Why is it that there is only one Galen Rupp in the US ?

SDSU Aztec wrote:

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Rupp says he would have stayed in soccer, but he might say that only because it's a good story.

A page ago you were ripping us for supposing things we didn't know to be true. Now you've found it straight from the horses mouth that he would have stayed in soccer and you can't accept it.

Face it, your hypothesis that someone with Rupp's talent would definitely end up being a runner is false. The crazy coincidence that started Rupp's career is the proof. There are likely more Rupp talents out there that chose other sports over track because they never realized how good they could be.

Mikeh33 wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

No, there aren't 10 more Rupps out there. He is a once in a generation type talent. There weren't 10 more Jim Ryuns out there when he broke through, either.

Oh sure there are, probably dozens of Rupp’s in America alone, as we speak. They all chose some other more popular sport, or got discouraged by a lousy coach, or had chaotic personal lives and couldn’t get to practice. Or preferred smoking copious amounts of marijuana each and every day, which I understand from another thread is completely harmless, or played Fortnite for hours, and never realized their true potential.

Elite level gifts are not as uncommon as we think, in my view. What is uncommon is a Ruppian work ethic, and a willingness to subvert personal comfort to the pursuit of goals, day after day after day for years on end.

Except for the more popular sport thing, which assumes a skinny distance runner has other athletic skills, everything you listed would apply to all sports, but people are singling out distance running as the sport where many of the most talented people take a pass, including guys with world-class ability.

All elite runners are dedicated and do everything possible to run as fast as they can. You believe Ritz didn't push himself as hard as Rupp does? The difference between Rupp and others is talent, unless you believe he is cheating.

In my JR High, there was no 5:00 flat guy in PE and I was the fastest at 5:30. I loved sports, but sucked at baseball, so to be naturally the best(within my PE class) at something was intoxicating and I went on to be a 9:30 2-miler and the best at my HS school. Unless he disguised himself as 7:00 miler in PE, there was no more talented guy than me that didn't run track/XC.

Internetsherlock wrote:

And i am taking about his distance running ability, not his looks . US has a fairly high population.

What does that tell you ?

For sure there must be 10 more Rupps out there if things are done right . Or is he originally from Iten

the looks white ?

Ethics

Most don’t put kids on Test

I think the girl s high school programs progressed a lot and producing good talents. After high school is a different story. The boys programs are almost as good.

MI Strong wrote:

Grant Fisher will surpass Rupp. He recently took down Rupp’s NCAA American indoor 3k record.

With the right training and focus on his running once out of Stanford, Fisher will be it.

Fisher will maybe run one year as a pro, then start cashing in on his Stanford education with a good job. I think is Fisher is smart enough to see that a professional career in running is not a recipe for lifetime security.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Mikeh33 wrote:

Oh sure there are, probably dozens of Rupp’s in America alone, as we speak. They all chose some other more popular sport, or got discouraged by a lousy coach, or had chaotic personal lives and couldn’t get to practice. Or preferred smoking copious amounts of marijuana each and every day, which I understand from another thread is completely harmless, or played Fortnite for hours, and never realized their true potential.

Elite level gifts are not as uncommon as we think, in my view. What is uncommon is a Ruppian work ethic, and a willingness to subvert personal comfort to the pursuit of goals, day after day after day for years on end.

Except for the more popular sport thing, which assumes a skinny distance runner has other athletic skills

It actually does not assume that at all. You seem to have completely missed the point.

reading comprehension 101 wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Except for the more popular sport thing, which assumes a skinny distance runner has other athletic skills

It actually does not assume that at all. You seem to have completely missed the point.

Out of a population of ten of thousands of HS runners that did compete, Rupp is the best, but Mike is claiming that out of the population of those who didn't compete, there are dozens of Rupps. Assuming dozens means 24+, that would come to 480+ over the last 20 years, but only one went for it. If running is so repulsive a sport, why did any of us run in HS? Why did the guys on LR that did run not choose a more popular sport?

That’s your opinion. A surprising opinion given you are posting on a distance running website. Nevertheless, my opinion is T&F is a very exciting sport. This year I watched a couple of indoor meets. It was great. Multiple events going on at the same time (infield and on the track). Kids excited or disappointed about their result. Some electrifying races that came down to the wire.

In my opinion, NFL is dull. I do enjoy the odd NCAA football game because it is more believable. NBA does nothing for me as does MLB. Rugby 7’s is becoming exciting for me to watch. I also like to watch soccer, tennis, and alpine ski races. Hey each to their own - that’s what makes it a wide world of sports.

DC Wonk wrote:

MI Strong wrote:

Grant Fisher will surpass Rupp. He recently took down Rupp’s NCAA American indoor 3k record.

With the right training and focus on his running once out of Stanford, Fisher will be it.

Fisher will maybe run one year as a pro, then start cashing in on his Stanford education with a good job. I think is Fisher is smart enough to see that a professional career in running is not a recipe for lifetime security.

At minimum, Fisher will get a 5 year contract that will be lucrative.

Life is short dude. What would you do if you had his talent? I know what I would do and how I would experience life to the extent that kind of talent would take me. With his brain power, likability, and communication skills he can do anything he wants after a pro career. Those attributes during a pro career will open all kinds of doors and be great for those brands that want to align with that. I have no doubt, whatever group/company Fisher goes with he could work for and perhaps lead one day.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Out of a population of ten of thousands of HS runners that did compete, Rupp is the best, but Mike is claiming that out of the population of those who didn't compete, there are dozens of Rupps. Assuming dozens means 24+, that would come to 480+ over the last 20 years, but only one went for it. If running is so repulsive a sport, why did any of us run in HS? Why did the guys on LR that did run not choose a more popular sport?

ric flair woooooooo wrote:

The answer is because track is not even a top 5 sport in the United States.

Because our other galen rupps choose to go into other sports and stick with those sports, they have bad coaches, they start smoking pot. The talent is here. I'm not sure your rhetorical questions, if answered, help take this debate anywhere.

You are making very broad assumptions which is not working. Just because track isn't a top 4-5 popular sport you immediately reply "then why did any of us run in HS?" It's almost as if you are dumb enough to assume that galen rupp is the only person capable of being a good runner in a 20 year span in the US. We have had many more athletes more talented than him. But they choose football, basketball, etc. Not sure how else we need to spell that out for you.

"Why did guys on LR not choose a more popular sport?" Who says they didn't? And maybe they suck at other sports. Not sure what answering that question has anything to do with the OP.

That's not what I said. For me, watching the Olympics is more exciting than the SB or WS and I'm a big NFL and MLB fan. My point is that except for sprinting, you have to know the sport to enjoy it. There has been talk about better marketing the sport for decades, but if you have never competed and don't appreciate how hard it is to run 65 seconds a lap in a 10000, it's going to be boring. Golf is kind of the same way; if you've never played and don't know about club selection and spins, it's boring to watch.

The previous poster said T&F needs to find a way to become more mainstream. How could that possibly be done?

reading comprehension 101 wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Except for the more popular sport thing, which assumes a skinny distance runner has other athletic skills

It actually does not assume that at all. You seem to have completely missed the point.

I didn't complete my thought; I meant that his list of reasons why a Rupp didn't compete would apply to all athletes. Other athletes, including ten Mike Trouts, could also decide to be a pot-head.

DC Wonk wrote:

MI Strong wrote:

Grant Fisher will surpass Rupp. He recently took down Rupp’s NCAA American indoor 3k record.

With the right training and focus on his running once out of Stanford, Fisher will be it.

Fisher will maybe run one year as a pro, then start cashing in on his Stanford education with a good job. I think is Fisher is smart enough to see that a professional career in running is not a recipe for lifetime security.

You're underestimating how exciting it would be to run in the Olympics. In the past, many T&F athletes have delayed their non-running careers even though it cost them financially. Bruce Jenner trained full-time for four years before the 76 Olmpics and supported himself by selling insurance at night. Pre worked part-time and received food stamps. He also turned down a $250K offer from a professional league rather than give up his Olympic eligibility. $250K was comparable to over $1M in today's dollars.

In baseball, there are thousands of players working for minimum wage or less, even though they have a 1% chance of ever playing MLB.

You really believe Fisher would walk away from that kind of talent to get a 4-year headstart on a 40-year career?

That's why frank shorter was food because he had such a stable childhood. And Lopez Lomong. Gebreselassie. And on. Their cushy childhoods made them great.

Frank shorter was good, not food. Actually, frank shorter was great.

Incidentally rupp will probably not be remembered as a legend because he has no story and no personality. Maybe in part because he has experienced so little adversity.

Mikeh33 wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

No, there aren't 10 more Rupps out there. He is a once in a generation type talent. There weren't 10 more Jim Ryuns out there when he broke through, either.

Oh sure there are, probably dozens of Rupp’s in America alone, as we speak. They all chose some other more popular sport, or got discouraged by a lousy coach, or had chaotic personal lives and couldn’t get to practice. Or preferred smoking copious amounts of marijuana each and every day, which I understand from another thread is completely harmless, or played Fortnite for hours, and never realized their true potential.

Elite level gifts are not as uncommon as we think, in my view. What is uncommon is a Ruppian work ethic, and a willingness to subvert personal comfort to the pursuit of goals, day after day after day for years on end.

That thread is talking about "copious" use? I must have missed that.

Maybe you can tell me how to better handle my health issues. With a minor amount of marijuana, I can run. Without, I can't. What's my alternative again?

SDSU Aztec wrote:In my JR High, there was no 5:00 flat guy in PE and I was the fastest at 5:30. I loved sports, but sucked at baseball, so to be naturally the best(within my PE class) at something was intoxicating and I went on to be a 9:30 2-miler and the best at my HS school. Unless he disguised himself as 7:00 miler in PE, there was no more talented guy than me that didn't run track/XC.

Ummm... would you have chosen running if you had been better at baseball or any other ball sports?

You are essentially proving other people's point.

Financially the U.S. men marathoners do not have to run much faster than 2:11-2:12 and make a very good living. Jared Ward and Chris Derrick both make over $100,000 per year with PR's of 2:11 and 2:12. For a Kenyan to make that kind of money would have to run 2:06-2:07.