Why is Galen Rupp running OT 5k?

presumably he gets $ for finishes at Trials/USA champs

just getting in a race/pride

altho seems extremely unlikely, non-zero chance he'd still choose not to do marathon. i think his line back when he first made the marathon team was always that he'd decide in the future which double to do

To mess up the race plan of BTC members so that Jenkins will have a better chance to make the team.

He doesn't want to trigger a reduction in his Nike salary; hasn't raced enough this year.

Because it's there.

is he? I didn't see him on the list of declared entrants.

If he really wants a shot at the medal in Rio, he will stick to just the marathon, forget the 10k, he is not medaling there.

Al Sal said if Galen had a great 10K/5K double at the trials, they would consider running those events in Rio and not the marathon.

Who knows, he might have just been messing with Luke P.

We won't know if he is even declared for the 5K until after tomorrow's 10K and even if he declared he could withdraw anytime before the race.

So, not really worth much speculating when he may not even run the 5000 at the trials anyway.

AlSal is well know for not telling the truth about who is running what and when. If Rupp were to qualify for the 5k and 10k, and were to decide until as late as possible whether to run the marathon or the 5k, then shame on him. He completely screws over the 5k and marathon 4th place guys; training, travel arrangements, sponsorships. No wonder Salazar has the reputation for being a jerk. He needs to decide before the trials which events his golden boy will try to make the team.

Why not? I don't see the downside

Rupp has a faster 10,000 PR than anyone that will be at the Olympics.

He was ranked top five in the world in the 5000 two years.

Is he even in the top 100 for the marathon?

Reduction Klaus wrote:

He doesn't want to trigger a reduction in his Nike salary; hasn't raced enough this year.

Yeah, but if he gets injured the reduction in salary is to $35.65 a month. That's certainly a tough spot to be in.

Good question

Ok, Mallory.

Beevie wrote:

Because it's there.

to get in a workout and this (below). He'll likely pace Jenkins since Jenkins will likely pace him in the 10k.rivalry. it's awesome!

A conspiracy theorist wrote:

To mess up the race plan of BTC members so that Jenkins will have a better chance to make the team.

Its a ploy by Salazar to psyche out Letsrun.com posters.

You may think I'm joking but half of Letsrun.com readers actually believe this.

I could tell you that Salazar and Rupp wants to run the 5000M to see how he does, and that if he does well they may yet elect to to the 5/10K double. I could tell you that Rupp has always said that the 10,000M is his primary focus for this Olympics, and that if you are training to compete in the 10K you might as well be training for the 5K given the speed training you have to do.

I could tell you all that. I could even provide links to back it up. But it would be just too crazy for anyone to comprehend. So I will not tell you that.