This. He's probably a 28:30 guy at best at this point.
Last cycle he really struggled in the 10k. I doubt he is better now. We have no idea how his build up went in terms of injury/sickness but this felt very disappointing. Hopefully he can bounce back and do a few more much/boston/chicagos if that is what he wants to do..
Answer is no. He is not competitive enough to contend for 10k anymore. Even if he could hang to the final 800 (which I don’t think he can), he’s getting his doors blown off from there to the finish.
To me, this race was the official end of the Rupp era. He demonstrated he is no longer a contender in American distance running. He has not put together a decent race in a while now. He had a great career, a legendary career. But age catches up with everyone eventually. For whatever reason, it came to Rupp earlier than some.
I expect him to show up here and there for a couple more years, then announce his final race at somewhere like Chicago, then retire.
Answer is no. He is not competitive enough to contend for 10k anymore. Even if he could hang to the final 800 (which I don’t think he can), he’s getting his doors blown off from there to the finish.
To me, this race was the official end of the Rupp era. He demonstrated he is no longer a contender in American distance running. He has not put together a decent race in a while now. He had a great career, a legendary career. But age catches up with everyone eventually. For whatever reason, it came to Rupp earlier than some.
I expect him to show up here and there for a couple more years, then announce his final race at somewhere like Chicago, then retire.
I would call his 2023 Chicago run of 2:08:48 "decent" for american standards. It's not great by Rupp standards- but definitely his best race since Chicago 2021. How many americans ran faster than that in 2023? I believe just Mantz and Young. Rupp was 48 seconds behind Young at Chicago, and Korir was 51 seconds back from Young today. Had Rupp been able to replicate that performance, he would have been pretty close to making the team.
Not saying he will necessarily return to the top of American marathoning, but I certainly don't think he has demonstrated he is no longer a contender. This was by far the worst marathon of his career, but also the only truly bad one he has run healthy.
I would go with a big No. Kincaid, Klecker, Chelimo have all run in the low 27s in the last 8-12 months. It would be a very tall order for Rupp to get anywhere near these times. I would expect him to struggle to break 28 at this stage.
His 2:14 Marathon definitely doesn't indicate Sub-28:00 10K for the trials. His last 10,000m was in 2021 and it was 27:59. He's turning 38, I think it's time for him to either go to Ultras or Continue running non-competitively (Retire from Pro Running). Rupp's physical peak was in 2014 (3:34 1500m, 8:07 Indoor Two Miles, 13:01 Indoor 5K, 26:44 10K). It's a miracle he is still running 10 years later, there comes a time when we all retire and slow down.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
He would have to run sub-27:00. Maybe with the super-shoes, plus full-time focus on the track, he could do it. It's a long shot, but on the bright side, if he could hit the 27:00 standard (likely required), he would probably have a guaranteed spot since we might not even send 3.
His 2:14 Marathon definitely doesn't indicate Sub-28:00 10K for the trials. His last 10,000m was in 2021 and it was 27:59.
TBF it was 27:59 in a 27:53 race. He was deep in the middle of his marathon buildup and his feet were bloody after since he wasn't used to wearing spikes.
TBF it was 27:59 in a 27:53 race. He was deep in the middle of his marathon buildup and his feet were bloody after since he wasn't used to wearing spikes.
I was being optimistic in even mentioning that race, that year he also ran 2:06 in Chicago..he has yet to replicate that and likely won't. You really believe 3 years later he has similar or better 10k speed? He's turning 38 in May.
Rupp might very well hang around for a few more years. Why not?
I don't doubt Rupp could run around 2:10 for a couple more years. Orlando was very hot so, that should be taken into consideration. But, given that he has yet to hit the standard of 2:08:10....Those days are gone.
Yes. Rupp is someone who eschews social media, letting his results do the talking. He has no brand appeal except when he is running fast. If he doesn't have championship contention, his career is over. He is of no value in moving product as he engages with social media now. He is running on borrowed time - whenever his current contract is up without a quality championship race he will need a second source of income.
No - take a lesson from Mo, who couldn't do it even with a private attempt/event. He was sitting at a 2:05 marathon PR and gave that up to try - would've been a shoo-in for GB marathon team.
Sub-28 after Rupp could only run 2:14 at the trials, after 2:08 in Chicago? He scraped under 28 by half a second nearly 3 years ago - none since. Was the last before that 2016?
Mo also ran 2:10 less than a year ago - tells you all.
I agree that Galen as an internationally competitive runner is likely done. Age, the back injury/surgery, and the wear and tear that comes from 20 years of highly competitive running, are all catching up with him. Despite that, he's still quite competitive from a national standpoint. He'll be able to pick up an appearance fee if he chooses to race a marathon this spring and fall. He is fast enough to compete at the Olympic track trials for 10,000m but he will not be a factor to win in the either distance . As mentioned above, he can stay in the hunt in a slower/competitive 10,000m or marathon, but when it comes to the final kick or surge, he will get his doors blown off by younger runners.
Galen has likely made several millions of dollars off of his running, so he has a cushion for now. The guy does not strike me as someone who lives beyond his means. For the better part of a decade, he was the face of Nike Running. Nike may give him a legacy endorsement deal as they have in the past with other top runners. That will help pay the bills.
Galen did commentary for the NY Marathon and was pretty good at it. I would look to see him do that more often in the future when he is done competing. I would like to see him do that because I thought his comments were inciteful. He is well spoken and certainly carries with him a host of international level success/experience.