Is Rupp running Olympic marathon or not?

I'm doubtful Rupp would run the Olympic marathon. But I'm even more doubtful of this 10K/marathon double that is talked about so much. It seems to me, marathon is a much different event from the 10K than the 5k is from the 10K. When you are talking about wanting to seriously compete on the track it implies focusing a lot of the training on being able to run about a 54 second lap, if not faster. At the same time we know that if Salazar and Rupp commits to an event they do it all the way. I just don't see how training for the marathon and the 10K are compatible with each other. Even though Rupp could qualify for both I don't see them actually running both.

That said, I guess I buy into Rupp leaving his options open as long as possible. Maybe running a marathon at this time of year would be compatible with his training for the track. He could show up at the start line for OT and maybe drop out depending on how he feels.

Still, I think Rupp sees this year as the last opportunity of his life to try and really run fast in a major competition. He doesn't want to waste it on pursuing the olympic marathon which he could still run in 2020 and even 2024.

My question is why all this clock and dagger unknown and will he run or what? Is it the purpose of NOP to have all us monkeys on here talking insanity. There are many young runners who are wanting to go and watch our greatest at the OTs. Hell I know three 9th graders who have talked a big brother into driving them to the OT marathon..because Galen RUPP, Ritz and MO are gonna run! Guess I'm just missing something.

Mo is running the US trials? YES I would say you are missing something.

demethedream wrote:

If Galen were to run the marathon trials in less than a month, do you really think he would be running fast intervals on an indoor track? To me this clearly means he is gearing up for an indoor campaign and intends to run indoor Worlds.

Should he? No.

Would he? Yes.

Salazar had Farah doing 200s before the London marathon.

He simply can't coach the distance.

eotbs wrote:

I believe that diminishing returns already present themselves in the half-marathon for Rupp, and the marathon is the next distance beyond that.

How can you possibly make this assessment given Rupp has only ever really raced a single half, almost 5 years ago on a tough NYC course and ran like 60:30, one of the top times ever by an American? I think that may even be the ONLY race longer than 10k he's EVER raced (time trial last month doesn't count)!

training specifically for the turns? oh dear, now I've heard it all! ever hear of just runnning? this site has some real winners on it (insert sarcasm).

Yes, strategically for Rupp's career, running the OT is great for him as long as he makes the team. Rupp gets the opportunity to test himself at a marathon, without having all the pressure of running a marathon major and facing elite competition (like Mo did).

Plus, I think the IMO stupid OT course will suit Rupp: a bunch of out and back "laps," just like like running on a giant track. I'm sure Salazar will have expend as little energy as possible, sitting in the lead group. The race is not likely to be really fast.

For Rupp, all he needs is top 3,no more or less. I'm betting if he starts the race, he makes the team.

FadHadder wrote:

training specifically for the turns? oh dear, now I've heard it all! ever hear of just runnning? this site has some real winners on it (insert sarcasm).

I can't tell if you are making fun of me, Rojo, or the Hansons. The most logical assumption is that you are making fun of the Hansons as they are the ones who were quoted saying that Desi is training specifically for the turns.

Please offer your marathon training plan in response to this post. If you are smarter or a better "winner" than the Hansons, then I am genuinely interested in what you have to say.

eotbs wrote:

What is his best event? I say it's somewhere around 15k. I believe that diminishing returns already present themselves in the half-marathon for Rupp, and the marathon is the next distance beyond that. Rupp's ability in the marathon, in my opinion (until I see otherwise) is kind of like his ability in the 3000m - really, really good, maybe best in the U.S. at the moment, but 2 notches below the world's best.

Since 15k is not an Olympic distance, I say Rupp throws everything into the 10,000 at these games, and therefore does not run the Olympic Trials.

What are you basing this off? Has he ever even run a 15k? His debut half was 60:30, faster than any one not named Gebrselassie, Farah or Gebremariam has run on that hilly course through Central Park, and faster than any American not named Hall or Ritz has ever run. His second he soloed a 1:01:20, beating 2nd place by literally 2 miles. He's certainly better at 10,000 than 5,000, and there's nothing to suggest he won't continue to improve with even longer distances (especially once he starts specifically training for it). I'm not saying he will, but to just baselessly say he's maxed out at 15k is silly.

Back to the original topic, I do agree he should focus on just the 10k this time around as he has much, much better shot to medal. I'm also not sure he'd for certain be a lock to make the team if he runs the trials. Anything can go wrong those last 7k, especially your first time out. That being said, if he does run it, and he's still up there after 35k it should scare the pants of anybody.

Yes, but the Mobot factor cannot be underestimated. With Hall retiring, he probably sees this as possibly his last Olympics to medal with gold.

Personally, I see the two pronged approach. He will qualify for both the 10k and the marathon.

Why both? Because of the unknown. There is a chance Mo and the other 10k contenders get injured or catch the flu or something. In which case, he goes all out for the 10k.

If a healthy Mo shows up, he'll tempo the 10k and go all out in the marathon. Makes sense to me. This is the likely scenario.

Do people really like Rupp's chances that much better for a medal in the marathon?

The marathon WR has been broken left and right recently... Nobody has sniffed the 5000m record. He's done well in the 5, and he could very easily snag a bronze.

In the marathon, who knows. The one plus for him is that the teams from Kenya and Ethiopia can be a bit hit or miss for world champs/olympics. He'll probably need to be in 2:06 shape (flat, cool weather race) to sneak a bronze.

I think the marathon has more risk and

I agree. Training for the turns is a losing strategy. Save the shuttle run for football. I don't think anyone is training for the turns. That is a ridiculous waste of training time.

keeping options open wrote:

With Hall retiring, he probably sees this as possibly his last Olympics to medal with gold.

Ok, that is confusing... I meant Rupp probably realizes he is getting older, like Hall. In 2020, he could also be retired at a young age. I didn't mean he would have been competing against Hall in 2016...

keeping options open wrote:

Yes, but the Mobot factor cannot be underestimated. With Hall retiring, he probably sees this as possibly his last Olympics to medal with gold.

I was wondering about Halls retirement announcement shortly after Rupp tempos a 61 half marathon and speculation about him doing the Olympic marathon. As far as I know, Hall never lost to Galen in a race because they never really raced right? Or maybe they did race and I can't recall.

On a different note, I agree with some of the better known coaches who have stated training for both the 10K and marathon can be doable, and perhaps even suitable for the right runner. I'm sure Rupp is up the 110 mpw now and that is plenty for marathon training as long as he can get some 18-22 mile runs in fairly often. He may give up some raw speed and open 800 speed, but if he still works on closing at the end of some workouts he'll be able to run a 1:55 last 800 in a good 10K still. But he might be able to do it off a brisker pace coming in.

Theoretical workout week to accomplish both goals:

Tuesday - 6 x mile repeats at 4:15 average. 3 x 400 in 59, 57, 55

Thursday - 10 mile tempo run at 4:50 pace. 8 x 200 cutting down from 30-26

Sunday - 20 miles at 5:30 pace

Morning runs and afternoon runs of 6-9 miles in between these workouts.

chicken or the egg wrote:

keeping options open wrote:

Yes, but the Mobot factor cannot be underestimated. With Hall retiring, he probably sees this as possibly his last Olympics to medal with gold.

I was wondering about Halls retirement announcement shortly after Rupp tempos a 61 half marathon and speculation about him doing the Olympic marathon. As far as I know, Hall never lost to Galen in a race because they never really raced right? Or maybe they did race and I can't recall.

Rupp destroyed Hall in the 2011 NYC Half. One month later, Hall ran 2:04 at Boston (aided, obviously, but still).

Rupp will not run. He is not strong enough to do both. He doesn't want to risk injury or bad press.

He doesn't run.

Bubbadeeboo wrote:

Nobody has sniffed the 5000m record. He's done well in the 5, and he could very easily snag a bronze.

The 5k? Nope. That is not his distance. He was barely a top 3 American last year. Third in Rio at 5k ... LOL ... No.

10k is Rupp's distance. Focusing on the 10k, and going all out, then running the marathon just to see what he has left is really what Rupp should do. The weather for the trials and Olympics would be beneficial for Rupp's first two shots at the marathon.

Michael C wrote:

Sammy Wanjiru is the only American marathoner who could even hold a candle to Rupp and Wanjiru stopped running marathons. .

Yeah, he had trouble running after he fell off that veranda.

Who cares? Wait until next month and find out. Why do you need to know? Are you going to drop out of the race if he enters?