Does Galen Rupp really train with all that high-tech stuff???

I read somewhere or heard (can't recall exactly when/where) that none of Salazar's runners use altitude rooms/tests anymore. I think Salazar eventually concluded that it's better to go to altitude for 2-6 weeks before a big race, and that daily use of altitude tents was not helpful -- some negative side effects. Has anyone heard this as well.

Also are Salazar's runners using the Alter-G treadmills for injury recovery or as a part of their regular training?. About a dozen universities (e.g., Michigan, UOregon...) have their own Alter-G treadmills as well.

So what advantaged does Rupp really have being part of Salazar's group? I think the biggest advantage Rupp has over his college competitors is availablity of daily massages to speed recovery. I know a top-5 NCAA D1 distance runner at a big time running school can only get 2 massages/week (max) at his/her college. If that is typical, then I'm thinking that daily massages are Rupp's biggest advantage.

Sam F wrote:

no its NOT a back in my day assment(born in 83)... itis a matter of fact in the PRESENT..

The simple fact is of the men who will win a gold medal in a distance event this summer...probably none will use anti-gravitation, most will have been born into poverty...and all will have trained harder than rupp.

Then it's typical pandering to the "back in my day" crowd. You have no clue how hard Rupp or any other American trains. Supplementing your training with technology does not imply a lack of hard work.

See the difference between these men:

If there is a difference in the way that these guys run, then it is due to genetics and upbringing, not their current training system. Perhaps you can blame Rupp's parents for not forcing him to do manual labor or run to school as a pre-teen, but do not blame Rupp for trying to make up for it later in life. American elites train as hard as anyone, despite your prejudices.

I'd say Rupp's biggest advantages are his talent and work ethic.

People talk about living comfortably compared to the East Africans, but let's talk about advantages here. In east Africa you have...

A culture that supports and celebrates runners.

A culture that gets kids running at a young age.

A climate such that they don't have to go to any length to get altitude training... it's already there.

A diet based on whole, nutrient dense foods, with little or no processed sugars and fats.

No high school or college system set up to have you changing coaches every few years.

HOARDS of top notch people to train with.

Rupp had...

A culture that loves fat-people sports like football, where the only people who ridicule runners more than those outside the sport are those too far within it, on running message boards.

A chance to start a running career during his freshman year of high school... YEARS behind the average east-African runner.

An environment with hard roads for running, unless he has the luxury of a good trail system near his house as a young guy (the average American doesn't). Not to mention the lack of altitude.

A diet where sugars and fats are not just easy to find, but hard to avoid.

Now, granted, he's had the same coach long term, and in that regard he's been blessed. The average American should be so lucky.

He got his first chance to train with fast teammates in college (he was solo in the time between that and HS)

Now, I'm not saying Rupp is "disadvantaged" compared to the east Africans. All I'm saying is, a lot of what he does is really just compensation for things that he didn't have as a runner growing up in America. He's not "less gritty" because of it, he doesn't work any less hard. He's just playing catch-up to an entire culture that produces good athletes and not much else.

w3st, you couldnt have said it any better!!

Arent you all missing the forest for the trees?

It takes this much effort, time and money to train someone to finish what, 10th at best, while the Africans can run thru the woods and train at altitude and show up and win? Do you really think they use or even care about supplements, anti gravity treadmills, or their VO2max? And conversely, what would happen if they really did? There is no big secret: they put in big miles, train hard, eat a simple basic diet and get lots of rest.

Should we even be at the Olympics in the distance events, much less talking about someone who has no hope in hell of being competitive?

The brutal reality if distance running is it really is for the very, very talented, and all the hi-tech training cant get you to the gold..or even close.

GET REAL PEOPLE!

You forgot something; Rupp is a collegiate. Now I don't like Rupp, but not because he uses all this equipment (it's kinda gay but pretty much legal), I'm more envious of that. What I can't stand is that he doesn't even train with his team and does things like takes semesters off to train with Alberto. It's not going to be worth it. He still won't be top 5 in the Olympics so why doesn't he just pay his dues, win a frickin NCAA title, be around to show all those young superstars how to do it and graduate. He'll be great once he actually is a pro.

Coach D wrote:

Yuppie Olympic Distace Coach: Alerto Salazar

Blue Collar Olympic Coach: Joe Vigil, Terrance Mahon

Some of the attitude/toys mentioned above is why Dr. Vigil refused to coach in Boulder: He didn't want his athletes to get too comfortable.

You can't quantify Salazar, Vigil, Mahon as coaches - hand selected/recruited athletes (the cream of the crop) reduce the chance of poor results. Vigil USED to be a coach.

Lydiard used to coach all & sundry - he was coaching Snell and 2:30 marathoners AT THE SAME TIME.

I've said it before - Rob Connor at Portland is as good/maybe better than those "coaches" mentioned.

I could entrust Hall, Dobson, Ruppy to any number of masters runners with all the Nike support & Flagstaff running environment and they would do just as good a job IMHO.

When Mahon takes your average 16:30 high school kid to sub 15 CONSISTENTLY then get back to me.

Hey, I just think these coaches are over-rated and other coaches who toil with LESSER talend are under-rated.

HOW SAY U?

silly old fossil wrote:

You can't quantify Salazar, Vigil, Mahon as coaches - hand selected/recruited athletes (the cream of the crop) reduce the chance of poor results. Vigil USED to be a coach.

Lydiard used to coach all & sundry - he was coaching Snell and 2:30 marathoners AT THE SAME TIME.

I've said it before - Rob Connor at Portland is as good/maybe better than those "coaches" mentioned.

I could entrust Hall, Dobson, Ruppy to any number of masters runners with all the Nike support & Flagstaff running environment and they would do just as good a job IMHO.

When Mahon takes your average 16:30 high school kid to sub 15 CONSISTENTLY then get back to me.

Hey, I just think these coaches are over-rated and other coaches who toil with LESSER talend are under-rated.

HOW SAY U?

There is a reason why those coaches have been entrusted with the best athletes. Comparing 15-minutes 5k'ers to 13-minute 5k'ers is absurd.

BINGO

this isnt ...nor will it ever be.. swiming, biking, polo, or anything of that nature...

i dont care how loaded Geb is, he most certainly didnt start that way. and he STILL doesnt train like rupp.

ive nothing against Rupp he has talent , and im sure trains harder than most...

i simply dont think that the high tech approach to training is going to be of much use in distance running...

as for genetics.....i will remind you of a certain Aussie ...who seems to do well..

and lets not forget the 2nd fastest 800m of all time was run by a brit, a good number of years before anti-gravity treadmills were in use.

R.L. Scribner wrote:

See the difference between these men:

http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper859/stills/427f17e0b8c9f-79-2.jpghttp://www.letsrun.com/photos/2008/kenyantrials/imagepages/image1.php

What're you trying to show here?

[quote]Sam F wrote:

would you like a medal or chest to pin it on.

Rupp is a very good example of of why american distance running(western running in general)will NEVER compete again.

WELL, YOU MAY BE RIGHT IN THE SENSE THAT THE WESTERN COUNTRIES HAVE BECOME SOFTER, BUT FOR YOU TO IGNORE THE FACT THATH THE AFRICANS ARE SOOPED UP ON EPO WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE A DISHONEST C*********...

are you guys serious?

you say that none of the Africans use this "high-tech" stuff like Rupp does and that Rupp is wrong for using it because they are still better.

Don't you see that Rupp is really the unadvantaged one? He didn't get to be born in a society that allows you to be on your feet running from the time you learn to walk. Like another poster said, Rupp is PLAYING CATCH UP. And using this high tech equipment/techniques is making his catch up come sooner.

And yes, I do realize that there are plenty of Americans that have run as fast as the Africans, but those guys, are the minority, not the majority.

Also, fine say that Rupp does give up his high tech stuff. What sort of training would you have him do? You don't think that he does as much as he can already? Plus, living in America is much different from living in Africa (from what I've heard). There aren't as many activities to get into that would take up your time.

Mottram went with Nic Bedeau not because he was a better coach (he clearly is not - Mottram acknowledges this) but because of the opportunities/contacts Bideau had.

It is a variation of "who you know, not what you know".

The same applies with Hall, Rupp, Torres, Gotcher, etc.

Not bad at all:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0e1yaMIM08

GET REAL PEOPLE!

BINGO

this isnt ...nor will it ever be.. swiming, biking, polo, or anything of that nature...

i dont care how loaded Geb is, he most certainly didnt start that way. and he STILL doesnt train like rupp.

ive nothing against Rupp he has talent , and im sure trains harder than most...

i simply dont think that the high tech approach to training is going to be of much use in distance running...

as for genetics.....i will remind you of a certain Aussie ...who seems to do well..

and lets not forget the 2nd fastest 800m of all time was run by a brit, a good number of years before anti-gravity treadmills were in use.[/quote]