"Galen Rupp won't concede anything when he takes on Bernard Lagat"

I would like to know what drugs Lagat is taking. THere is no way that a runner at his age can run that fast without PEDs. As you can old you loose your speed and you are more prone to injuries.

Sensei wrote:

another day wrote:

You're right. Not all Rupp fans were delusional about his chances to take down Lagat. So I'm sorry for grouping you in with them. But, the ones who were delusional, wouldn't be the type to admit they were wrong. Rupp is a great runner and will run some amazing times in his career, but people need to realize he is no Lagat and never will be.

You idiot. It's like this with fans of EVERY kind of athlete. There will always be a bunch who think their athlete is the best, and if he is not they will find excuses. Just like in football. Why do you care for talking about them? A waste of time.

No, it's not like that with every athlete. I don't see many Lagat fans saying he is going to break the world record or equally ridiculously claims. Some people are realistic about the chances of their athlete. I don't dislike Rupp, but it is hard for me to cheer for him when such a disproportionate amount of his fans make outrageous predictions.

Geee wrote:

I would like to know what drugs Lagat is taking. THere is no way that a runner at his age can run that fast without PEDs. As you can old you loose your speed and you are more prone to injuries.

Ding,ding,ding we have a winner! Rupp couldn't beat Lagat, so the genetically gifted runner born and raised at altitude MUST be taking drugs.God people on here are so inconsistant. It is not at all suspicous that Galen needs special allergy medication, wink wink. But Lagat who was much faster than he was Galens age(and hasn't lost much speed as he's ages) must be doping. And before you savants on the board bash me about people losing all of their speed as they age,I know 50 year olds far less talented than Lagat who can still break 16 minutes for 5k. It is NOT a fact written in stone that EVERYONE loses speed at the same rate. Hell Johnny Gray broke 1:45 only a season before he turned 40.

Johnny Gray was incredibly consistent for a long time. Never showed crazy jumps in time. Always ran the same way - hard from the gun. So it's not surprising that he ran 1:45 @ 39 because he had the longest time between 1:42.Xs. So to suspect Johnny Gray would be stupid unless you think that he doped throughout his career. I'm sure there are some SMTC "insiders" who are waiting to spill the beans, so don't bother.

Lagat failed an EPO test - and I think his post collegiate improvement is suspicious. I hope I'm wrong about that. He's a very likeable guy and I want to believe that its all a misunderstanding. However, his behavior in changing federations was sneaky and I start to question if there's any fire to go with the smoke. So I don't think it's unreasonable to suspect Lagat, but his longevity and lack of other failed tests make it seem a lot more possible that he was a victim of circumstance with every passing year.

Try as people might, Rupp has never been linked to anything suspicious other than being slightly effeminate, awkward or dickish during interviews, and successful at every level of competition. But the letsun cognoscenti will never accept him because he's not the kind of guy they'd like to have a beer with. Never mind the fact that the guy is 100% dedicated to his running and does everything he can to improve - no he's supposed be Pre, Nick Rose, and Quenton Cassiday all rolled into one. Forget his performance at NCAAs a couple of years ago - that doesn't count bc he "should of" run faster when scoring all those points. So he must be a time trialer, right?

I really think the reason that so many people hate Rupp is homophobia and jealousy. I wish you'd just be honest with yourselves about it. The crowd here is a worse group of haters than Korean short track speed skating fans. No runner is unscathed.

Webb - 1:43/3:46/27:30 - choker headcase - failed messiah

Rupp - 8:09/13:06/26:48/60:30 1/2 - he sucks - boy band appeal brings out the haters

Solinsky - 12:55/26:59 - choker crybaby, can't finish races - should race Clydesdales, too big to compete with Africans

Centro - 3:34, WC bronze - he waited too long to kick - probably least hated in this group

Symmonds - DIII hoser, got lucky at Nats, why hasn't he run 1:43 yet indoors this year?

Has there ever been a more talented group of US runners? Nope. Granted, Webb's likely past his prime. Some people will never get past the fact that Pre would never be able to represent the US in international competition if he raced today. The bar has just been moved permanently and most of you are too stupid to realize it.

"Rupp has never been linked to anything suspicious other than being slightly effeminate"

ummmm..... Thyroid meds and Antibiotics don't ring a bell? Open your eyes kid.

Sir Lance-alot wrote:

BRObius, what do you think of Rupp vs Lagat as far as kicks go now?

Lagat threw down 25 last lap. If Rupp had been with him (which he was nowhere near), he would have been dusted.

I don't understand Rupp's tactics. In the Olympics, he is going to be up against Lagat plus a slew of other strong runners. I doubt he will push the pace early if it's slow. I thought one of Alberto's major goals over the last few years was to improve Galen's kick. Here is a good opportunity to try it out against world class competition, why squander it? By taking it out early, Galen is basically admitting he can't kick with Lagat, but that is exactly what he is going to have to do if he wants to medal.

A little disheartening for Rupp fans, although as Symmonds says, it's only February.

I just want to point out that obviously Leo Manzano read this thread, because there is one obvious way to beat Lagat: make him run in front, beat him at his own game. I bet at this point in their careers, Rupp could beat Lagat in the open quarter. He should remember that going into the Trials. You can't run away from a guy that can go 12:53 in a rabbitted race.

Geee wrote:

I would like to know what drugs Lagat is taking. THere is no way that a runner at his age can run that fast without PEDs. As you can old you loose your speed and you are more prone to injuries.

So, if you succeed it's PEDS. If you don't, you suck.

Seems like a no win situation.