Nikeey wrote:
Because he was getting beat... And knew he couldn't catch the guy beating him...
Seriously? Rupp has finished a great many races where he was getting beat and the pressure was increasing on the pace from 800-10,000.
He doesn't drop out because he's getting beat. Think of all the runner up races when he was in the NCAA. Think of his 10K AR attempt when Solinsky blew by and then others scalped him.
Dislike Rupp for whatever your reasons, but any objective observes knows he doesn't ever drop out for fear of a loss, however he does (rarely) drop out if there is indictation of an injury. You can include when he went down hard in a diamond league 5K several years ago.
He has also finished races where his shoe came off and when he took a fall.
Whether you agree with it or not, their philosophy is:
"If you feel a sharp pain, drop out"
That may sound weak to a lot of you tough guys out there, but ask yourselves this. Have you ever been able to train at or near your max 98% of the time for over a decade?
Most people spend at least 10-30% of their time hindered with some degree of injury. Maybe that means no training, or cross training, or training at 80-90% of full capacity.
Rupp doesn't. Maybe people need to rethink what's more important. Being tough at all times at all costs (think Solinsky and many others) or being smart at all times and tough when it matters?