Why is Rupp racing a half 2 weeks before a marathon?

Confused Poster wrote:

According to flotrack, Rupp is racing the Prague half on 4/1. That is 2 weeks before the marathon, doesn't make sense to have a tune up that late.

Obviously knows what he is doing in terms of race effort out but I question the logic in flying all the way to Prague to do it. That is a day of travel each way. Not sure why you would do that if you don't have to.

Runners in the race at bottom, lots of pacers. http://www.flotrack.org/article/52718-galen-rupp-headlines-prague-half-marathon-field

I'd like to know the thinking behind it. I also was surprised at the timing, it seems too close cnsidering travel, time change, racing a major event, etc. Jordan Hasay is also running.

More than likely knowing Salazar Rupp will be beginning his taper off this half. Since most marathoners do a 1-3 week taper all he is going to be doing off this half is recovering and getting race sharp for the marathon. Would you not run a hard mile or 2mile a week or two before your peak 5k? Or an 800 the week before your peak mile? I bet he may only do 1-2 lite workouts between the half and the full. The half itself can be considered a workout.

Come on dude!!! 13.1 miles two weeks before a marathon is nothing for these guys. They run that every morning before breakfast.

Rupp is running 145 miles a week right now, that is literally 20 miles a day, for him to go do a half and sprinkle in some MP is nothing.

NUFFIN wrote:

Rupp is running 145 miles a week right now, that is literally 20 miles a day, for him to go do a half and sprinkle in some MP is nothing.

This makes no sense, or maybe I have misunderstood what you mean. Why would he travel to Europe to run a HM at mostly slower than marathon pace?

Considering it hasn't been uncommon in Olympic history to do something like 10k at the start and marathon at the end two weeks later he isn't blazing new territory, but he's definitely increasing the risk of injury or fatigue for Boston. Boston isn't a record breaking course, though. It's another opportunity for him to run fast in a shorter race and then just hang with the pack in a longer race. This is a lot like his Olympics.

Rupp has two major problems that he must solve before he can get to the top:

1. Ethiopians.

2. Kenyans.

In New England we have a Grand Prix 15 km on that first weekend in April and I am urging all my guys to race it. But I am of the same Greater Boston Track Club, Bill Squires school of thought. Racing is the best preparation for racing. It has worked for a long time from us and Frank Shorter.

Tom

Confused Poster wrote:

According to flotrack, Rupp is racing the Prague half on 4/1. That is 2 weeks before the marathon, doesn't make sense to have a tune up that late.

Running a 10K two weeks out from a marathon has long been a popular thing with a lot of marathoners. I don't think running a half will stress Rupp too much more than if he ran a fast 10K. If you do a search on Letsrun, you will find quite a few similar scenarios where people sort made the same post you did. With that said, people are different, it takes me a full week just to get my legs back under me when I run a half and at least a another week to feel normal again, yet, I have seen guys run a half and then a 5K PR the following weekend. What's interesting is, if Rupp runs 1-hour half, negative splits and finishes really strong, it might be better for his marathon prep than if he's in a foot race to finish line and/or chasing the American record.

I used to this every year in preparation for my goal marathon. It was my last truly hard effort before the marathon and put a good stamp on my training. After that, everything else is just taper and fine-tuning.

It's a Saturday race and Boston is on Monday, so 2 weeks and 2 days. Not only is it plenty of time to recover but that's a great time for your hardest effort.

Anyone know where Rupp is training currently? Trying to recover from a half would be tougher with lots of travel involved IMO.

BostonRunCoach wrote:

Anyone know where Rupp is training currently? Trying to recover from a half would be tougher with lots of travel involved IMO.

He's been at altitude in the mountains in the eastern Czech Republic. It's not a coincidence that he's racing there too.

oldie wrote:

More things can go wrong than can go right with a half marathon that close to a major competition. Foolish.

thanks anonymous coach who has guided athletes to numerous world championship and olympic medals!

Letsrun 2017:

"today's runners are soft and don't race enough like the guys did back in the day"

also Letsrun 2017:

starts this thread

gold medal-worthy performance

He's been at altitude in the mountains in the eastern Czech Republic. It's not a coincidence that he's racing there too.

That's interesting. I must have just been imagining talking to him and Alberto on campus last week.

Rupp is going to run 58:57. You heard it here first.