Galen Rupp reveals that he's running 140+ MPW in new interview

Its a risk/benefit thing bruh. They are trying to make a living. You can sit at your desk and collect a semi-monthly paycheck with a stress fracture, they are putting their livelihood on the line.

Space Ghost wrote:

I think about this every time I hear about a talented American runner capping out at 90 mpw to stay healthy and run 13:10/27:30.

Wow, so you're saying that a professional athlete devotes all of, what, 15 hours per week to training? Impressive!

140 miles = ~15 hours wrote:

Wow, so you're saying that a professional athlete devotes all of, what, 15 hours per week to training? Impressive!

I mean it takes HOURS after each run of intentionally doing very little activity, sleeping, and eating correctly to gain from 140mpw and not break down.

Space Ghost wrote:

It's no coincidence that the two Americans with the best combination of 5k/10k times, Rupp and Solinsky, also trained the hardest. Sure it doesn't last forever, as Solinsky demonstrated, but it's the only way to approach what the Africans are doing. I think about this every time I hear about a talented American runner capping out at 90 mpw to stay healthy and run 13:10/27:30.

+1

There may be more efficient ways to consistently run "pretty well", but those massive groups in Kenya training at a level that most pro runners in the US can only dream about continue to churn out a handful of runners who put up the top times in the world at every distance. Sure, they also have hundreds of runners that never make it, quite possibly because the training is too hard, but that's what it takes.

Also, I get the comment that US runners are dependent on staying healthy to race consistently to earn their pay, and I know that a little money goes a longer way in Kenya.

Runner3356 wrote:

"Salazar’s coaching style is said to resemble throwing a carton of eggs against a wall and seeing which ones don’t crack ..."

That's the only way to create champions. Those who have the mental toughness will survive; the others will give up. Look at the Africans: that's how they train and to say that they are dominant in distance events would be an understatement.

I completely agree with this assessment.

140+ miles a week is insanity as it will either lead to greatness or injury. It works but at what cost? Million people will try to emulate it and 999,999 will be crippled on the side of the road.

I do find it interesting that Salazar appears to be pushing more and more runners towards the marathon. Hmmm, maybe because that's what he ran?

How many of you will now be increasing your mileage now?

Tegenkamp and Solinsky got that high in mileage around the time they broke 13 right. Salazar has held back Rupp's mileage for many years and gradually brought him up. He's now in the latter half of his career and there's no need to hold back.

the real deal wrote:

Eleven wrote:

Too much, too soon. (mileage and/or intensity)

I always have a chuckle to myself everytime I hear someone say their body isn't meant for high mileage. I typically hear this from guys who refuse to ever run slower than 7 min pace.

You´re an idiot. The most important talent is the ability to handle hard training.

We were not meant to be couch potatoes, neither were we constructed to run 100 mpw.

Same in the northeast. This idea that people are much tougher in some states than others is ridiculous. I hear this argument all the time about New Yorkers "in their city". We ran outside in all types of weather except when there was lightning. I remember my team having to shovel snow from the track to accommodate practice and dual meets. I guess its an insecurity people who live in less relevant states have. There is nothing going on so they need to feel tough at the very least.

asdfasdf wrote:

Tegenkamp and Solinsky got that high in mileage around the time they broke 13 right. Salazar has held back Rupp's mileage for many years and gradually brought him up. He's now in the latter half of his career and there's no need to hold back.

140 is insane. There has to be a point at which there is nothing left to gain by increasing mileage. Or the toll it takes isn't worth whatever infinitesimal gain you get with that mileage.

But, maybe I'm just wrong? So. What gains are there acquired by running 140mpw as compared to a 100mpw? Is there a limit to what you gain through ever increasing mileage (adaptations stop) and where is that limit? Should people run 300mpw?

Yep,, wrote:

the real deal wrote:

I always have a chuckle to myself everytime I hear someone say their body isn't meant for high mileage. I typically hear this from guys who refuse to ever run slower than 7 min pace.

You´re an idiot. The most important talent is the ability to handle hard training.

We were not meant to be couch potatoes, neither were we constructed to run 100 mpw.

Lydiard said that just about any able-bodied person could reach 100 mpw if they properly built up to it. Would you consider him an idiot too?

Seems like a lot of people on this thread need to contact Rupp immediately with their urgent scientific findings on training theory.

I never knew I was not "constructed" for 100 mpw. This is incredible stuff. Thank you so much.

How much of his 140mpw is on the underwater treadmill?

beachhut wrote:

Seems like a lot of people on this thread need to contact Rupp immediately with their urgent scientific findings on training theory.

I never knew I was not "constructed" for 100 mpw. This is incredible stuff. Thank you so much.

So you have nothing constructive to add.

Did you know that some people are over 7 feet tall? Not everyone, just some. Which is weird right, because isn't everyone exactly the same? Isn't everyone capable of achieving exactly the same things?

For whatever delusional reason you may want to believe that every human being is capable of running 100 mpw and staying healthy, and you also think anyone could play in the NBA if they just trained right? But, it's not true.

I'm glad you can run 100 mpw, not everyone can, and it would be interesting to know what that has achieved for you, that you couldn't have done at 80 mpw. World record?

He's at 180 if you add underwater and warm-up/cool-down..

There is no mileage secret - some can achieve better times off of 60-70 mpw as opposed to 100+. Desisa runs 200+ mpw and he's only broken 2:05 once..

Space Ghost wrote:

It's no coincidence that the two Americans with the best combination of 5k/10k times, Rupp and Solinsky, also trained the hardest...

It's no coincidence but the causality largely goes the other way. The most fit athletes are: 1) able to handle the most training and 2) need a very high level of stimulus to continue improving.

Unless you've trained at 100+ mpw you'll never know how hard it is. So to all you doubters out there.....STOP commenting on this message board. Next, unless you've trained at 100+ mpw which included hard workouts (intervals, tempo runs, etc...) STOP commenting on this message board. First of all, Galen isn't running a 140 per week on the road/grass/trail. He's most likely running between 100-120 mpw and the equivalent of 20-40 mpw with the AlterG and underwater treadmill. Yes, there is a point where the body can no longer adapt to excessive mileage without getting injured and or depleting itself to exhaustion. This varies with everyone. You simply can't adequately replenish and recover enough to consistently train over a prolonged period of time (legally). That being said, the mental toughness to train day in and day out is the true X factor. To train on days when you're completely mentally and physically burnt out is the difference between a world class runner and BBQ 5k/10k jogger.

Galen is the REAL DEAL and has committed himself to being the best he can be. We should all step back and appreciate his amazing body of work through high school, college, and professional.

As a retired world class runner (X-country, Track, and Road) who competed at the highest level (High School, College, and Professional) and didn't go to Oregon or lives in Oregon or even knows Galen I truly admire his accomplishments and am proud to have participated in the same sport.

If Galen is healthy and the weather conditions in Boston are ideal he will DESTROY Ryan Hall's time of 2:04.58 If given the same conditions that Ryan competed in Galen will run close to 2:03.

LOCK IT IN....PUT IT IN THE BANK....DONE DEAL!!!

I'll comment where ever I want and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it!

People with less talent never get to build up to 100mpw with a former 2:08 marathon running, comrades winning , world's best grey area coach, and a personal endocrinologist on their side. No sense in bickering over it.