Why can't Rupp kick in a 5k?

German was noted for being a metronome runner in HS. It was amazing how evenly he split his HS mile PR of 4:00.29.

You may be on to something regarding Rupp's tactics, but I think it's unfair to say that Centro always finds a way to win races while Rupp doesn't. I can't think of any major races Centro has won (and don't say USAs or NCAAs, as Rupp has been just as successful in that regard). He certainly wins a lot of domestic races, as does Rupp. He also loses some of these races that are unremarked on, while a Rupp loss to any american results in sneering indictments on this board of his drive and character. In the diamond league last year, I would say Rupp did better than Centro. You could argue that the 1500 is deeper than the 5k, but it's also true that Rupp runs an event that is not his best distance and is also far less favorable to non-africans. In championships, Centro has been 3rd, 4th and 2nd, while Rupp was 7th, 2nd and 4th (yes, at 10k, but that's his main distance; Centro isn't winning any medals at 800 or 5k) over the same period. Not a huge disparity.Centro seems to be very good in championship-style races and probably does better than one would expect given his times. Rupp generally finishes about where I would expect him to finish. So in that sense, Centro does better. But he doesn't "always find a way to win" like you say.

Rusty Buster wrote:

Ummm, the runner who trounced Rupp also busted rust. You fanbois are hilarious. Only Rupp busts rust when he gets beaten. Rupp will continue to be a mid-pack runner this season.

Oh, and fanbois are hilarious for noting Rupp is now 18-2 against Lagat. All Rupp had to do was wait for Lagat to hit 40 and slowing with age to finally log a second finish ahead of Lagat. Still, at age 40 Lagat is still batting .900 against Rupp.

No, Kejelcha opened in Doha with a 7:40 in the 3000 against Farah, as was mentioned at least twice by the commentators during the race. He's the one who broke the race open and faded hard.

If you're going to try to attack someone make sure you have your facts straight.

Some guys just kick better off 10k pace than 5k pace. Rupp is one of them. It's probably more comfortable for him to run 10k pace than 5k pace so he has more left for the kick. Farah is one of the few who is equally good. Bekele was a great kicker, but I think he was slightly better off 10k pace.

Not true. You guys who suck African's balls are hilarious in the way you've been brainwashed. Do you apologize for being white? Or are you another hillel house troll performing your mandated internet troll duties?

You're just a brain dead moron. Your post just shows how you're not only dumb, but a truly pathetic human being as it just radiates your pathetic Rupp bashing.

Mrr82 wrote:

You're just a brain dead moron. Your post just shows how you're not only dumb, but a truly pathetic human being as it just radiates your pathetic Rupp bashing.

Your Rupp fanboyism spews forth in pathetic radiance.

Ah yes the common LRC fanboy calling card..."my ou don't run as fast as runner x therefore you can't criticize runner x"

Unfortunately this dumb logic has infiltrated inferior minds like yours.

Guess what? Guys on ESPN can't dunk but they still call out lebron. Should they just stop?

Please do us a favor and go jerk off to rupp and the rest of NOP privately.

Thanks

Oh how I wish I could close in 57 in my first race of the season! Oh how I wish I could consistently run 13 low and 27 low every time I ran. I'm not a fan or fanboy (whatever that means).

Despite all that, I love to watch racing, NOT pacing.

Get over the rabbits, get over your want for leading, If I had Rupp's speed, I would do what he did. Only slower guys without leg speed 'gut it out' time and time again. IT IS WHAT WILL WEAR US OUT IN A VERY FEW, VERY HARD RACES. How long will his season last if he leads every lap? You will only understand if you had the talent and the speed. If you are like me, who ran some ok times on the track and XC, but had NO speed, you know what I mean. (btw, I ran 13:39/28:21, with a high 58 on the end (as my best ever) and placed in NCAAs and ran the Trials). Yes high 58 is NO speed at their level, you all and I both know that

We the readers here will NEVER be in his league, so enjoy the ride.

Again, not a fan, just stating the facts.

I would much rather have had a Razorback in the mix!

Yeah, we had you on my high school team. You always thought you could beat me if the race was long enough. So we raced a 3 mile and I lapped you.

Then I went to college and became you ;)

Everybody Lighten Up and...

Enjoy The Sport.

1:55+ last 800; I'd say Rupp kicked just fine. The point; the guy that won ran 1:52+ which is crazy good. What's the best final 800 /5000..?

It was a good season opener for Rupp, especially considering that he was not coming off a good indoor season like he was able to do in years past. But it is a valid point of discussion about Rupp. His 5k kick is not as good as his 10k kick. In championship races, he does focus on the 10k and is usually not 100% when he has to run the 5k final. But there are a whole bunch of Diamond league races where we have seen him get locked up on the last lap and let the competition sail on by.

I think Rupp is too much of a rhythm runner to have a top 5k kick. He gets locked into a big long stride and has a very hard time finding the turnover to keep up with the other guys. I also think he would need to dedicate himself to more of a 1500/5000 training regimen to improve his 5k kick and would sacrifice his 10k time as a result. So, the 5k will always be his "B" race.

'I suspect it was 57 and not 55 because Rupp made that massive move going from 4th to the lead in the span of about 30m during the backstretch of the penultimate lap. That was a seriously big move with not very far to go'.

I agree with that. I have watched Rupp run a lot of 5K races and he always seems to blow it by making a big move in the penultimate lap. He is usually too far off the lead and makes a big move to get into the lead (see 2012 OG 5000m final) and then when the kicking starts has not got the injection of pace or he makes too much of an aggressive move into the lead and the others hang onto him them blow past later.

If you watch Farah in the big races he does not need to make a big move to take the lead as he is always in a good position to go past the first guy and get the lead to control the race at the important time. When he gets control he makes a controlled injection of pace and does not blow it by making too big of a move too early(worlds 2011 10k apart). Rupp does not seem to learn from his mistakes which is a bit concerning.

Some good points made above: Rupp expending too much effort to get into kicking position, and professionals not wanting to burn themselves out by running all out 5/10k's all season.

I'd also say that the 10000 isn't Rupp's "best" event in the sense that he is way better at it than others. I think it is one of the weaker events and he is more selective about when he races it (e.g record attempts and championships), so the proportion of good performances is higher for the 10. He's run comparable times at shorter distances (e.g the 3:50i) with worse pacing/rabbiting... And he's only really had one year, that i can think of, with consistent world-class/exceptional kicks, 2012 (i.e

Why??

the weird thing is that Rupp COULD kick at 5k but can't anymore...just watch 2012 Oly Trials 5k. He was a legit contender for an Oly medal that year in the 5k (and probably had a real shot at 10k gold if he hadn't spotted Mo any distance at the bell). He lost his shot at the 5k because he was sick for the finals in London and was doubling back from the 10k against people who were fresh. There is no way he is a medal threat at 5k this year unless he really turns things around. But he should bring home something in the 10k.