Galen Rupp running OT Marathon!

A Duck? wrote:

bestresponse wrote:

Letsrun likes to ask how to 'grow the sport' only to do stupid things like this. Why don't you guys just come out and say you actively dislike Rupp and you will ignore your faux-journalistic-integrity to get in a dig any chance you get?

A Duck, is that you? Still here to defend the NOP innocents?

Pointing out a fact does not make someone an apologist. To be clear - I like the Brojos much more than Rupp/NOP. After all, the Brojos started my favorite website, they do an excellent job covering my favorite sport, and Rojo's blatant racism/xenophobia cracks me up.

However, there is no denying that the Brojos hate Rupp. I don't know why they even try to pretend like they are unbiased when it comes to him or NOP. I thought the exact same thing that others have already mentioned when I saw the mask picture. It may have been a subconscious dig, but I doubt it. I don't know why they can't just admit to their obvious feelings.

I think he'll crack around 22 miles, but still qualify. Don't know much about his training. Does he do many runs longer than 2.5 hours?

I was just to ask what the over/under on him finishing was. Then I saw your post.

No one on here knows anything about his training and the marathon is so unpredictable and has so many variables. All these predictions are 99% based off whether you like Rupp or not.

this changes everything... for the other runners...

Mr. Meyer wrote:

No one on here knows anything about his training...

It is hard to train on pavement, something which is required for the marathon on the roads, without anyone noticing...

Besides, do you really think he's unprepared? No, he's more prepared than anyone in the field, IMO.

He is near certain to make the team. He's never injured either because his form is perfect.

Again, this changes everything and makes the trials even more of a must see for distance fans.

trailrunnin wrote:

I think he'll crack around 22 miles, but still qualify. Don't know much about his training. Does he do many runs longer than 2.5 hours?

He's going to try and qualify while expending as little energy as possible. He'll try and float along with the leaders the whole way.

Then the humidity in Rio will wipe him out because he'll choose to stay in Oregon until the last minute.

this changes everything wrote:

this changes everything... for the other runners...

Mr. Meyer wrote:

No one on here knows anything about his training...

It is hard to train on pavement, something which is required for the marathon on the roads, without anyone noticing...

Besides, do you really think he's unprepared? No, he's more prepared than anyone in the field, IMO.

He is near certain to make the team. He's never injured either because his form is perfect.

Again, this changes everything and makes the trials even more of a must see for distance fans.

Well yea, he's running. Yea, he's running on roads. I think he'll make it too. But you gotta admit, some of these claims and predictions some people are making are so random.

Floyd Pink wrote:

jjjjj wrote:

obviously they (meaning letsrun) resent him for being privileged.

not privileged like the trust funders who run this site, mind you, but privileged by Al and Nike.

There you go. And privileged by enormous talent, years of hard work, and decency, as far as I have ever seen except for from the mouths and keyboards of the people who are obsessed with Nike, Al, and the University of Oregon. They are in a minority, however, disproportionately represented here, but not indicative of the views of the vast majority of runners, most of whom don't hang out on the letsrun.com message boards.

Agree

Galen's training partner, Mo, ran 2:08 in his debut marathon.

Galen has a good shot at making the team but it won't be easy.

Ritz and Meb are so experienced and talented at the marathon distance. It would be surprising if Galen beats either of them in his first marathon.

The question is will Chelanga, Kibet, Estrada let the pace be easy? If it is they may press early on and force Rupp, and others to run hard and make it an honest race. I hope this is the case, I would not like to see an easy pace and a big group together at 35k.

Picking the top three is not easy, as anything can happen with Rupp in his first Marathon, everyone is talking about Meb and Ritz. Of course they deserve to be talked about, but guys like Chelanga and Kibet, Puskedra and Estrada are all dangerous.

I would like to see all three have to go sub 2:10 to qualify.

The marathon is littered with people that debut strongly. Not sure why so many on here want to keep spouting the same tried crap about "experience."

Ryan Hall's Debut was faster than Meb has ever run, and Ritz has only surpassed it once after something like 6 tries.

Not to mention all of the guys that have debuted 204, 205, 206, etc. No names with no real credentials. There's that guy Bekele, he debuted at 205 flat after being a track guy.

The only thing that should be realized is that Rupp has been very consistent, very healthy, and has shown that each step of the way he succeeds. A solo 1:01:20. I don't know what he split, but in that interview he says he was really only targeting 1:03 or 1:04, but at half way Salazar told him if he felt good he could "keep it up if he was comfortable."

I know there is a glaring example of Zersenay who can't run a marathon for shit, but the previous record holder at half sure did a damn good job. Also, Kipping, Makau. Other guys that were well under 59 for the half. Sorry, but having a good half is a better indicator at the marathon than not having a good half.

I'm surprised that nobody is talking about what a colossally bad idea it is that Galen is attempting to qualify for World Indoors just a month after the marathon trials. He's fired up that it's in his hometown - I get it. But if there was ever a time to be smart - this is it. Recovering from a hard marathon and quickly jumping into speedwork for an indoor 3000 is a bad idea imo. There is so much on the line this year. Galen could qualify in the marathon only to miss the rest of the Olympic year with an injury in this ill-advised indoor attempt. This is hard for me to say as I am a huge Galen/Alberto/Nike fan. I hope I am wrong and Galen has his best year ever. I just think he should keep his eye on the Prize this year. Portland indoor is a shiny distraction that could end up going badly.

Is there a precedent for success in at attempt like this? I've been in the game a long time, and I can't think of one. Coming back from a marathon to compete against world class competition at a much shorter distance only a month later. Anyone?

Very true wrote:

Floyd Pink wrote:

There you go. And privileged by enormous talent, years of hard work, and decency, as far as I have ever seen except for from the mouths and keyboards of the people who are obsessed with Nike, Al, and the University of Oregon. They are in a minority, however, disproportionately represented here, but not indicative of the views of the vast majority of runners, most of whom don't hang out on the letsrun.com message boards.

Agree

Now that is how not to read irony.

I'm most interested to see how his marathon fitness translates to the shorter distances. Paula became a beast at everything once she took up the marathon.

I knew when I saw him buying a fuel belt at Academy

since when are there American distance runners who can push the pace harder than Rupp is compfortable with? (especially when he isn't doubling back from another tough race) He'll be set and tapered for this onesalazar would put rupp in there if he didn't think he was in 2:07-08 shape. one guy in the race has run that. Salazar's best event was the marathon. he's rupp's coach. he pretty much got dathan to 2:07 shape. he got his 3:28 1500m world beater to throw down a 2:08 on his debut knowing he wasn't even transitioning to the marathon any time soon.rupp is faster than dathan at most distances (i think he could run faster than Ritz's 1/2 PB as well.chelanga - great runner, never run a marathon either and has more to lose than rupp = he's got to run more conservative than not, right?! i'll be rooting for himestrada = burns out at end of big races, pushes pace too early when feeling good and his best races are lower key ones (typically)Puskedra = had an amazing race @ chicago and i want him to qualify, but that could have been an outlier effort Kibet = total wild card, who knows. he'll probably qualifymeb = we all know the meb story

broken arrow wrote:

The question is will Chelanga, Kibet, Estrada let the pace be easy? If it is they may press early on and force Rupp, and others to run hard and make it an honest race. I hope this is the case, I would not like to see an easy pace and a big group together at 35k.

Picking the top three is not easy, as anything can happen with Rupp in his first Marathon, everyone is talking about Meb and Ritz. Of course they deserve to be talked about, but guys like Chelanga and Kibet, Puskedra and Estrada are all dangerous.

I would like to see all three have to go sub 2:10 to qualify.

Rupp is the only U.S. runner with the potential to medal in the marathon. Ritz is a super, super long shot.

Meb got 4th in the 2012 Olympics and I read that he wasn't fully in shape then. So, if all the qualifiers are on their A game, they are in contention of a medal.

Not knowing how a hard 10,000 could affect Rupp in Rio, and at least the possibility of him DNS the marathon, fourth place in the trials isn't a spot to give up on.