Is the 2017 Chicago Marathon being set up so Galen Rupp is almost guaranteed to win it?

Out of general curiosity, how much does the average 2:07 marathoner from Kenya get paid for an annual contract? Let's say his PR is 2:07, and he fluctuates between 2:07-2:09 in his three marathon appearances a year. Maybe runs in the Paris/Rotterdam/Eindhoven level races, but doesn't venture to the WMM race level.

Feyisa Lilesa looks like a young Alberto. Funny! But a remarkable resemblance.

I'm a cynic when it comes to running and race and Nike - so if I were a cynical jerk, I'd say that the deck is stacked in Rupp's favor. Let's face it - running needs a Great White Hope. Nike needs "the next best world class athlete" to market to hobbyjoggers. This is a chance for Nike to have two Great White Hopes win both divisions. Otherwise, why on earth would you have a Nike sponsored race with two Nike sponsored tier 1 athletes and try to get them to both win if not for the marketing and PR win?

LRC Nike conspiracy theorists in prime form once again.

Well depends, the same was said about Boston and look what happened. It will be interesting to see the silver and bronze medalists at Rio duke it out. That said, it will not surprise me if a new Kenyan runner ends up winning, they produce marathoners a dozen for a dime or a dime for a dozen? ah, forget about it! You get the idea

I don't like it when this kind of question raises up like that. Isn't it wonderful that Galen will have a chance of winning one of the world major marathons??? I think it's really awesome and that I wish him lots of success in that distance no matter who or how many elite runners are competing.

I don't think Meb had a lot of competition when he won 2014 Boston and 2009 NYC marathon. So that question is no different for him or any other runners out there.

Mr. Orange Jeans wrote:

guaranteed if Rupp wins The Brojo will have their black page and proclaim in the greatest marathon victory on US soil (after Meb in Boston)

Ahem.

Njj wrote:

I don't think Meb had a lot of competition when he won 2014 Boston and 2009 NYC marathon. So that question is no different for him or any other runners out there.

That's not on the agenda.

Mr. Orange Jeans wrote:

guaranteed if Rupp wins The Brojo will have their black page and proclaim in the greatest marathon victory on US soil (after Meb in Boston)

bkrunner wrote:

rojo wrote:

To the guy who says people don't take me seriously, you are wrong. It sounds like everyone on here is saying, "Of course you are right rojo. Look at how they set up watered down races for Mo Farah on the track." Either that or making up some excuse about how Africans don't want to run marathons in the US due to the time zone change. That's laughable.

Is that you, Donald? "People take me seriously. Believe me, ok? The incredible men and women of Letsrun take me so seriously. The only people who don't know how great I am are the crooked NOPers."

+1000

Rojo, you're in the game of publishing click bait articles trying to make more money for yourself. Last week you put "Don't African countries have a better way to spend money" before an article on Ugandan runners wanting to be paid what they were promised at worlds. You inject your opinions in everything which tend to carry a lot of bias when it comes to race and gender and you are set on not changing your ways and get defensive when you get challenged on these things (see this thread for evidence).

As for Chicago, I agree with some of the earlier posters: the weather can be good in Chicago but it is likely to be better in Amsterdam and Berlin. You do not have pacers in Chicago so if the race is won in 2:09 that does not help you get paid at London if you run 2:12 for 4th versus sub-2:10 at a different fall race.

This field, however, does look decent- Kimetto, Kirui, Lilesa, Rupp, Tadese, Sambu (you completely ignored because he's only run 2:13 because he ran a tactical Chicago instead of a sub-2:10 somewhere else last fall), Puskedra, Estrada, Bumbalough, Chelanga, Derrick, Droddy.

Yes, the international elite field is a little weak but Chicago is definitely investing in sub-2:14 Americans. This list is much bigger than what I named. I see that you completely ignored that when you talk about Chicago not taking things seriously. They have a fast course and are putting a lot of Americans out there on October 8th. It seems like they are investing in Americans and giving runners the chance to pop a good one.

There will probably be a light breeze in the 14th mile making the race not Rupp-worthy of finishing.

Professor Chaos wrote:

What is Galen Rupp's tune up race?

Philly half.

rojo wrote:

[quote]Barabbas wrote:

I am perplexed by all of this. A win in Chicago doesn't have the casche it once did. At this point in his marathon career, you would think Rupp would be gunning for a fast time. He could probably run sub-2:05 with pacers, but there are no pacers in Chicago. What would be the point of a slow-ish win in Chicago?

"Cachet is what I think you are getting at?"

Haha. Rojo found someone else's spelling error. Better trolling: this thread's first post OR an editor [sic] of LetsRun doing a grammar check?

Njj wrote:

I don't like it when this kind of question raises up like that. Isn't it wonderful that Galen will have a chance of winning one of the world major marathons??? I think it's really awesome and that I wish him lots of success in that distance no matter who or how many elite runners are competing.

I don't think Meb had a lot of competition when he won 2014 Boston and 2009 NYC marathon. So that question is no different for him or any other runners out there.

2014 Boston had Wilson Chebet who had multiple 2:05 marathons under his belt. Also Franklin Chepkwony with a 2:06 best. And Markos Geneti with a 2:04 PR.

Meb's PR is 2:08.

I don't see that Boston was setup for Meb to win. Meb won with a 'surprise attack' strategy that actually worked out for him.

fixeditforya wrote:

rojo wrote:

[quote]Barabbas wrote:A win in Chicago doesn't have the casche it once did.

"Cachet is what I think you are getting at?"

Pastiche

Everyone *is* saying "Of course you are right rojo."

Every post on this thread is saying that.

Rojo is literally quoting every post on this thread.

At least, everyone is thinking that.

At least, everyone Rojo is thinking about is thinking that.

And everyone Rojo is thinking about is actually writing that.

And then Rojo is quoting them.

Is Rojo's logic wrong?

Of course not. As you can see, everyone here is saying "Of course you are right rojo."

Facts. Quotes. Your source for news and information about running.

Thank you for your response. I was starting to think I was never going to get an answer.

Sending positive energy to all contributors to this dungeon of festering darkness.

Professor Chaos wrote:

Sending positive energy to all contributors to this dungeon of festering darkness.

Meaning your mommy's basement.

Shouldn't this be a "Rupp is ducking the competition" thread? Chicago pretty much resigned itself to being a second tier marathon major after it dropped pacers. The top E. Africans want pacers and a WR shot. That is what they train for. The are not training to run a 2:09 marathon with a big surge at mi 22.

Rupp is definitely a 2:08 guy. Might be a 2:06 guy. Probably not a 2:05 or faster marathoner. Knowing AlSal, he will keep him out of London and Berlin and only race Rupp at tactical marathons.