Sorry Rupp fans, Black Cactus is about to bring you back to reality!

It's gonna be a helluva race. I have Black Cactus winning for this year, then Rupp takes over.

what's so out of this world that galen would beat him. im not really understanding why one would think he wouldn't give abdi a run for his money. 6 individual national championships has to mean something...not saying he's gonna murder abdi on the track in a few days...just saying that he will give him a LARGE run for his money

Considering that Galen has been winning TITLES all year while the Cactus has been sitting on his ass, getting injured, and training for nothing but this...

Yeah, I'd say anything could happen.

However, 2nd or 3rd is as good as 1st in this meet.

Comprende?

So victory, this year means nothing, as it is all about getting to Berlin.

The Cactus has had ITBS problems this year, so it's not clear how close to 100% he's going to be this weekend. By Berlin, though, I have no doubt Cactus is going to be faster, just like last year when he ran 27:16.

Hopefully, this year Abdi (and KD) makes the team. And those 6 "titles"? Just means he beat some college kids. Tell me how big those "titles" were when he goes up against Bekele & Co.

I bet Rupp makes up a pussy excuse and just runs to qualify.

dklcn dkcn kwd wrote:

I bet Rupp makes up a pussy excuse and just runs to qualify.

i disagree. I think last year rupp knew he wasn't favored, and while he wanted to win, im sure he was happy with top 3. This year he seems to have this confidence that he should win everything. I expect him to win, and if he doesn't, which is totally possible because abdi is a great runner, he will be pissed.

Abdi's so cool. How could anybody be so focused on Rupp that they'd root against the Black Cactus? I'm rooting for Rupp first off, but I expect and hope for Abdi to do well.

Didn't Rupp already beat him at the Olympics?

"So victory, this year means nothing, as it is all about getting to Berlin."

So no one wants to be the US National Champ this year?

Yeah, people keep saying this is just a "qualifier" for worlds, but I doubt too many of the athletes are indifferent to the possibility of winning the USA nationals.

Yes Rup did. I hardly doubt rupp is holding out on a major salary to wear his oregon jersey if he doesn't plan to do something special in the 10K. Abdi said a long time ago that galen was the man to beat. While Abdi has a shot to beat Galen, it would take a perfect race by him and an off race by rupp. That doesn't bode well for abdi given his inconsistency and rupps consistency. In order to beat rupp abdi would need to be able to pr as well as close in 2:25 off slower pace, nad that's just to have a shot at Rupp. As others have said the most important thing is to show up at Berlin, not to rest for USAs.

Guys like rupp and abdi should be able to make the team without actually tapering for this meet. They should also be able to go race the hell out of it on a 70-80 mile week. Titles are money, bragging rights and more, no reason to downplay the event. However the guys with the real focus will not compromise Berlin for USA's. Only the studs can afford this approach obviously.

This is the problem with our selection process, especially for distance runners. As you noted, the top tier guys don't have to taper, but most everyone else does and will. Then, as usual, they will look flat in the opening rounds come Berlin.

Apparently sprinters aren't nearly as affected by this, so nothing is likely to change; as they bring home the most hardware.

Oh yeah, go Black Cactus.

Major Puputan wrote:

Didn't Rupp already beat him at the Olympics?

Unlike Rupp, Abdi wasn't racing for 10th.

Rupp should spank the black cactus, I think he's in worse shape than it looks at the moment. Nelson and Rupp will have him. 27:16 is fast, but he's lost a lot of that.

The last mile will hurt, and Rupp will probably run it in a low 4, with Nelson not too far behind. Abdi will have a hard time keeping up, he should just race 3rd.

Black Cactus is a racial slur.

Tall, skinny, black guy and white kids love to call him Back Cactus. I've never liked that kind of "acceptable" race based humor/slur. Abdi might not understand how dehumanizing the name is (or he is just going with it for marketing purposes). Either way it is racially charge and belittles him as a person.

You might believe it is okay but labeling Abdi on color is never acceptable in any public circles. Don't use it.

Go Abdi!!!

precisely wrote:

This is the problem with our selection process, especially for distance runners. As you noted, the top tier guys don't have to taper, but most everyone else does and will. Then, as usual, they will look flat in the opening rounds come Berlin.

Apparently sprinters aren't nearly as affected by this, so nothing is likely to change; as they bring home the most hardware.

Oh yeah, go Black Cactus.

This is true, but what do other countries do? Is there a better option? Perhaps something where you had to compete at USA's and get top 5, and then hit the A standard mark during the time from usa's to worlds and the top 3 marks would be the team?

I doubt this is the right idea, but for distance runners it might give them incentive to be fit by USA's but more fit after the event (meaning a more likely peak for worlds). The problem is for the 10K guys having to race it as USA's and then go do a hard one again before worlds could be a bit much.

As you said the sprinters don't have to worry about the affects of mileage or a hard 5K or 10K. Recovery and peaking is completely different for them.

As for this 10K, this could be pretty good.

Rupp is in 27:20 shape.

Black Cactus Super Fan wrote:

Major Puputan wrote:

Didn't Rupp already beat him at the Olympics?

Unlike Rupp, Abdi wasn't racing for 10th.

What? Did you see the race? Rupp was the one with the lead group when Abdi was falling apart. No disrespect to Abdi, great guy, funny guy, great resume. But don't disprespect Rupp who had the fastest 10K time ever for an American at the Olympics and was the top finisher outside of Africans.

And if you're trying to use that race as one to predict tomorrows outcome, think again. Rupp is a completely different runner now and Abdi will have had to bring it up a lot to match him. I hope he does, and I hope there is an epic race. I think however that Rupp is going to thrash everyone at the end of that race and those who said that Rupp can only close fast off of slow pace are going to be silenced.