Ok, So When SHOULD Rupp do his first Marathon?

Rupp should have converted to marathoning this year. He's getting older. He has a lot of miles on his legs. There is big money that could be made in the biggest marathons.

first be able to consistently run sub13/27 next year (no WC/OG). Then try a fast course in the fall (Berlin/Chicago/Amsterdam/Frankfurt) and take it from there.

Boston 2014. He has had a great track career, but the improvement has to end sometime.

Maybe he isn't a suited to the 'thon as we think, but it would be interesting to at least see him try. Geb didn't figure out the marathon right away, so the longer Rupp waits, the less his chance of ever coming close to winning a big race (not that he has too many wins on the track outside of national titles).

Rupp had a bad outdoor season. He's past his prime on the track. He should move up while he still has some speed and either do Boston in April or Chicago or NYC after outdoor track Ritz style. But he won't. Rupp has said many times that he isn't doing the marathon until after Rio because he thinks he has unfinished business on the track. But he'll be 30 when he makes his debut which means he has 1-2 years of peak marathoning left in him unless he ages well like Meb/Lagat. As a fan its disappointing because he'd be best in the marathon and actually bring some respect to Americans in the distance if he moved up while he still had some speed.

About a year or two ago.

This whole notion that one should turn to the marathon when you are old and washed up is mind-bogglingly stupid.

He should run London with Mo. Rupp's success on the track is in large part due to the fact that he gets to train with Mo. Unless AlSal finds another training partner of the same caliber (he won't), Rupp should just follow Mo to London or run Boston.

I do not see Rupp improving much more on the track. In fact, I see him burning out on the track next year if he is unable to win some DL events and take down some ARs.

NotAustin18 wrote:

Rupp had a bad outdoor season. He's past his prime on the track. He should move up while he still has some speed and either do Boston in April or Chicago or NYC after outdoor track Ritz style. But he won't. Rupp has said many times that he isn't doing the marathon until after Rio because he thinks he has unfinished business on the track. But he'll be 30 when he makes his debut which means he has 1-2 years of peak marathoning left in him unless he ages well like Meb/Lagat. As a fan its disappointing because he'd be best in the marathon and actually bring some respect to Americans in the distance if he moved up while he still had some speed.

Basically agree with all of the above [although I'd call his outdoor season "mediocre" rather than "bad"] but I really don't see him changing his plan to stick with track through Rio unless things go very badly in 2014. Even then I think the soonest we'd see him in a marathon would be spring 2015.

i'd rather see him stay on the track for as long as possible. he was aiming for a 1:46/47 in that 800 that never happened, no reason for a guy like that to run marathon. i don't even think mo should run london.

He should have started a long time ago. It is too late for G Rupp to run the marathon, especially with the way he's been training.

Some of us here believe that Rupp (and Farah) should not move up at all. They should move DOWN to the 1500. If you can run 3:28 or 3:50 you should not be jogging marathons. You should be racing 1500 with the big boys.

Maybe a silly question, but how could he run his debut at the trials? Wouldn't he have to qualify with another marathon? Or can you "qualify" some other way?

FloppyRunner wrote:

Maybe a silly question, but how could he run his debut at the trials? Wouldn't he have to qualify with another marathon? Or can you "qualify" some other way?

You can probably qualify with a 10k or a half time

agip wrote:

(Assuming he wants to)

Fall 2014 - to end an off-year season?

2014 is not an off year. There is a world champs next year.

Needs to dial in the dosages, get a new mask, add to the 37 TUEs.

Obvious Answer wrote:

About a year or two ago.

This whole notion that one should turn to the marathon when you are old and washed up is mind-bogglingly stupid.

Um, ever heard of Eliud Kipchoge and Haile Gebrselassie? Seems like most of the champs out there are still late 20s early 30s.

god i love LetRun...where a 27 year old who ran 3:50 indoors 9 months ago (and has a 31yo training partner who just ran 3:28) is "losing his speed/over the hill/past his prime/needs to move up". high comedy.

coach d wrote:

Some of us here believe that Rupp (and Farah) should not move up at all. They should move DOWN to the 1500. If you can run 3:28 or 3:50 you should not be jogging marathons. You should be racing 1500 with the big boys.

I agree with this. Rupp and Farah would be joggers at the marathon, so they should stick to the short stuff.

umm, rupp and farah stopped training together. there is a lot of money to be made in the marathon. as the sun sets on rupp, and his mass-tues, time runs short on grabbing that marathon cash.

NO MORE FREE RANDY. wrote: god i love LetRun...where a 27 year old who ran 3:50 indoors 9 months ago (and has a 31yo training partner who just ran 3:28) is "losing his speed/over the hill/past his prime/needs to move up". high comedy.

Lawyers, Guns and Money wrote:

Obvious Answer wrote:

About a year or two ago.

This whole notion that one should turn to the marathon when you are old and washed up is mind-bogglingly stupid.

Um, ever heard of Eliud Kipchoge and Haile Gebrselassie? Seems like most of the champs out there are still late 20s early 30s.

Let's start with the simple fact that anyone starting out with a "Um, ever heard of..." is a complete d-bag.

From there we can turn to the equally idiotic content of your post. Please note that the thread title asks about when Rupp should run his marathon debut. Then note that the ages at the time of their marathon debut for all male winners of major marathons (London, NY, Boston, Chicago, Berlin) since 2008 are as follows:

19

20

21

23

23

24

24

24

25

25

26

26

27

27

27

28

28

29

Mean: 24.8

Median: 25

And yes, this includes your beloved Haile Gebrselassie.

Seems like most of the champs out there debut around 25.

Rupp is now 27. So, like I said, he should have gotten started about a year or two ago.