Rupp finishes 11th w/3:43 in UK

How would you "no" this?

how would you not know?

I agree that Rupp getting killed as badly as he has in these races is limiting their benefit in terms of tactical practice. I think when Salazar formulated this racing plan he imagined Rupp being a bit more in the thick of these races. But it can be hard to predict how somebody who is doing 10k training will perform at the mile.

As for the training disturbances caused by 12-hour flights, I think that's as much a part of the experience as the thrown elbows. I hear what everyone is saying, about how you can find sub-4:00 competition without travelling more than a state or two. I agree. When I compete unattached I always try to minimize the travel time/stress as much as I can. But that's because I'm just trying to improve my times, not compete internationally.

I don't know if I think Rupp could run under 27:20, and if he's not capable of doing that in any given race, he's going to be behind just as much as any other non-african in the 10k. i'm more curious as to what hall is capable of doing if he really trained hard for a 10k, because I don't think he has. he ran 13:16 out of college, but big deal. just curious.

I agree that Rupp's indoor racing has been silly. Why does he need, or even deserve, to be in the same races with truly elite runners when he isn't even close to being the fastest collegiate runner in those events? I would think actually competing in a collegiate race would be better than getting smoked in a professional race, but then of course he wouldn't be on TV or listed in the same results table as Bernard Lagat.

Kele wrote:

I agree that Rupp's indoor racing has been silly. Why does he need, or even deserve, to be in the same races with truly elite runners when he isn't even close to being the fastest collegiate runner in those events?

Because rupp and salazar think it's better to lose the best than get beat by NCAA runners whom neither rupp or salazar have any respect for. Either way rupp can't win, may as well let Nike pay the big tab and get the Big Hype...

Isn't that what it's all about after all?

"Premadonna?"

-i had a good laugh from this. is that how they describe sean penn when he was sane?

knowledge wrote:

how would you not know?

I hate idiots like yourself, have you heard of innocent until proven otherwise. Bekele is simply a great runner.

that's a good point. how many unpampered college runners are busting out indoor races with "nobodies" to run 4:00 flat and double for distance medley teams. at least make rupp for the opportunity to share the track with people like lagat and mottram when really he belongs in heat b.

So being from oregon, better yet beaverton, better yet 2 miles from world HQ and a best friend from whos dad is the head of NSRL and works with Rupp AND going to central catholic....I have come to this:

You cannot compare pre to rupp...two different time periods and two different agends

Rupp has had more advantages (technology wise) then any other american runner past or present

Rupp has put up impressive times (27:33) but part of me wants to think how much of that has to do with his conditioning(a product of his environment at nike).

And as for traveling to Euro to race against the likes of Lagat...you have to look at it two ways

1. when it comes down to the last 1500 of the OT's whos going to be their? some college kids or abdi, ritz, hall, ect.? He has to be able to look the best in the USA in the eye and close on them.

2. we all know AJ, Chappa, and Waite (who ever from UO) can run faster but are any of them outside of AJ (who i dont think has a chance in hell) making the OT?

part of me says lay off the kid and let him do his work and be the best youth distance runner america has had in a fortnight but then part of me says that he has had so much that if definate results arent achieved soon then their needs to be some apparations( aka give up on him being the golden revival of american track and field).

this is just a general comment but anyone who would like to argue either way I galdly and enthusiastically oblige and look forward to your academic challange.

that1runnerIsawblowbyme wrote:

part of me says lay off the kid and let him do his work and be the best youth distance runner america has had in a fortnight but then part of me says that he has had so much that if definate results arent achieved soon then their needs to be some apparations( aka give up on him being the golden revival of american track and field).

this is just a general comment but anyone who would like to argue either way I galdly and enthusiastically oblige and look forward to your academic challange.

Outside of letsrun who's even bothering with rupp? Sure rupp gets media coverage, but he's never been under any real scrutiny. It's not like rupp is hounded by the media for any reason. Rupp deserves the criticism he gets on letsrun. Rupp has had almost unheard of advantages, bent (if not broken) the rules, acted like an idiot, gains entry to races where he has no business, and has very little to show for it.

I wouldn't say that we should give up on rupp, but I do think it would be better for our community to put more resources into other equally talented young runners.