I finally understood what Rupp is lacking

Les wrote:Yes, Rupp has superior talent and training

No, in this field Rupp's talent is in the lower half. Rupp is an overachiever.

Rupp's success is a result of the long term relationship and training with his coach. Don't get me wrong, Rupp is very talented, but Schumacher's group has 3 runners with as much or more talent than Rupp.

Salazar found Rupp by chance on a soccer field at a small Catholic HS in Portland, Oregon. Salazar did not screen thousands of HS kids looking for the next great American Ryunesque-level talent.

I am the Walrus wrote:

watching the world indoor final live on BBC. It is clear to me now that Rupp is lacking race instinct. With 800m to go he was caught following Lagat out on lane 3, probably because Salazar instructed him to stay on his shoulder. He then realizes his mistakes and wastes too much energy sprinting into 3rd/4th with 400m to go. He then holds on to a strong 4th finish, but out of reach for a medal.

Rupp has the same capabilities then Lagat in time trial races, so I think he is just as strong training wise as Geb, Lagat et al. But they race smarter. In particular Lagat simply possesses the better racing skills, compensating for his age. It's the one variable Salazar cannot control for.

This is pretty accurate. He has the speed; he has the strength. But he needs better race tactics. When the race is slow, positions don't change much in the last 200m, because they are all going so fast.

I think he's simply less fit than a few other guys in the world

webfoot wrote:

Les wrote:Yes, Rupp has superior talent and training

No, in this field Rupp's talent is in the lower half. Rupp is an overachiever.

+1. All the "race tactics" in the world won't make a #6-10th best guy finish #1.

Unfortunately the trolls and knuckleheads on LetsRun always think if you're the top American then you should be able to beat the depth of East African talent too, just like they assume for Webb and Hall. Even though LetsRunners admit they themselves are not talented, they assume Rupp accomplished what he has because he is the most talented runner on Earth. Maybe they should be emulating what Rupp is doing not dismissing it.

Dennis Reynolds 2.0 wrote:

I'm 4th best in the world at jacking off.

So, you won 4th place at these special world championships. Did the competitors all compete by facing off in a circle?

Dennis Reynolds 2.0 wrote:

You guys do realize Rupp is one of the fastest EVER at indoor distance running when you look at mile, 3000, 5000 right?

Because the East Africans don't care about nabbing 10th on the all-time indoor record list, and don't have the resources to set up a meet at BU for the sole purpose of drafting to an American record without stepping out of lane 1.

You really don't think Ndiku could run an 8:07 2-mile?

At first after watching the race I felt Rupp ran very good. 4th in the world.

But he was also the first runner to cross the line that wasn't trying to win. That's the difference.

Maybe he has been overconditioned by his coach to always save himself for the best possible finish and never gamble by being overly competitive. Those guys ahead of him were in a race to win.

HardLoper wrote:Unfortunately the trolls and knuckleheads on LetsRun always think if you're the top American then you should be able to beat the depth of East African talent too, just like they assume for Webb and Hall. Even though LetsRunners admit they themselves are not talented, they assume Rupp accomplished what he has because he is the most talented runner on Earth. Maybe they should be emulating what Rupp is doing not dismissing it.

Yes, it's baffling the disconnect from reality letsrun posters have. In their minds Rupp should have simply blown by Ndiku, Lagat and Gebremeskel. How hard can that be? Rupp finished 4th so let's complain about Rupp being weak minded and having poor racing tactics.

If only we could surgically implant the average letsrun poster's brain into Rupp's head, then Rupp would be world champion! This could be a fun game... a field of all Rupp bodies but different letsrun poster's brains, which letsrun poster wins?

webfoot wrote:

...let's complain about Rupp being weak minded and having poor racing tactics.

If only we could surgically implant [a real racing runner's] brain into Rupp's head, then Rupp would be world champion!

Hate on it all you want, but Rupp doesn't have a real racing runner's mind-set. Rupp is an athlete who chooses to run in the public eye. He is opened to analysis. If you don't like that athlete's like Rupp are analyzed then you need to stay away from all sports news, especially ESPN.

HardLoper wrote:

Dennis Reynolds 2.0 wrote:

You guys do realize Rupp is one of the fastest EVER at indoor distance running when you look at mile, 3000, 5000 right?

Because the East Africans don't care about nabbing 10th on the all-time indoor record list, and don't have the resources to set up a meet at BU for the sole purpose of drafting to an American record without stepping out of lane 1.

You really don't think Ndiku could run an 8:07 2-mile?

Maybe, Lagat hasn't. That's whose record Rupp took. I say this as someone who doesn't like Rupp but from a time perspective Rupp is one of the best indoor runners ever. That doesn't mean sh*t in a championship but it is what it is.

Why all of the hand wringing? sleazy will get the dosages adjusted for rupp soon enough

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/M9pYuuYJkKs/2012+Olympic+Track+Field+Team+Trials+Day+1/xlzYP0lhfnl/Galen+Rupp

http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/i425029-8/london-2012-olympic-athletes-tweets-of-the-week-mo-farah-and-galen-rupp.html

you are correct sir wrote:

All this positioning talk (leading, trying to kick, etc) and racing instincts talk is actually not relevant. HIS REACTION TIME IS NOT AS FAST AS THE EAST AFRICANS, he cannot cover a move like they can. He has the speed, endurance, strength, etc., etc., but he cannot compensate for their quick reaction/bursts...and never will be able to.

Maybe he would if he started and finished competitive races.

While Rupp was time-trialing against college guys in Boston, Lagat was RACING the world's best in Germany.

Look how that played out for Rupp.

milk was a bad choice wrote:

it has to do with BELIEVING YOU ARE THE BOSS & JUST REACTING. don't overthink and try to run a perfect race, just RACE.

When would Rupp have practiced this? While the elites race each other year round, Rupp time trials against college guys.

Who do you THINK is going to have better racing "instincts"?

themanontherun wrote:

He flipped the switch, learned how to race, and continued to improve his fitness. He went from perenial favorite turned bridesmaid to unstoppable champion.

Unstoppable champion? When did that happen, exactly?

You're joking, right?

You realize that Rupp has NEVER won a SINGLE major international race, right?

runner whob professes wrote:

He needs to race a lot and learn how to get out of the box early. Learning how to race is more important than post-race showboating. Sure, he will lose a lot, but then the wins will come. Salazar shelters his charges, to their detriment.

This^

webfoot wrote:

Rupp ran great. The 3000 was a stacked field and going in 4th place was the best probable outcome for Rupp at a distance short for him.

This excuse won't fly.

He is a 3:50i guy whose coach was talking about the world record two months ago.

HardLoper wrote:

webfoot wrote:

4th place isn't bad. How many of you posting here are 4th best at anything in the world.

None of them, but some of them were top 3 in their conference 1600m so they know how to really tough it out and use their superior race instincts.

I hope you two never form an opinion about a pro football player or politician. Because, ya know, if you haven't done it better you're not allowed to have an opinion.

George Atlas wrote:

But he was also the first runner to cross the line that wasn't trying to win. That's the difference.

THIS IS IT! POST OF THE WEEK!

BROJOS, put this on the front page!

It is so true and says so much. BL, CN, HG, DG and probably others on the track believed they could WIN and set out to do so. What Rupp intended was unclear.

Aside from tracking and kicking behind Farah, he has never shown INITIATIVE in a tactical elite race. (If I'm wrong find me an example.)

He needs to learn this. BY RACING.

webfoot wrote:

If only we could surgically implant the average letsrun poster's brain into Rupp's head, then Rupp would be world champion! This could be a fun game... a field of all Rupp bodies but different letsrun poster's brains, which letsrun poster wins?

The Rupp with A Duck's brain in it would miss the race and be found in the bathroom...