I'd be more inclined to believe he's "clean" if his career tailed off in his mid to late 30s. Guys shouldn't be setting PRs past age 35 unless there's a reason such as super shoes or something.
You make a GREAT point. But a cynic would say he's no longer getting massages from Salazar.
That's not a great point at all. Dopers slow down too. But if you run clean until 34, you can improve for a while when you start doping at age 35.
Again, the course record is a 2:05:39 from E. Kiptanui, whose PR is 2:05:22 from Berlin 2015, 1:21 behind Kipchoge who ran that 2:04:01 with insoles half out. All before supershoes.
With supershoes, Rupp ran a 2:06:07 there, at age 32. Paced until km 25, then ran with Lemma until the last 2 miles. Great conditions too (high in the low 60s, weak winds).
Pacers were on 2:05 low pace (course record) at the beginning, then had 1:03 at half time - I wouldn't call that idiotic.
And that’s what he did today in Prague, taking advantage of good pacing and favorable weather to clock 2:06:07 despite dropping out of Boston 20 days earlier.
Damn you guys are brutal anytime a pro runner has a bad day. Or two bad days. Or three. Or if they hit a plateau. People are human and the second anyone blows up, you can ALWAYS count on LetsRun to say "HE IS DONE FOR GOOD. CAREER = OVER."
Fair point saying he's done might be unfair. But it's not unfair to say he is past his prime and is on the way out. Likely another 3-5 good years then hopefully a graceful retirement.
Rupp is definitely in the twilight. He appeared to be in great shape his last couple of races, but injury did him in. One of the difficult things about getting old is knowing you have a fast time in you, but you can't stay healthy. It is much easier to retire when you know you can't run fast anymore versus not being able to stay healthy. Injuries can put you in a cycle where you keep trying when in fact constant injuries can be as much a sign that you are done as not being able to do fast training runs. With all of that said, we have all seen situations where an aging athlete manages to put it all together for one last great performance...I hope Rupp gets to go out like that.
I think Rupp should at least be around until 2024 Paris Olympics. Given he just ran 2:06 in windy Chicago and 8th at the Olympics, he's still very much in the hunt for an AR or a global medal. Unfortunate the way his March went, but given it's injury related and he was even able to line up at NYC knowing about the injury, there's still a decent chance he's 100% by Worlds which is 4 months away.
I'm more worried about Jared Ward and Abdi Abdirahman, neither of who have had promising results in some time.
I think Rupp should at least be around until 2024 Paris Olympics. Given he just ran 2:06 in windy Chicago and 8th at the Olympics, he's still very much in the hunt for an AR or a global medal. Unfortunate the way his March went, but given it's injury related and he was even able to line up at NYC knowing about the injury, there's still a decent chance he's 100% by Worlds which is 4 months away.
I'm more worried about Jared Ward and Abdi Abdirahman, neither of who have had promising results in some time.
Rupp toeing the line at NYC with an injury was a sign of desperation, not hope. It was a half-hearted grasp at pulling his name from the mud after the USATF 15k fun run went as disastrously as it did.
I'd be happy for him to make one more Olympic team, pass the torch to the next American marathon dude (hopefully Fisher) and go as gracefully as he can.
Jared Ward will go down as the biggest anomaly in the sport of running. An unheralded finish in Rio and really not much else, maybe except for the 61 half in Houston. Not a name worth mentioning alongside Rupp
He had a long Summer/Fall. Dude got 8th at the Olympics, down cycled for 2 weeks, then geared up for Chicago where he got 2nd in gnarly conditions with almost a PR performance. I think it's a learning curve that his body just isn't going to recover as fast as it used to. Probably still toast. Give him a healthy summer/fall build up this year and he'll be ready to contend again.
Too bad Rupp never went for a fast, flat time trial marathon in his prime. We'll never know what he could do.
At least there's Mantz starting to take over the half marathon reins. Maybe the full soon as well. We have a ton of talent in the 5000 & 10000 so definitely a lot to follow and root for there.
I don't know that running 60:55 at basically 25 is really taking over the half marathon reins.
Then how do you define it? He won the US half championships and then was second American in New York. I'm not necessarily saying he is the future, but he is showing to be better than most everyone else that we have in the US over the half marathon distance.
Honestly, he had the best preparation and support money could buy. It kept him mostly healthy for 20 years at this point. He is probably past the end of his top phase, Tokyo and the Olympic Trials 10K were likely honest tests of his abilities at 35. So much to be proud of, but the taint of being Salazar's protégé and the thyroid med TUEs may sour the memories of his career in the minds of many.
His daily medicine cabinet according to the FancyBears leak
Rupp – 2 tablets of Citracal Treatment of calcium deficiencies – 1 tablet of Grastek Treatment allergic respiratory diseases – 4 tablets of Iron – 1 tablet of vitamin C 1 – 1 tablet of vitamin D 2 – 2 tablets of vitamin E 2 – 1 zinc tablet – 3 tablets of ZMA Promotes recovery – Advair® Treatment of respiratory problems – 1 tablet Allegra® Anti-histamine – 2 puffs of Combivent® Treatment of respiratory problems – 1 tablet of Singulair® Treatment of respiratory problems – 2 tablets of Tylenol® Pain and fever 1 tablet of Cytomel® Treatment Of hypothyroidism – 1 tablet of Synthroid® Treatment of hypothyroidism
Yawn. You’re concerned with those supplements? LOL nearly all are OTC and common supplements. I’m surprised as to what’s not on that list: no BCAA, no Glutamine, no L-Carnitine, which are all basic recommended supplements for runners. No ketones, which are also legal and you can buy any time you want.
Let me know when he uses EPO or does frozen blood transfusions.
Too bad Rupp never went for a fast, flat time trial marathon in his prime. We'll never know what he could do.
Do you discount Chicago from the fast, flat time trial marathon list? 2018 had pacers, Rupp was 5th, age 30, 2-years removed from an Olympic podium, and a few months after his PB in Prague. That might be the best he could do. Someone might be able to remember the weather conditions.
The issue wasn't weather, it's the race where he finally had enough and had surgery on his achilles right after. He was lucky to even run 2:06:mid there.
To answer the OP, I have to say for the first time ever, I think there are legitimate doubts about Rupp. Since that surgery, he did finish 8th in the Olympics and had another 206, but not much else in the way of good news. I think even after the last 206 he hinted that he had some mechanical issues. He's been good for so long that I have taken him for granted, but maybe he will not be like Geb, Lagat, or Kipchoge and his late 30s will be an afterthought. I hope not, Rupp is my favorite runner.
I don't know that running 60:55 at basically 25 is really taking over the half marathon reins.
Then how do you define it? He won the US half championships and then was second American in New York. I'm not necessarily saying he is the future, but he is showing to be better than most everyone else that we have in the US over the half marathon distance.
I would say he's amongst the US favorites in any longer US road race but is not the heir apparent to Rupp (or to what Hall/Ritz did, either).
I don't know that running 60:55 at basically 25 is really taking over the half marathon reins.
Then how do you define it? He won the US half championships and then was second American in New York. I'm not necessarily saying he is the future, but he is showing to be better than most everyone else that we have in the US over the half marathon distance.
Additionally Mantz ran a 1:09 half marathon as a sophomore in high school - he's always been poised to be a top half/full runner in the US.
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