Rupp finishes 11th w/3:43 in UK

You sound like Nike.

10th place at olympics means you're probably top 25 in the world at best. There will be 8-10 guys who can go sub 27 in August, and zero of them will be American. I admire Rupp for trying to improve his mile best, because honestly how can you expect to run with the best 10K guys in the world when they can all go 3:35 in the 1500? Rupp obviously hitting a ceiling or coming close to it with all these 4:01 miles.

Salazar wants him to be a force in the marathon, but he'll let him max out at the shorter stuff first. Here's what we have to look forward to:

Mile: 3:55 (at absolute best)

3000: 7:35

5000: 13:15

10000: 27:25

Now granted these are alright US times, but please leave them at that. Geb, KB, TB, and all the other international talents just have a better foundation with their PRs at the lower distances.

This is the problem with the American high school system. In Africa, if a kid can run 48-50 for the 400m, then they are seen as having good mile-3K-5K potential and it is nurtured. In the US, the same kid would instead be made into one of 100s of :46 400m runners or at the very best a 1:47 800 runner.

It's not like the talent pool isn't there, we just are focusing our energy in the wrong places.

Rupp is a douchebag: How do you expect Rupp to run in NCAA meets, or have teammates when he is not at U of O this semester. England was in fact one of his few choices.

Santi da Coach: We are on the same side here, but I do believe comparing Rupp to Pre was a bit of a stretch. Pre was not only famous for his running, but for being a bad ass, who help revolutionize running in America. Rupp is far from being that "bad ass".

blasphemy!: You cannot make fun of Rupp for taking advantage of whats given to him, I.E. "Zero gravity treadmill". Also, we all have are own small thins we do on runs to make us feel in our element. Rupp wears the breathe right strip, how is that at all something to make fun of him for? Besides, how do you know if he has some sort of nasal problems to begin with?

Hoopla: See my reply to "Rupp is a douchebag"

Lenny Leonard: He wants to get faster, closer to that "3:35" or whatever he may be. That is most likely why he is runing against the big boys all the time, he wants to usse them to get him there.

^o^

Blaze

Ok....I admit that comparing him to Pre was a stretch. In terms of running, Rupp is definately setting a good foudation for his future. I also said ealier, "Better athlete across the board." I meant "athletes." This is true because of modern technology and knowlege of the sport. Athletes are better across the board in any sport.

I wonder why only 3 Brits got entries and guys like Steven Davies (3:38 PR and 4th at UK Indoors) were left out for this guy? No disrespect he's a great US 10k runner (and okay prospect internationally) but 1500 indoors is 1500 indoors and he adds nothing to an event outside the US in terms of generating interest. I can only understand his inclusion in such an event within the US and perhaps even his home state/school state.

Blaze wrote:

Rupp is a douchebag: How do you expect Rupp to run in NCAA meets, or have teammates when he is not at U of O this semester. England was in fact one of his few choices.

couldn't he just run unattached at a collegiate meet...?

Of course he could run unattached at a college meet. Several unattached athletes ran at the Washington Invitational which saw two runners go under 4:00 and two Oregon runners faster (converted) than Rupp's 3:43. But really, you have to look at Rupp and Salazar's thinking. Which do you think is easier? Keep in mind you're just running an off event for speedwork.

Option 1:

1. Procure a passport

2. Book overseas flight

3. 12 hour (at least) flight to England

4. Fight off effects of jetlag and being cramped up on a plane

5. Adjust to new time zone, cuisine, and climate

- or -

Option 2:

1. Hop on Amtrak Cascade from Portland to Seattle

2. Take taxi to UW track

As you can see, when you break it down Option 1 is much more simple, not to mention cheaper and easier on the body.

You guys are all missing the point - Rupp clearly wanted to run an indoor 1500, and all the meets in the US were running indoor miles. Gosh, how can you not see something that obvious!

Seriously though, this is a very bizarre approach to things but it seems consistent with everything else they've been doing - making the simply into the complicated. Might also have something to do with protecting Rupp's fragile self esteem from the humilation of losing to a JUCO runner at Tyson or something like that.

Thanks for referring me to your "reply to Rupp is a Douchebag" but that doesn't really and meaningfully respond to what I said. Anyone can run "unattached" at collegiate meets. I have been doing it myself this indoor season as a recent graduate. Typically I just e-mail the hosting coach ahead of time and it isn't a problem. I'm sure with Al Sal Rupp wouldn't have too much trouble getting into meets if I can. But thank you for your ignorant response!

When Rupp finally hits or breaks the 4 minute mile barrier he will probably leave the mile/1500 behind him. I think he just wants a sub 4 minute mile base.

Rupp did not want to run at Washington because he cannot win. Not the 1500, not the mile, not the 3k or even the 5k. Everyone knows rupp's game. Rupp will never win anything of note.

I don't care where rupp runs, soon enough neither will anyone else.

What is rupp? Aside from a douchebag, he's a kook, a poser, a prissy-prancing-puss, and no thanks to Salazar more than likely a drug cheat.

The NCAA has plenty of fast runners with interesting stories, the continued focus on rupp and overrated Oregon is a distraction our sport doesn't need..

I understand it would be easier, travel wise, for Rupp to head up to Seattle and run at UW. He would be with familiar friends and competition for U of O and other PAC-10 schools. But thats exactly why he is NOT going there. His goal for 2008 is not to win NCAA's. It is to earn a spot on the US Olympic team, and race against the worlds best at Beijing. So Rupp is racing against the level of competition he will find at the international level. It is the same reason that Pre went to Europe to race. I think everyone should just get off Rupp's back. What he is doing is smart. Get his leg speed up while getting international experience against the worlds best. It makes sense on so many levels.

Thats what I've been trying to say (except the Pre thing...what race are you talking about?)

If you can choose where to run, I think it's much more admirable, and much better for getting him prepared for the Olympics to race the big boys.

And to leave the NCAA only to continue to race in it would make you guys bitch even more...

And holy Crap sideshow Rupp....a drug cheat?? are you f_cking kidding! your an idiot. No more posting on letsrun for you. jeeez. Lets just assume everyone is on drugs then, cause just as likely. So with everyone in the world (other than you that is) on drugs the playing ground is even...happy?

Dumbshit

You did give me a good laugh for the day though, thanks for that....wow

Blaze

Bekele set the WR at 5000 when he was still a few weeks shy of 22, and the 10000 when he was 23. Rupp may be the fastest collegiate 10k runner of all time, but as far as world competition is concerned, he's already behind the curve.

Bekele is/has been on EPO... please do not compare clean americans to dirty africans/europeans who may not no that they're on drugs but as seen in the clemens case think they are getting B12 vitamin shots...

Remember at the beginning of the year. Salazar stated that the purpose of Rupp racing indoors at 1500/mile races is to get him accustomed to positioning and kicking against an international field.

He can't learn that running in NCAA meets. It's just not the same kind of game. Even if the college kids run fast times, they don't jostle and race in the same way as the pros do. Rupp needs to learn how to use his elbows to make room, stand tall when somebody throws an elbow at him, pass on the straightaways rather than the turns, etc. The idea of the 1500 races is to simulate the end of a 10k.

To succeed in the Olympic 10k, Rupp will need: a) the strength to hold on at a fast pace, b) the speed to close fast, and c) the tactical awareness to position himself correctly at the end. Rupp's training is giving him a). The NCAA races would give him b). But the pro races are giving him both b) and c).

Pre would go to Europe to race after the NCAA season was over with.

[quote]Blaze wrote:

And holy Crap sideshow Rupp....a drug cheat?? are you f_cking kidding! your an idiot. No more posting on letsrun for you. jeeez. Lets just assume everyone is on drugs then, cause just as likely. So with everyone in the world (other than you that is) on drugs the playing ground is even...happy?

[/quote}

Dearest Blaze,

Is everyone else in the NCAA coached by Salazar? Not even close fanboy. Salazar IS, and always has been dirty. Salazar was passing rupp "supplements" as far back as high school.

Banned substances aren't even necessary for legit NCAA competitors to keep rupp off the top of the podium.

Too bad we're not required to sign a sworn oath of adoration for rupp before posting on letsrun, eh. You'll work on that, won't you?

Is it your love for rupp that causes your broken written style, your poor spelling? Perhaps rupp's inability to live up to the hype has you in a funk. Maybe you're just as dumb as your writing suggests.

Clowns like you are in for the letdown of your lives when the trials roll around.

ritzenhein ran 27:38(as compared to rupp's 27:33) in college to set the american collegiate record and what great stuff has ritzenhein done in the world besides beat mottram at a road 10k and place in the top 3 at some winter euro cross meets. until you're there you've got to prove that you're there and the only way is to do it. yes he has talent, but kenyans/ethiopians/other african runners his age(kipchoge, wanjiru, songok, mansoor, etc.) are there, running sub 27 and sub 13. need to see bit more before we mob on his knob.

yes wrote:

Are you stupid? He's just trying to get some speedwork in before the outdoor season. HE WILL BE IN THE TOP 10 IN THE WORLD AT THE OLYMPICS THIS YEAR!!! HE'S LIKE 21! GET A CLUE...

I could probably find 10 sub-21 year olds that have broken 27:15.