Three 2:04 guys will be running Boston. Rupp might not even finish in third place.

man, i hope rupp breaks kannouchi's time and everyone can stop talking about Rupp not being the best distance runner we've ever had in the USA

spend 60 seconds on his wikipedia page and look at his best times, his achievements, his medals. be objective for just 5 seconds and you'll realize it is true. get over your dislike of him and you'll see. i don't like him at all but he's still the USA goat and it's not even close

if he runs a fast marathon it won't be debatable and all of your knuckleheads can go to other threads about the GOAT high school girl miler or whatever you like to waste time on

have a good weekend!

It's always a great field on paper and then if/when Rupp gets 1st or 2nd everyone will say it was a weak field.

the real deal wrote:

Here's how this will work:

Scenario 1: Rupp doesn't win

LRC: See? Rupp can't beat 2:04 guys because he's just a crappy 2:09 guy. My grandpa can run faster!

Scenario 2: Rupp wins

LRC: Oh well those guys he beat weren't REAL 2:04 guys. Outside of Dubai they can't break 2:10!

Bonus scenario: Rupp runs under 2:09

LRC: Boston isn't an eligible course so it doesn't count! He's still a 2:09 guy! Oh but Hall and Meb are still 2:04 and 2:08 guys, respectively.

this is totally accurate

Scorpion_runner wrote:

Desisa looked very good in New York, and he has won boston twice. He is a pure 2:04 guy

Plus Tola is god damn Monster of a runner. another pure 2:04 guy.

There is another 2:04 guy who is running, who I am not quite familiar with.

You know they are going to hit it fast, and not allow Rupp to hang around. They will probably go out at 2:08 and just keep turning the screw until Rupp is dropped.

2:10 aint going to cut it for this one. Rupp is going to have to prove his fast marathon ability. He will have to go sub 2:08 to stand a chance.

7/10. You got quite a few replies for spouting off some gibberish even you don't believe yourself.

I really can't wait for this to blow up on LR. Rupp WILL go home devastated.

World Beater wrote:

Devil Dog wrote:

With 3:50/7:30/12:58/26:44 PRs, there's no screw they can turn that Rupp can't hang with.

Noshit. Soon LRers will have to accept that Galen Rupp is an all time great, being coached by an all time great. Runners of Rupp's caliber aren't 2:09 marathoners. If it takes 2:03:30, that's what he'll run.

^^^His track pedigree is legit! 26:44 would have been the WR not too long ago. He's like the high schooler who's only been running 9:30 in local dual meets and hasn't gone to Arcadia.

The problem is that Rupp now appears to be in the habit of dodging the very best competition. Boston 2017 was a good opener for his first marathon major. But after that, he had the choice to run in Berlin or NYC against deeper and faster competition that Chicago. He didn’t. This spring, he could have run London against the best or maybe even jump in Tokyo to shoot for a fast time. He didn't.

Now the message board seems to have so much more respect for a guy like Sondre Moen, who faced a deep field, ran a fast time, and got the W.

Maybe he really wants to win Boston because of the tradition behind it. Maybe it’s always been his dream. And I am sure he doesn’t care one bit about what we say. But as long as the dude continues to avoid the best current marathoners or doesn’t shoot for a fast time, but rather embarks on glorified tempo runs, the message criticism is justified.

Right now, Rupp seems to be prioritizing income and public relations over competition and fast times. Winning the World Marathon Majors and getting top 3 prize money in American ‘thons is way better for his pocketbook and image in this country than getting 5th at London in 2:06. Way better.

I mean, what makes a better photo: Ryan Hall struggling across the line in 2:06, or Rupp breaking the tape at Chicago?

Marketing and money.

Marketing and money.

Marketing and money.

He is a Nike athlete, after all.[/quote]

You contradict yourself. You claim he is running Boston to dodge the competition, but then state he wants Boston because of the tradition. You also seem to be aware of the marketing as the explanation for his choices. And then you correctly state that he is prioritizing income and public relations. So, he is NOT dodging competition. I think most people don't understand that he can literally make 10 X more money by running ( and winning) the 3 US races. Good for him.

2:07:03 for the win.

He is a professional runner with a family to support. He should be going for the money.

crosscounts wrote:

Wow - some of this is ridiculous wrote:

I don't think it's accurate to say that Rupp dodges competition in the marathon.

..

Good post, especially with regards to 2017 Boston.

In general I find the "dodging comptetition" criticism confusing. It is not as if Rupp is targeting only Disney marathons or those downhill BQ races or something silly like that. He is running Marathon Majors. In fact, if you look at the WMM standings, Rupp is tied for first with Wanjiru, Kipchoge, Kirui (Geoffrey), and Kamworor. In the previous WMM series, essentially Rupp's first year as a marathoner, he was tied for third with Berhanu Hayle, Kipketer, Chumba, and Kirui (Abel). Where are all the 2:04 guys in the rankings? Below Rupp.

If anything, Kipchoge et al were dodging competition with the Breaking2 project.

Accusing Kipchoge of dodging competition is ... I don't know how to characterize it diplomatically....

Plus you've already lost track of the point you're attempting to debunk -- namely, that Rupp (allegedly) can't run fast.

Trying an analogy based on Kipchoge running sub 2:01 at Breaking2 is ... an entirely failing analogy...

Fundamentally, Kipchoge is about the last person on earth you can accuse of dodging competition and being unable to run a fast marathon....

I would not accuse Kipchoge of dodging competition and have not done so, just that you can build quite a thorough case to attempt to prove that, if that is something you are interested in (aka if you are the type to accuse Rupp of dodging competition).

Breaking2 had no competition - so, less than literally any marathon. Kipchoge REMOVED himself from a competitive environment to do Breaking2. (I do not fault him for doing so, tempting to run that time no matter how aided, and of course the pay...)

Kipchoge ran 1 (one) race in 2017 (Breaking2 not a race). Rupp ran 2 (two) majors and a few other different distances (more

competition).

And Rupp and Kipchoge are tied in WMM rankings.

If one is a dodger so is the other.

That really upset you, huh? He’s right, you know.

Pretty funny if anyone is upset about an accusation that Kipchoge dodges competition and cannot run fast.

Almost as funny as that accusation.

Man, you really get some confused people here.