Bad Blood Between Solinsky and Rupp?

If it was a ploy, more by Salazar than Rupp, it may backfire. Solinsky looked pissed and may train a little harder and be a little more motivated when he does face Rupp. Salazar knew at 4pm the pollen levels were to high. He showed zero regard to the meet directors and competitors by not informing them.

It's stuff like this that shows how rookie-league track is.

I wish there was a rivalry. That's kinda why I was excited to see the 10k. Then today, the TV broadcast of one of the best T&F meets of all time on US soil (excluding Olympics) totally blew ass. What could have been epic was...meh.

It was right about the end of the Pre TV coverage that I realized, hey wait...you know, maybe I do want to watch some meatheads play rugby 7s.

Moral of the story: The T&F season will never be popular to the general public; it's not a team sport. It needs something else - how about a rivalry? how about a personality? how about ...?

Oh well, I will still run my 60-80 mile weeks and race to sub-elite times until I physically can't.

There's definitely bad blood between the two. Lets look at the clues that have been laid out in front of us. Did Rupp do much to congratulate Solinsky last May when the 10k record was broken. Nope. There's sign #1

Did Salazar publicly congratulate Solinsky. Nope. There sign #2. Did Rupp try to go Australia to get a 5k qualifier like Teg and Solinsky. Nope. Sign #3.

Then the episode yesterday. What else can one say. You could just tell Solinsky has pure hatred in his heart for Rupp just by watching the video Letsrun posted........oh wait, all the exaggerated statements I just made were based on reading a couple headlines and watching a video clip. Therefore this gives me no true insight into anything that is going on with Rupp or Solinsky.

Ok, now to be honest. How is the speculation posted on this thread good for anything? Do people feel less frustrated from the disappointment of seeing neither Chris or Galen finish the 10k? I really don't get it.

Back in 2007 in one of the very first videos flotrack had to offer, solinsky was way out in the lead over rupp with 200 meters to go in an oregon twilight 5,000m race. Rupp started a pretty huge passing solinsky with about 5 meters to go and kind of catching solinsky off guard.

In an interview at the NCAA championships, solinsky made mention of how he found it typical that rupp would dodge him and run the 10,000m.

Fact: There is bad blood.

It seems: Solinsky is a bit obsessed with Rupp.

Funny don't remember Shorter, Pre, Lindgren, Rodgers, Moore, Todd Williams, Kennedy ever having allergies or having to wear masks...Rupp is who he is, you make the call but lets not confuse what he is not.....tough!

After: 1) getting a collegue to sub my last class of the day so 2)I could get the family packed and off to Eugene, 3) to check in to a $119 a night hotel, I was also disappointed to see the anticipated American record showdown dissolve. I was flabergasted though watching the LR interview with Solinsky after his DNF. He was still sporting the Livestrong yellow bracelet even after all the bad press Lance has gotten this past week.[/quote]

Lance and his foundation aren't the same thing, remember that. I am not at all a fan of Lance, but it CS decides to keep his Livestrong band on, I will not judge him for it, as the Livestrong Foundation still supports good work.

The Turth wrote:

Funny don't remember Shorter, Pre, Lindgren, Rodgers, Moore, Todd Williams, Kennedy ever having allergies or having to wear masks...Rupp is who he is, you make the call but lets not confuse what he is not.....tough!

I would say Rupp is tougher than all those you mentioned since he has run faster than all of them. And Jim Ryun had a lot of trouble with Eugene's allergy problem. I've watched Galen run since he was in high school and I've seen plenty of his workouts. He is probably much tougher than those posting on this message board.

This thread is third rate tabloid tripe. Is this what it takes to generate interest in T&F? Blah.

Solinsky pulled out because of hamstring problems, that's it. Did no one watch the whole interview? Who knows why Rupp wanted to warm up. I have the feeling he just very badly wanted to compete, and just wanted a taste of the pre-race excitement. With Alberto holding nothing back in trying out new training techniques, etc., I assume Rupp's allergist has him on a program of shots. Severe allergies to pollen to the point where it causes asthma, in Rupp's case, is no joke. Throughout high school and college my performances would always improve dramatically at the end of Cross Country season after hayfever season ends. Conversely I'd start to have trouble when the big meets arrive in May for track. People probably don't hear about it much in elite distance athletes because those who encounter those difficulties rarely get to that level. Good for Rupp on not giving up. Hopefully he is doing something that will help alleviate his allergies in the long term so that it doesn't hinder him in future championship situations.

obiwan6262 wrote:

Back in 2007 in one of the very first videos flotrack had to offer, solinsky was way out in the lead over rupp with 200 meters to go in an oregon twilight 5,000m race. Rupp started a pretty huge passing solinsky with about 5 meters to go and kind of catching solinsky off guard.

In an interview at the NCAA championships, solinsky made mention of how he found it typical that rupp would dodge him and run the 10,000m.

Fact: There is bad blood.

It seems: Solinsky is a bit obsessed with Rupp.

A couple of thoughts. First, I don't get this whole "solinsky is obsessed with Rupp" thing. While I'm sure Solinsky loves to beat Rupp (and equally as sure that he uses that thought as motivation), I seriously doubt he is "obsessed". He's a competitive guy. He has a history with Rupp dating back to NCAAs. Rupp is most definitely getting paid a lot more $$ from Nike than he is, and I think it's fairly obvious that Rupp has been Nike's golden boy from day 1. Add these together, and you inevitably get a healthy dose of "dislike" towards mr. Rupp. It's a pro sport, they are competing against each other for some fairly large stakes- unless you train together or have some other reason to bond, it's only natural to feel some animosity towards a rival (especially one like Rupp, who has enjoyed every available advantage since he was in high school).

As for the race itself, anyone badmouthing Solinsky for DNF'ing strikes me as completely clueless. Why would he risk further injury and jeopardize a WC season (and a crucial period of Olympic buildup) just to finish this (largely irrelevant) 10k? Absolutely no reason to even chance it. As he said- the leg was feeling better and he thought he'd give it a go. Turns out the muscle was giving him problems so he bagged it. What the hell is the big deal?

Sadly, it just goes to show that the vast majority of posters on LRC are a bunch of clowns with no actual knowledge/understanding of what it takes to be successful in the sport. Then again, I suppose it's not like that is some sort of groundbreaking revelation.

Here's to hoping that both guys run well this season.

Why did my tounge in cheek comment get deleted and yet all the comments were still left. BTW Night Runner are you MN because only he wouldn't get tht joke?

I agree with most of what you said, but why would you think Rupp is getting paid more? Solinsky's PRs are faster at 3000, 5000, and 10,000. He is also the american record holder, was #3 world ranked last year, and has run sub 13 three times now. Rupp has more NCAA titles and international experience, but is that really that big of a difference?

"Yeah right, it was rainy all day and the pollen count was practically zero. It was a perfect day and Rupp didn't run because if he did, it would have meant his AR would have been taken away by, you guessed it, Solinsky."

Do you all think we have liars on this board?

Think again:

http://www.pollen.com/allergy-forecast.asp

Sir Lance-alot wrote:

As far as bad blood, there is something going on there. But likely just a typical rivalry thing. However, what does Sol mean that Rupp warming up and then not running was a "ploy" ?? What kind of ploy? Sol was committed to run no matter what, right? Or was he only going to run if Rupp ran? Did Rupp DNS'ing influence Sol dropping out? If so, weird.

Yes it is weird. Rupp went through all of the motions of warming up for the race and reporting in the paddock area. When the runners were led out the track. Rupp was gone.

That's what Solinsky meant by a 'ploy'.

........... wrote:

Let's be honest, a rivalry would be great for the sport. If only they could close the gap to become not just medal threats, but medal favorites.

Just imagine if there were two American distance runners that were two of the best in the world and had a fierce rivalry.

I'm just happy someone is being honest.

[/quote]

I agree with most of what you said, but why would you think Rupp is getting paid more? Solinsky's PRs are faster at 3000, 5000, and 10,000. He is also the american record holder, was #3 world ranked last year, and has run sub 13 three times now. Rupp has more NCAA titles and international experience, but is that really that big of a difference?[/quote]

I'd say there is no doubt about it, my friend. Solinsky put together a huge season last outdoors, but that was while he was still under his pre-existing contract w/ Nike. I'm sure he picked up some nice bonuses for his AR, world ranking, etc., but you can rest assured that Rupp's base salary is much higher. Hopefully Solinsky's agent gets him a nice deal for his next Olympic cycle.

Because Solinsky is a man, with hair on his chest, I'm sure he wants to beat Rupp. I don't think he hates him, is obsessed with him, or anything else. I can't put words on what Solinsky may be thinking but I've always respected Solinsky and loved seeing him win. He runs and trains with balls, has since high school. 90 miles a week when the rest of us thought 70 was a lot. killed it at FL nats.

I've met quite a few ppl who know both, they all love solinsky and don't really have anything at all to say about Rupp, good or bad. or they say something really generic "hes really nice..." That says something to me.

When Wisco won NCAA's, I remember seeing those guys smiling like "thank god this finally paid off, but i'm tired as f..." They were congratulating the losing teams (mine included) with real respect and admiration. Even being extremely competitive, I was happy wisco and Solinsky won. The Oregon team that won a few years later acted like a bunch of boys, hollering and jumping doing chest bumps like a bunch of pansies in front of all the losing teams. pathetic and disrespectful.

I've always seen Solinsky (and withrow, in particular) to embody that wisco team. Tough, polite, competitive. they want to beat you bad, and will train to do it, but will bite their lips if they lose and train harder. On the other hand, I've always seen Rupp to be a little boy, who does what salazar and nike tell him (since HS) who isn't truly that competitive (dude has been second way too many times, including FL nats- Withrow). Allergies? Nike was touting this kid as the next Pre. Pre would've never backed out of a race for allergies. Neither would Solinsky. Not to put words in his mouth, but I could imagine solinsky feeling some level of this if Rupp is like I think he might be.

OU all the way wrote:

Nike was touting this kid as the next Pre. Pre would've never backed out of a race for allergies. Neither would Solinsky. Not to put words in his mouth, but I could imagine solinsky feeling some level of this if Rupp is like I think he might be.

Didn't Prefontaine run a 3:54 mile when all the farmers were burning the grass in the area. I think there were reports of him coughing up blood.

Them Asiatic half-Mongoloids from Poland and Asiatic part-Hunnics from Western Europe have been slicing each others heads off since the first humans migrated to the Far Western Asian continent approximately 15,000 years ago.

hmmmmmmmmmmm wrote:

solinsky: if the only reason you enterred this race was to keep Rupp from breaking your record...weak...run the race because it gives you the best opportunity to have the best season possible, if it doesn't, dont panic that someone else will break it and have faith that you'll be able to take it back...and especially don't make comments like this publicly (same thing when he bitched about teg after the 08 trials)

Rupp: no problem with him pulling out due to allergies and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt but don't see any reason to warm up other than to mess with solinsky

bottom line, you are both Americans, teammates, and adults...grow the f*** up

Are you serious?

You think that Solinsky, manning up to defend his 10k American Record in a race that stood a good chance of allowing him to better it, is "weak sauce"? Solinsky defending his record is a true man's move, and should be respected as such.

Furthermore, you think that Rupp pulling out of a fast 10k due to allergies is "no problem"? That is a complete BITCH move, and I don't think I have to say anything more about that.

YOU are what is wrong with American distance running. Go back to reading Runner's World and not having a spine.