

Ryan Hall's professional running career saw him achieve national records, significant victories in major marathons, and participate in the Olympic Games, despite facing persistent challenges with injuries.

3.1. Early Professional Career (2005-2010)

Ryan Hall turned professional in August 2005 and has been sponsored by ASICS since that year, with his contract being re-signed through 2012. Early in his professional career, his coach was Terrence Mahon, a former runner from Villanova University.

In 2006, Hall secured his first national title, winning the 12K cross-country championships by a margin of 27 seconds. His success on the road continued on September 16, 2006, when he won the Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, New York, establishing a new course record of 28:22. On October 8, 2006, Hall further distinguished himself by breaking the U.S. 20K record, finishing in 57:54, which was 48 seconds faster than the previous record set by Abdihakem Abdirahman.

On January 14, 2007, Hall won the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon with a time of 59:43. This performance not only set a new North American record, surpassing the previous mark of 1:00:55 set by Mark Curp in 1985, but also made him the first American runner to break the one-hour barrier in the event.

Ryan Hall placing third in the 2009 Boston Marathon, seen here at the halfway point in Wellesley Square.
Ryan Hall placing third in the 2009 Boston Marathon, seen here at the halfway point in Wellesley Square.


Hall made an impressive marathon debut on April 22, 2007, finishing seventh at the Flora London Marathon. His time of 2:08:24 stood as the fastest marathon debut by any American. On November 3, 2007, he won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in New York City, setting a Trials record of 2:09:02. This victory qualified him, along with Dathan Ritzenhein and Brian Sell, to represent the United States in the marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

In another strong showing at the Flora London Marathon on April 13, 2008, Hall, then 25, finished fifth in only his third marathon, completing the race in 2:06:17. He was featured on the cover of the September 2008 Runner's World magazine, discussing his aspirations for the Olympic marathon. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 24, 2008, Hall was the second American to cross the finish line, placing tenth with a time of 2:12:33. He employed a strategic, conservative pace, gradually moving up from 21st place at the 9.3 mile (15 km) mark to tenth by the 25 mile (40 km) mark. His teammates Ritzenhein and Sell finished ninth and 22nd, respectively. Hall's outstanding performance in 2008 led to him being recognized as the Road Runner of the Year in the Open Male division by the Road Runners Club of America.

On April 20, 2009, Hall competed in the 2009 Boston Marathon, securing third place overall with a time of 2:09:40, behind Deriba Merga of Ethiopia and Daniel Rono of Kenya. He returned to the Boston Marathon in 2010, finishing fourth, though his time of 2:08:41 was the fastest ever recorded by an American on that course at the time. In 2010, Hall also finished fourteenth in the Philadelphia Distance Run half marathon and, citing fatigue, withdrew from the Chicago Marathon. In October, Hall announced his departure from his coach Terrence Mahon and the Mammoth Track Club. He concluded the year by winning the 2010 USA 7 Mile Championships.

3.2. 2011 Boston Marathon Performance

On December 16, 2010, Ryan Hall announced his participation in the 2011 Boston Marathon, marking his third consecutive appearance in the prestigious race. On April 18, 2011, Hall delivered an exceptional performance, running the marathon in 2:04:58 to finish fourth. This time represented the fastest marathon ever run by an American athlete. The race was won by Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai, who finished in an astonishing 2:03:02, nearly one minute under the recognized world record at the time. Mutai publicly credited Hall with setting and maintaining a remarkably fast early pace, which contributed to the historic times achieved by the lead pack.

Despite being the fastest time ever by an American, Hall's 2:04:58 was not officially recognized as an American record due to the unique characteristics of the Boston Marathon course. The course is a point-to-point race with a net downhill elevation drop exceeding 1 meter per kilometer, which, along with a significant net tailwind (15-20 miles per hour) on the day, aided the runners' extraordinary performances in 2011.

3.3. Olympic Participations and Injury Period (2012-2015)

Ryan Hall competing in the 2012 Olympic Marathon.
Ryan Hall competing in the 2012 Olympic Marathon.

In January 2012, Ryan Hall competed in the Olympic marathon trials in Houston, Texas, finishing second with a time of 2:09:30. Although he led at the halfway point, he ultimately placed behind Meb Keflezighi, securing his spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the second time. At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Hall faced disappointment when he withdrew from the marathon around the 11 mile mark due to a hamstring injury. Following this setback, Hall intended to run the New York City Marathon later that year but withdrew in September, before the race was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy, as he continued to battle injuries.

The year 2013 saw Hall continue to struggle with injuries, leading him to withdraw from both the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon for that year.

In April 2014, Hall completed the 2014 Boston Marathon, finishing 20th with a time of 2:17:50. This marked his first marathon finish since the 2012 Olympic Trials. In September 2014, he announced that he was being coached by Jack Daniels. Hall also announced his intention to run the Utah Valley Marathon in June 2015, but he did not record a finish in that event. He also withdrew from the 2014 Utah Valley Marathon and the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon due to fatigue.

On March 15, 2015, at the Los Angeles Marathon, Hall took an aggressive lead at the start, running the first mile in 4:42, a pace comparable to world-record attempts. However, he eventually dropped out at the halfway point after losing contact with the lead pack around the fifth mile. Notably, his wife Sara Hall was competing in her first marathon in the same race.

4. Retirement and Later Activities

After a distinguished career marked by both triumph and the physical toll of elite competition, Ryan Hall transitioned from professional running to explore new endeavors.

4.1. Retirement from Competitive Running

In January 2016, Ryan Hall officially announced his retirement from competitive running. He cited the cumulative harmful effects that years of rigorous training and racing had taken on his body as the primary reason for his decision, marking an end to his elite racing career.

4.2. Post-Retirement Activities

Following his retirement, Hall embraced a new physical challenge: weightlifting. This transition resulted in a significant increase in his body weight, from approximately 128 lb (58 kg) to 165 lb (75 kg), showcasing his commitment to a different form of physical fitness.

In January 2017, Hall made a symbolic return to running by participating in the 3rd Annual World Marathon Challenge. This event, which involves running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, was undertaken alongside and inspired by his friend Matthew Barnett. At the final finish line in Sydney, Hall symbolically left his running shoes behind, a poignant act to signify the definitive conclusion of his competitive running career and offer a sense of closure to his journey in the sport.

5. Personal Bests

The following table summarizes Ryan Hall's official personal best times across various running events:

EventTimePlaceDate
1500 m3:42.70Stanford, CaliforniaJune 9, 2001
5,000 m13:16.03Carson, CaliforniaJune 24, 2005
10,000 m28:07.93Stanford, CaliforniaMarch 31, 2007
10 Miles45:33Houston, TexasJanuary 14, 2007
Half Marathon59:43 NRHouston, TexasJanuary 14, 2007
Marathon2:04:58*Boston, MassachusettsApril 18, 2011
Marathon2:06:17LondonApril 13, 2008
  • The 2:04:58 marathon time was achieved on a point-to-point course with a net downhill elevation and was assisted by a tailwind. This time is not considered an official American record.

6. Career Achievements

Ryan Hall's career was marked by numerous significant achievements and notable performances:

  • 2000 - 3rd place at the Foot Locker National High School Cross Country Championships
  • 2003 - 2nd place at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships
  • 2005 - NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in the 5000m
  • 2005 - 3rd place at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 5000m
  • 2006 - 1st place at the USA Cross Country Championships (12K)
  • 2006 - U.S. Half Marathon Champion
  • 2006 - 1st place at the Great Cow Harbor 10K in Northport, New York, setting a new course record of 28:22
  • 2006 - U.S. 20K Record Holder (57:54) at the inaugural IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, Hungary
  • 2007 - U.S. Half Marathon Record Holder (59:43) at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in Houston, Texas
  • 2007 - 7th place, 2:08:24 at the London Marathon in London, United Kingdom
  • 2007 - 1st Place, 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon (2:09:02) in New York City, United States
  • 2008 - 5th Place, 2008 Flora London Marathon (2:06:17) in London, United Kingdom
  • 2008 - 10th Place, 2008 Marathon at the Summer Olympics (2:12:33) in Beijing, China
  • 2009 - 1st Place, 2009 15K at the Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classics Race (43:26) in Tampa Bay, United States
  • 2009 - 3rd Place, 2009 Boston Marathon (2:09:40) in Boston, United States
  • 2009 - 3rd Place, 2009 NYC Half-Marathon (1:02:35) in New York City, United States
  • 2009 - 1st Place, 2009 ING Philadelphia Distance Run Half-Marathon (1:01:52) in Philadelphia, United States
  • 2009 - 4th Place, 2009 ING NYC Marathon (2:10:36)
  • 2010 - 4th Place, 2010 Boston Marathon (2:08:40)
  • 2010 - 1st Place, 2010 Bix 7 (32:55), a USA 7 Mile Championship event
  • 2011 - 2nd Place, 2011 USA Half Marathon Championship (1:02:20)
  • 2011 - 4th Place, 2011 Boston Marathon (2:04:58)
  • 2011 - 5th Place, 2011 Chicago Marathon (2:08:04)
  • 2012 - 2nd Place, 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials at Houston (2:09:30)
  • 2012 - Did Not Finish, 2012 Olympics Marathon in London, UK
  • 2014 - 20th Place, 2014 Boston Marathon (2:17:50)
  • 2015 - Did Not Finish, 2015 Los Angeles Marathon
  • 2017 - Finished, 2017 World Marathon Challenge (average time 3:39)

7. Personal Life

Ryan and Sara Hall
Ryan and Sara Hall

Ryan Hall's personal life is deeply intertwined with his family, faith, and commitment to philanthropic endeavors. In September 2005, he married his college girlfriend, Sara Bei, who is also a professional runner. Both Ryan and Sara are devout Christians, and their shared faith is a significant aspect of their lives.

Ryan's younger brother, Chad Hall, also achieved success in running, winning the 2006 Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships, which is considered the de facto national championship for high school cross country individual runners. Chad followed in the footsteps of his sister-in-law, Sara Hall (née Bei), who won the girls' championships in 2000, the same year Ryan himself finished third. Chad initially attended the University of Oregon before transferring to the University of California, Riverside, from which he graduated in 2012.

In 2009, Ryan and Sara co-founded The Hall Steps Foundation. This organization was established with the mission to empower the running community, channeling the energy and resources that fuel athletic achievements towards initiatives promoting social justice. Ryan's hometown of Big Bear Lake, California, also showed strong community support for his Olympic aspirations through the "Move a Million Miles for Ryan Hall" campaign, which aimed to collectively log one million exercise miles in support of his quest for a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Marathon.

8. Legacy and Impact

Ryan Hall's career has left an enduring mark on the sport of running, establishing him not only as an elite athlete but also as an advocate for positive change through his platform.

8.1. Impact on Running

As one of America's most prominent long-distance runners of his generation, Ryan Hall significantly advanced the sport's profile within the United States. His consistent pursuit of American records, particularly in the half marathon and marathon, inspired a new generation of athletes to push boundaries. His breakthrough performances, including being the first American to run a half marathon under one hour and his sub-2:05 marathon at Boston, showcased the potential of American runners on the global stage. Beyond his times, Hall served as a vital role model for aspiring young athletes around the world, demonstrating dedication, resilience, and a commitment to competitive excellence. His influence helped shape the trajectory of American long-distance running, fostering greater interest and participation in the sport.

8.2. Social Contributions

Ryan Hall extended his impact beyond athletic competition through his philanthropic work, particularly with The Hall Steps Foundation. Co-founded with his wife, Sara, the foundation actively leverages the passion and collective strength of the running community to champion social justice efforts. Through this organization, Hall has demonstrated a commitment to using his platform and the sport's widespread appeal for broader societal benefit, embodying a center-left perspective by focusing on community empowerment and advocating for human rights and equitable causes. The foundation's initiatives highlight his belief in the power of sport to effect meaningful change and address critical social issues, showcasing a dedication to utilizing athletic success for the greater good of society.