New York, USA - United States Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein says he will run to win the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE on Sunday (27), but that is just part of his goal in the race that has attracted an international field of stars including half marathon specialist Patrick Makau of Kenya, former Berlin, Chicago, and London marathon champion Felix Limo of Kenya, veteran Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, the 2004 ING New York City Marathon winner, and USA’s Adam Goucher.

“This is a race and I am going to take it as seriously as I would any other race,” said Ritzenhein in a conference call today. “But I also want to get some good information out of it. So this is a test run for me, like a trial.

“I am going to practice everything I would do the morning of the race,” Ritzenhein said of the Olympic men’s marathon, which is scheduled to be the finale of next month’s Games, on Sunday, August 24.

Among the things that Ritzenhein will be monitoring this weekend is how well a cooling vest works that he is considering using to combat the expected high heat and humidity in Beijing. In addition, Ritzenhein said that when he returns to Eugene, OR, next week, his final preparations will include spending time in a special “climate room” at the University of Oregon.

“They can simulate the exact same conditions that will be in Beijing, down to the sunlight direction,” said Ritzenhein, who finished second in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon last autumn in Central Park to claim his spot on his second Olympic team. “So I’ll spend some time in there every day probably for a week before I leave (for China).”
 
Ritzenhein, 25, who has been plagued with injuries through most of this season, feels that he is rounding into shape and form just at the right time.

“Everything has been going really good,” said Ritzenhein. “Everything that I’ve done lately has made me feel more confident by the day for this event and Beijing. There’s a month to go after [the NYC Half], and I think that everything’s lining up right now. Everything is going great.”

New York Road Runners for the IAAF