Why Rupp won't medal in Daegu or even be top 6

Tomorrow in Deagu:

6PM

86F

64% humidity

I think that's advantage Lagat.

That is a good point. On the other hand, I'm sure Al Sal has been considering this for a long time and has some gadgets to help him prepare. I would actually be surprised if Rupp doesn't train a little bit for hot and humid conditions.

Ryan you would think Salazar has been but I know he hasn't done any such training. Not one day has he had Galen or Mo in such weather.

Looking back to a couple of Galen's tougher race situations and one sees he struggled in races in heat and humidity. I asked Salazar about this about this prior to Beijing and was stunned at how he dismissed the whole climate impact.

Another issue for Rupp will be the high level of pollution that will creat all sorts of issues for Rupp's asthma situation.

Hmm. Maybe. I doubt if he dismisses the weather variable. But he maybe feels that its best to just train in good conditions to get in the best shape you can and that in itself is the best thing you can do to be ready for heat and humidity. Come to think of it, I'm doubtful that any kind of training can make your body adjust to heat and humidity. Its probably more the psychological aspect of experiencing it and running through it.

On the asthma. I know he said at Pre that the race in itself was not an issue but that it could hurt his training in the days following the race. I know he is not worried about that for a one day race.

I thought I recall somebody somewhere using an ice vest before a race. I don't if that happened, or if it did happen, if it was just a gimmick.

U really think AlSal aint taking conditions into the equation? He's the first to do so. They are going to prepare as best as possible for the mind and body for the conditions. Good luck to thems.

How soon you all forget ... the weather/conditions is not uncharted territory for Rupp, he dealt with similar temps and humidity in both Beijing and Osaka. Sure, that's only two races in three years, but it's not like he's never experience humidity in championship races... and he fared okay in both.

The Kenyans are screwed.

The weather has got to be one of the lesser elements that he is worried about. He is probably more concerned with beating a handful of better runners - the real reason why he won't medal.

Rupp will medal, I think. Just not this summer, or any summer until he becomes a marathoner.

Well, in 2008 I think he barely avoided getting lapped by KB. In 09 he almost got carried off on a stretcher. The video of the race shows him crossing the finish line and he is clearly put out. But that was the end of a very long season for him too. I wouldn't read too much into those races. But its true that Rupp has enough racing experience that he knows the feeling of hot and humid.

Eugenial wrote:

How soon you all forget ... the weather/conditions is not uncharted territory for Rupp, he dealt with similar temps and humidity in both Beijing and Osaka. Sure, that's only two races in three years, but it's not like he's never experience humidity in championship races... and he fared okay in both.

ryan foreman wrote:

That is a good point. On the other hand, I'm sure Al Sal has been considering this for a long time and has some gadgets to help him prepare. I would actually be surprised if Rupp doesn't train a little bit for hot and humid conditions.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Alberto well remembers Bill McChesney training in the sauna for warm weather racing...and being the only Duck that did well in a warm weather NCAA's.

Salazar has it covered.

What's the pollen count in Daegu?

Relax gang. I have special spaceman suit ready for Galan.

Get ReaI ReaI wrote:

ryan foreman wrote:

That is a good point. On the other hand, I'm sure Al Sal has been considering this for a long time and has some gadgets to help him prepare. I would actually be surprised if Rupp doesn't train a little bit for hot and humid conditions.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Alberto well remembers Bill McChesney training in the sauna for warm weather racing...and being the only Duck that did well in a warm weather NCAA's.

Salazar has it covered.

+1

U of O has a sauna workout (with adjustable humidity) room they use for research and AlSal gets his athletes time in there on a treadmill. I've seen video of Ritz using it.

It takes about 2 weeks to acclimatize to the heat (increased blood plasma, earlier onset of sweating, etc); ice vests do work. There's a series presentations for USATF on getting athletes ready for DAegu posted on runnerspace

ryan foreman wrote:

I thought I recall somebody somewhere using an ice vest before a race. I don't if that happened, or if it did happen, if it was just a gimmick.

Meb and Deena both used ice vests before the Beijing Marathon. Worked like a charm for them, but they were racing for over 2 hours. I remember them saying something to the effect of they never tried to warm up pre-race. It was more about keeping the body temp as cool as possible. That won't work in a 10k. You have to be warmed up and ready to go when they shoot the gun.

Weather man trying to sound like an insider but has no clue. Before Beijing the climate impact was certainly on Salazar and crew's mind; they trained in humidity room on treadmill and went to Houston to train.http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1217125521184040.xml&coll=7

Weather man wrote:

Ryan you would think Salazar has been but I know he hasn't done any such training. Not one day has he had Galen or Mo in such weather.

Looking back to a couple of Galen's tougher race situations and one sees he struggled in races in heat and humidity. I asked Salazar about this about this prior to Beijing and was stunned at how he dismissed the whole climate impact.

Another issue for Rupp will be the high level of pollution that will creat all sorts of issues for Rupp's asthma situation.

CG Homes wrote:

Meb and Deena both used ice vests before the Beijing Marathon. Worked like a charm for them, but they were racing for over 2 hours. I remember them saying something to the effect of they never tried to warm up pre-race. It was more about keeping the body temp as cool as possible. That won't work in a 10k. You have to be warmed up and ready to go when they shoot the gun.

That's actually not correct. There is published research with ice vests worn DURING active warmup for 5000 meters having positive results.

The purpose of warmup for longer distance events is different from 800 or 1500--where you have to sprint hard at the end of a short event, so you need some of the warmup technique of a sprinter. In longer distance events, your warmup is mostly to raise the temperature of the muscles in the legs, so they produce minimum lactate/H+ when the event starts. You CAN warm up the leg muscles while keeping the core temperature cooled before the event.

I'd be surprised if Salazar or Nike physiologists don't know this.