Willis calls out Rupp

He has had multiple DNS/DNF finishes in Diamond League 5/10s. (Eugene, Stockholm, Monaco...)

Not to mention his DNS at Stanford, where he was MARSHALLED FOR THE RACE before walking away from it.

And, according to Willis, at least two 1500/mile DNFs against international competition.

If you're not aware of this, you're not paying attention.

Do you Gebremeskel, Gebrhiwet, Farah, Jeilan, Alamirew etc drop out this much? No. Farah has FALLEN and got up to finish.

That is why Rupp's rivals can actually RACE, and will have this advantage against Galen "I only finish against college guys" Rupp in a championship race. It's a pity he never learned race tactics or developed that heart.

Heckuva time-trialer, though.

There was no real "injury concern," obviously. There was a "didn't have heart to push pace and wasn't going to win in a kick" concern.

Rupp wasn't hurt. That whole bad shoe story smells of a convenient excuse for something. Something like Rupper pussing out.

800 analyzer wrote:

Never mind that Willis has had his fair share of less than stellar races, who hasn't?

If he wanted more of Rupp, he could enter some 5/10s.. wake me up when that happens.

Why would Willis do that? Dropping down to the mile to headhunt is Rupp's gimmick, and Willis, the mile specialist, wants to give Rupp a serious run at that distance.

If we want to classify "not finishing" as not crossing the finish line, then yes, Rupp has not crossed the finish line of a fair number of races.

If we want to classify "not finishing" as intentionally easing up and slowing down four strides before the finish line, then Rupp may have never truly finished a race in his life.

WHY DOES HE DO THAT?

rupp-certified shoefitr wrote:

Do you Gebremeskel, Gebrhiwet, Farah, Jeilan, Alamirew etc drop out this much?

I don't like that Rupp dropped out, but his financial compensation and that of the athletes you listed above is based on drastically different incentive structures. Rupp has far less disincentive to drop out of races, and the athletes listed above have far more incentive to finish non-championship races that don't go well.

800 analyzer wrote:

How had the going gotten tough? They ran a slow 800 and were, as a group not interested in racing it seemed.

Being hurt, if he felt something, is a perfectly reasonable reason to drop out only if being cautious.

Had it been a hot pace, I might understand people questioning his action but it wasn't.

Now why Rupp didn't force the pace, I don't know, I thought he would want a fast race.

Rupp knew he was not going to beat willis and others over the last 400m so he pussed out

themanontherun wrote:

I don't like that Rupp dropped out, but his financial compensation and that of the athletes you listed above is based on drastically different incentive structures. Rupp has far less disincentive to drop out of races, and the athletes listed above have far more incentive to finish non-championship races that don't go well.

My point exactly. Clearly you get it. I wish others did.

The Africans would very quickly see the well dry up if they behaved like Rupp. These guys can't be seen giving the meet less than what they paid for. Even Kiprop knows better than to test to machine by stepping off the track.

Farah a rabid British media pouncing on him if he doesn't start/finish, and also the kind of heart that finishes no matter what. Have you EVER seen him DNF?

Because Rupp will be well-paid and can get in any race he wants even with repeated DNS/DNF results, he has only intrinsic incentives to finish out a race that isn't going according to plan. And apparently that intrinsic drive is seriously lacking.

DEREKRUBIS666 wrote:

Rupp knew he was not going to beat willis and others over the last 400m so he pussed out

Why would a 3:50i/7:30/8:06/13:01i guy who was talking openly about going after the WR in this event be scared of the last 400m of a race?

themanontherun wrote:

Why would a 3:50i/7:30/8:06/13:01i guy who was talking openly about going after the WR in this event be scared of the last 400m of a race?

Being able to run a fast mile doesn't automatically mean that you can kick with the best milers in a slow race. I don't really support this Rupp bashing, but I had to correct your rationale.

Because he was getting beat... And knew he couldn't catch the guy beating him...

widget boy wrote:

ytvg wrote:

Has Willis ever raced anything longer than 1500m?

The mile.

13:27 5000m in 2005, 7:40 3000m last year.

themanontherun wrote:

Why would a 3:50i/7:30/8:06/13:01i guy who was talking openly about going after the WR in this event be scared of the last 400m of a race?

Because Rupp sucks. Him and Salazar turned off the juice too early this and now he's paying the price. And, Rupp can't finish races. He has to go out well under record pace to run fast.

seco wrote:

widget boy wrote:

The mile.

13:27 5000m in 2005, 7:40 3000m last year.

(Owned.)

My three-year-old has better grammar that you.

sbeefyk1 wrote:

Because Rupp sucks. Him and Salazar turned off the juice too early this and now he's paying the price. And, Rupp can't finish races. He has to go out well under record pace to run fast.

Nikeey wrote:

Because he was getting beat... And knew he couldn't catch the guy beating him...

Seriously? Rupp has finished a great many races where he was getting beat and the pressure was increasing on the pace from 800-10,000.

He doesn't drop out because he's getting beat. Think of all the runner up races when he was in the NCAA. Think of his 10K AR attempt when Solinsky blew by and then others scalped him.

Dislike Rupp for whatever your reasons, but any objective observes knows he doesn't ever drop out for fear of a loss, however he does (rarely) drop out if there is indictation of an injury. You can include when he went down hard in a diamond league 5K several years ago.

He has also finished races where his shoe came off and when he took a fall.

Whether you agree with it or not, their philosophy is:

"If you feel a sharp pain, drop out"

That may sound weak to a lot of you tough guys out there, but ask yourselves this. Have you ever been able to train at or near your max 98% of the time for over a decade?

Most people spend at least 10-30% of their time hindered with some degree of injury. Maybe that means no training, or cross training, or training at 80-90% of full capacity.

Rupp doesn't. Maybe people need to rethink what's more important. Being tough at all times at all costs (think Solinsky and many others) or being smart at all times and tough when it matters?

800 analyzer wrote:

Never mind that Willis has had his fair share of less than stellar races, who hasn't?

If he wanted more of Rupp, he could enter some 5/10s.. wake me up when that happens.

+

What workout did Rupp do after the race this weekend?

I don't think Willis or most have an issue with Rupp or anyone for that matter dropping out when something hurts (e.g., as another poster said, "I have a sharp pain.")

It's dropping out and THEN heading to another track to do a post-DNF workout. Come on, if your healthy enough to do a post-race workout, you're healthy enough to finish. Man up. It was only 450 meters.

J.R. wrote:

What workout did Rupp do after the race this weekend?

According to Alberto, 8000m worth of track work.