Who wins in a marathon? 2008 OT Ryan Hall or 2016 OT Galen Rupp?

Rupp first marathon-wins Olympic trials easily (doesn’t run to run a fast time)

Second marathon-3rd place at the olympics (tactical race, didn’t run for a fast time. Keep in mind he also placed fifth in the 10k 8 days earlier, also beat many 2:04-2:05 runners)

Third- second place at Boston, 21 seconds behind Geoffrey Kirui

Fourth- wins Chicago, beats a multitude of athletes with faster PRs

Fifth-dnf at boston

Sixth- PR at prague at 2:06, beats second place by around a minute. Second place runner would go on to run 2:03:36 the next year in Berlin

Seventh-got 6th at Chicago while dealing with his haglunds issue (had corrective surgery 12 days later) Still runs 2:06.21

Eighth-wins US trials again in 2:09, very easily I might add, on an extremely hilly course.

Much better career than Hall. Much more impressive than Hall. Better than Hall.

Are we really just going to pretend that 2:04:58 and 59:37 don't exist in his prime?

You're talking a one vs one race.

Where has Hall's speed gone in the last decade and change?

wazzu1452 wrote:

Ryan Hall was good for all of about 12 minutes! He ran some crazy times then dropped off the map.

FACTS:

1. Galen Rupp has completed 7 marathons and has won 4 of them. He took 2nd in Boston and 3rd at the Olympics behind the GOAT.

2. No American has ever finished within 45 seconds of Galen Rupp in a Marathon Rupp has completed.

3. Don't talk about Hall's fast finishes. Rupp has run a 3:50 Mile, 7:30 3K, 12:58 5k, 26:44 10K. No American is taking down Galen Rupp over the last leg of a marathon.

#FREESALAZAR

With the interest in keeping the thread on track, nobody finished within 45 seconds of Hall when he won the race I'm talking about.

Dairyland wrote:

Rupp first marathon-wins Olympic trials easily (doesn’t run to run a fast time)

Second marathon-3rd place at the olympics (tactical race, didn’t run for a fast time. Keep in mind he also placed fifth in the 10k 8 days earlier, also beat many 2:04-2:05 runners)

Third- second place at Boston, 21 seconds behind Geoffrey Kirui

Fourth- wins Chicago, beats a multitude of athletes with faster PRs

Fifth-dnf at boston

Sixth- PR at prague at 2:06, beats second place by around a minute. Second place runner would go on to run 2:03:36 the next year in Berlin

Seventh-got 6th at Chicago while dealing with his haglunds issue (had corrective surgery 12 days later) Still runs 2:06.21

Eighth-wins US trials again in 2:09, very easily I might add, on an extremely hilly course.

Much better career than Hall. Much more impressive than Hall. Better than Hall.

Again, some of you people are failing to focus. This thread is about who was better? 2020 trials Rupp or 2008 trials Hall. Not who is better overall. Who would have won if those runners raced eachother.

In keeping it on track, he also set an AR for the trials in that race.

Stoppit Smith wrote:

In keeping it on track, he also set an AR for the trials in that race.

Thank you for your focus on the actual question.

You're welcome ...

And the record still holds. Even after 2016.

Are we pretending like Halls 2:04.58 was on a legal course? Are we pretending there was no tailwind?

Are we pretending like Rupp has run a half marathon for time instead of a tuneup?

Half marathons don’t mean squat. There’s a reason Kamworor and Kandie are not top marathoners.

The marathon is a different beast. Rupp has run faster over a legal marathon course, he has better career results, and has the hardware to prove it. I don’t even know why you’re trying to debate this

And the question is 2016 Rupp vs 2008 Hall. Rupp wins his first marathon and gets 3rd in the olympics in the marathon and 5th in the 10k.

Hall on the other hand wins over a mediocre trials field and finishes 10th at the olympics.

Which is a better result...third at the olympics or tenth? Which field was deeper in the Olympic marathon 2008 or 2016? In the trials? The answer is clear as day

That's a simple question to answer.

Because Rupp's trials time in 2016 doesn't beat Hall's in 2007.

But Rupp's OT time still doesn't beat Hall.

Plus, Rupp in 2016 was a bit more than 2 minutes slower than Hall in 2007.

Ah yes because all marathon courses are the same and time is the only distinguishing factor.

Halls Olympic trials was run in almost perfect conditions. 2016 was 20 degrees hotter.

Although Hall didn’t run the exact same New York course is as run year to year, the course record in New York is a minute faster than Los Angeles. Your arguments are degrading more and more

Ok. I get it. You really, really, really want it to be Rupp.

Gotta be Rupp.

Nothing else but Rupp.

Fine. Rupp wins it all!!!!

Until he doesn't.

Time is time.

But I want an honest answer..why could it never, ever, under any circumstances, be Hall?

Thanks for admitting you’re wrong.

Rupp is better because he’s faster.

Dairyland wrote:

Thanks for admitting you’re wrong.

Rupp is better because he’s faster.

You are not very bright. I suppose you think that Marty Hehir is a better marathoner than Bill Rodgers, Abebe Bikila or Frank Shorter. Please educate yourself.

No, I recognize that Rodgers et al. Are better than hehir. You want to know why? It’s because they have plenty of wins and top finishes under their belt. Not just a one off fast time.

Dairyland wrote:

No, I recognize that Rodgers et al. Are better than hehir. You want to know why? It’s because they have plenty of wins and top finishes under their belt. Not just a one off fast time.

Well anyway nobody can know with certainty the answer to the OP’s question but of course the question was not who is better even though that has some bearing on the answer.

Dairyland wrote:

Are we pretending like Halls 2:04.58 was on a legal course? Are we pretending there was no tailwind?

Are we pretending like Rupp has run a half marathon for time instead of a tuneup?

Half marathons don’t mean squat. There’s a reason Kamworor and Kandie are not top marathoners.

The marathon is a different beast. Rupp has run faster over a legal marathon course, he has better career results, and has the hardware to prove it. I don’t even know why you’re trying to debate this

I'm confused how you think any of this is relevant to the 2008 and 2016 trials days?