Is Galen Rupp waiting to long to move to the marathon?

For the goal of reaching his absolute marathon peak, probably.

However, if he went all out for the marathon now, it would probably decrease what he can accomplish in the 10K.

And, the 10K is a lot less competitive right now than the marathon, so in terms of career accomplishments, the current plan is probably best.

No doubt that he could make more money as a marathoner though, assuming that he could get at least sub 2:10.

Apologies for the typo in the subject line. ***TOO***

If he debuts at London/Berlin/Chicago, there's no reason to think he won't run 2:06:xx or faster.

XCrunner3545 wrote:

If he debuts at London/Berlin/Chicago, there's no reason to think he won't run 2:06:xx or faster.

He could even run 2:06x

When Rupp moves to the marathon he will only have 2 major pay days.

1. His debut will garner a ton of attention and all of the US WMM are willing to pay for this.

2. He has been great at other distances and therefore will be given a 2nd chance after his failure in his debut.

SALAZAR can't coach the marathon and Rupp will not have success. That is a guarantee.

XCrunner3545 wrote:

Obviously he represents the best chance for an American born runner to win a WMM, as well as the Olympic gold medal. But will his best years be behind him when he finally jumps to the marathon?

Because his chances for gold in the 10000 at Rio are actually surprisingly high for an american, he is the returning silver medalist, with a new 26:44 PR(might come down even more but probably not in 2015 /2016 since theyre competition years) and the 10000 field is getting weaker almost every year giving him probably the perfect storm of things that can help him get gold if he brings it on that day.

moving to the marathon would essentially be facing K. bekele in his prime for 10000 at a new distance (he would get a max of 4 races in before the Olympics?) He would be facing guys like Kiprotich great tactical racer, E. Mutai (2'03), Kimetto (2'02), Kipsang (2'03), Desisa(2'04), honestly he probably get beat by 2012/2014 Meb.. who knows if Meb can hold his current form for another 2 years though.

"it would probably decrease what he can accomplish in the 10K."

The 10k is a dying event. The marathon is what real distance runners run. More money. More prestige. More fans watching.

It is time to move to roads.

He has proven himself quite admirably on the track, but lets face it, no one cares. [No one being the general American public]

The East Africans have shown time and time again that you don't have to be 30+ to start running fast.

My opinion is that Galen Rupp's best chance to "revitalize running popularity" or become well known to the American public is to be on the roads. That's what the running populace does. They can under stand running a marathon. They can't understand running 25 laps around a track. Most people never run track.

I'm a member of a casual running group, people that stared in their 30s or 40s and many who just want to "BQ." Virtually none of them know who Shalane Flanagan was when she got bronze in the 10000. All of them know who she is after she ran NYCM and Boston.

Jim Everett wrote:

And, the 10K is a lot less competitive right now than the marathon, so in terms of career accomplishments, the current plan is probably best.

If the marathon is the more competitive event, then in terms of career accomplishments, competing well in the marathon is better.

plwnnd wrote:

Jim Everett wrote:

And, the 10K is a lot less competitive right now than the marathon, so in terms of career accomplishments, the current plan is probably best.

If the marathon is the more competitive event, then in terms of career accomplishments, competing well in the marathon is better.

That may be all well and true, but at the end of day he'd probably rather have a couple of Olympic medals in the 10K rather than a string of 4-6th place finishes in World Marathon Majors.

Rupp will not medal in the 10k again. The Olympics come around only every 4 years. In case you haven't heard, there are quite a few major marathons every single year.

Death of 10k wrote:

Rupp will not medal in the 10k again. The Olympics come around only every 4 years. In case you haven't heard, there are quite a few major marathons every single year.

In case you haven't heard, your use of the phrase, 'in case you haven't heard', identifies you as a class A d-bag.

Hingle McCringleberry wrote:

moving to the marathon would essentially be facing K. bekele in his prime for 10000 at a new distance (he would get a max of 4 races in before the Olympics?) He would be facing guys like Kiprotich great tactical racer, E. Mutai (2'03), Kimetto (2'02), Kipsang (2'03), Desisa(2'04), honestly he probably get beat by 2012/2014 Meb.. who knows if Meb can hold his current form for another 2 years though.

Moving to the marathon would be facing 5-6 KBs in his prime at 5000-10000

Death of 10k wrote:

"it would probably decrease what he can accomplish in the 10K."

The 10k is a dying event. The marathon is what real distance runners run. More money. More prestige. More fans watching.

More drugs.

Yes, there is more drug use in the 10k.

So childish of you. Of course, you have heard that said about you many times.

Why would he move up to the marathon? All those top marathoners are runners who escaped the 10,000 since Rupp appeared because they knew he can't be beat.

Anyway, I think an olympic gold medal in the 10,000 holds more prestige than any major marathon.

Oh Please wrote:

It is time to move to roads.

He has proven himself quite admirably on the track, but lets face it, no one cares. [No one being the general American public]

My opinion is that Galen Rupp's best chance to "revitalize running popularity" or become well known to the American public is to be on the roads. That's what the running populace does. They can under stand running a marathon. They can't understand running 25 laps around a track. Most people never run track.

If you want to talk about what the American public will love, Rupp has a greater chance of getting the AR in the mile than he does at breaking 2:05 or winning a world marathon major. The american public would love him a lot more if he became the new american mile record holder, with all that "bring back the mile" hype.

He's run faster than Webb in everything 3000m and up. Rupp could get 3:46 if he spent a year training for it. The man has run 3:50 indoors, 7:30 indoors, and 8:07 indoors. No one would disagree that 3:46 is within his capabilities.

And his medal chances are higher in the track too. I agree with the poster saying that Rupp moving up to the marathon would be like facing 5-6 KB's in their prime. It's crazy to think he has a better chance at the marathon than the 10000m.

TL;DR-> I disagree with your american public point. American public would love a faster mile than a marathon (with the former being more in his capabilities), and american public would love medals, something he has a higher capability of in the track than the marathon.

The mile is a long dead event. The 10k is not contest much in big meets. The track 5k and marathon are where the big dogs go to run.