Willis calls out Rupp

Slim08 wrote:

Hahahaha

j walter weatherman wrote:

Speechless that someone could be both this ignorant about running QND too lazy to do a 30s search.

So no he hasn't?

You clowns. Someone posted his 3000 and 5000 results pages ago.

Not really cool wrote:

Talking about people is boring. Follow the rabbit and show us what you've got Mr. 'Best shape of my life'.

Pretty sure this thread has more posts than a hypothetical "Nick Willis 3:51" thread would.

You realize that YOU are posting on this "boring" topic, right?

that's true but wrote:

Scared of who?! He's been racing against the World's best runners for years

He's been DNFing against the world's best runners for years.

Fixed that for you.

play the stradivarius wrote:

I saw that 5000m in 2005 where Willis ran 13:27. He ran like a wuss, letting Hall and Dobson go and then putting on a big finish when he had no chance to catch up.

What a competitor..... not.

I'd not seen Willis ever talk prior to the pre race interviews with Rupp, Manzano, and Lomong.

The thing that stood out immediately and that no one has talked about yet was the very bad energy coming from Willis, which I'm sure the others felt and were well aware of. In contrast, all of the others were quite at ease and friendly.

The bad energy from Willis at that interview made me think that he's a very bad person and has some serious issues, not just in running but with life. He is not a person that I'd want to be sitting next to, nor to be in a race with, which has nothing to do with his ability as a runner.

As a runner, he's a jerk, and I don't like him at all.

You've never seen Willis talk until now, you've no credibility. Go back to your hole.

When I met Nick at the 2008 Illinois State xc champs, he was both engaging and a delight to talk to despite having spent the whole day autographing stuff for high school kids. Based on the weather the states have had this winter, I'd imagine he also wants to go back to NZ. So you got him there.

800 analyzer wrote:

Never mind that Willis has had his fair share of less than stellar races, who hasn't?

If he wanted more of Rupp, he could enter some 5/10s.. wake me up when that happens.

You really don't get what is going on do you?

Galen, is that you?

If that's the first time you've seen a Nick Willis interview, you must not follow the sport much.

RRRR wrote:

If that's the first time you've seen a Nick Willis interview, you must not follow the sport much.

I only pay attention to good runners and good people.

Loser Willis - go back to NZ wrote:

RRRR wrote:

If that's the first time you've seen a Nick Willis interview, you must not follow the sport much.

I only pay attention to good runners

So not Olympic silver medalists?

Whatever.

BTW, on a pace-per-lap basis, Willis is as close to the 1500 WR (5s) as Rupp will EVER get to the 10,000 WR (31s).

Australia and NZ are home to real men, and real men aren't into constant trifling (DNS or DNF in half of Rupp's international entries).

Loser Willis - go back to NZ wrote:

The bad energy from Willis at that interview made me think that he's a very bad person and has some serious issues, not just in running but with life. He is not a person that I'd want to be sitting next to, nor to be in a race with, which has nothing to do with his ability as a runner.

As a runner, he's a jerk, and I don't like him at all.

You got this from one interview?

You need help.

This whole episode speaks volumes about the sort of people that Willis and Rupp are. Forget what sort of runners they are for the moment (probably quite similar in their own domain).

To the above poster who commented on Willis' interview and your impression, I suspect you are taking the piss but if not you're waaaaaay off the mark.

I have raced and trained with NW when he has come back to NZ, and he is a man who carries himself with copious charisma and grace. He travels to small meets in little towns, races (finishes), hangs around to chat to junior runners and locals and sign autographs, warms down with anyone who cares to join. This summer he even invited anyone who needed a shower back to the place he was staying at so they didn't need to drive 4hr back to Wellington after the meet in their filthy gear.

I remember racing him at the NZ nationals in 2008, 1500m final. I had raced him once, in 2000 as a school athlete, that day I had gotten 30th and he was 3rd. In 2008 he shook my hand before the race and remembered who I was. He shook the hand of EVERY competitor before that race. Obviously he won with ease, ran the last 300m in circa 38s, but in the post race interview mainly talked about the guys who led for the first km to "keep the pace honest" and thanked them. He invited the whole field for a warm down with him.

Every year he pitches up to Christchurch to race in the international track meet there. Since the city suffered a major earthquake the meet has been held on a 330m grass track. There is NO chance of a fast time. Yet every year he shows up and gives the meet some big time athlete impetus. He has attracted athletes like Andy Baddely, Ryan Gregson and Will Lear to compete in the meet. He always spends hours after the meet meeting locals and signing autographs.

Even in the Diamon league meetings. Who remembers his interview after he ran 3:30 in Monaco. "Jeez, Kaki ran well!".

Since winning the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and getting the silver in 2008 Willis has dealt with a wrathful NZ media. John Walker frequently and ruthlessly rips into Willis after any race he doesn't win. He carries that pressure with incredible grace.

Willis is a genuine good guy of the sport. His humility and generosity are infectious.

Rupp. Arrogant, insecure, under a cloud of suspicion re: at the very least unethical medical interventions. Can any small time runner out there describe a time Rupp approached them for a chat a few minutes before a race or invited them for a warm down afterwards? Pulling out of races then describing the race as "unimportant". He is lucky any meet organiser wants him to race ever. New Balance certainly wont want to book him again. Full of excuses after poor performances (the "cuboid popping out" thing is laughable. Why not just say I suffered from a stress fracture which immediately healed post race). Lack of humility following good performances. Just not likeable.

Worlds apart. Rupp will be remembered as a guy who caused controversy and animosity, possible as a downright cheat. Willis will be remembered as the guy that reminded the world that white guys can mile, who stood up to challenges (remember how the Big Mazungo goaded him for a year before Willis cleaned the floor with him twice in 2006) and who selflessly went out of his way to better the sport given any opportunity to do so.

As far as the workouts after DNF's, maybe Galen has to do them because Salazar is punishing Galen for the DNF. But then again, it appears Galen isn't learning his lesson.

I get people that don't like the way Rupp and Salazar do things. However, there is a large component of the criticism on there that is from people that without exception interpret anything Rupp does in the worst possible way.

1. Rupp does not really have a history of dropping out of races. Some are repeating that he does, but he hasn't actually dropped out of that many races.

2. If you feel a sudden sharp pain and stop the next stride or two how is it going to be apparent to someone watching that you felt the pain? It's almost like many of you are demanding an athlete that feels something off soldier through another 200m just to prove there is something off.

3. If there was an adjustment made that corrected the issue, what is the problem with doing a workout after? I don't see how that is disrespectful to Willis or anyone else.

4. I'm hoping some of you can leave email and phone contacts for your video, visual, race analytic and injury diagnosis businesses. They have to be more cost effective than some of the hands on medical professionals I've gone to see in the past.

Loser Willis - go back to NZ wrote:

What a competitor..... not.

I'd not seen Willis ever talk prior to the pre race interviews with Rupp, Manzano, and Lomong.

The thing that stood out immediately and that no one has talked about yet was the very bad energy coming from Willis, which I'm sure the others felt and were well aware of. In contrast, all of the others were quite at ease and friendly.

The bad energy from Willis at that interview made me think that he's a very bad person and has some serious issues, not just in running but with life. He is not a person that I'd want to be sitting next to, nor to be in a race with, which has nothing to do with his ability as a runner.

As a runner, he's a jerk, and I don't like him at all.

Don't want to sit next to him? Don't want to be in a race with him? I have a feeling that both of these things are going to work out for you.

Didn't Willis step in to break up a fight on the track a year or two ago? The guy is solid.

You simply affirm what I said.

Simply outstanding and well thought-out post.