Is the 2017 Chicago Marathon being set up so Galen Rupp is almost guaranteed to win it?

Chicago = YAWNfest.

Expect another 2:10 'thon by Rupp.

The article has been up for less than 20 minutes but a source saw it and there is an update that I've added to the article:

Update at 1:52 pm (17 minutes after publication): While I wrote Chicago before publishing this article to confirm that they had published their complete elite field, a source texted me after seeing this article published to let me know that Olympic silver medallist 2:04:52 man Feyis Lelisa will also be running Chicago. So that makes things a little more interesting. But the same source did like the tone of the article and reminded that Chicago is a Nike sponsored race so they likely want a Nike sponsored winner. This tweet seems to back up what my source was telling me.

https://twitter.com/ChrisChavez/status/897654137244053504

Playig devil's advocate, the flaw in your logic is that you appear to be speculating about the motivation of the race organizers without having any personal knowledge of the situation. Maybe they tried to get more high quality runners but they just declined. They can't force people to run in their race. And I'm sure if any sub 2:06 guys wanted to try to win some money they would be more than welcome to enter the race just like the rest of us.

With all that said on paper it does look ripe for Rupp's taking.

Trollometer wrote:

No one wants to run Chicago without pacers.

That's simply not true. They haven't had pacers the last few years and the field have been much better.

And New York, which also doesn't have pacers, regularly secures the 2nd best marathon field of the year - way better than Berlin.

Trollometer wrote:

7/10, but only that high because we don't expect you to troll. No one wants to run Chicago without pacers.

You're being generous. I'm giving 3/10 since they wrote the same article for the Boston Marathon.

Is the Olympic silver medalist Lilesa living in the US now?

Lilesa will be a challenge for Rupp. Since he beat Rupp at the Olympics it seems like it is now unlikely for Rupp to win, unless he can finally pull off something faster than his usual 2:09/10.

Is this going to be Rupp's big breakthrough?

I am perplexed by all of this. A win in Chicago doesn't have the casche it once did. At this point in his marathon career, you would think Rupp would be gunning for a fast time. He could probably run sub-2:05 with pacers, but there are no pacers in Chicago. What would be the point of a slow-ish win in Chicago?

Letsrun, where your fears become reality.

Barabbas wrote:

I am perplexed by all of this. A win in Chicago doesn't have the casche it once did. At this point in his marathon career, you would think Rupp would be gunning for a fast time. He could probably run sub-2:05 with pacers, but there are no pacers in Chicago. What would be the point of a slow-ish win in Chicago?

Cachet is what I think you are getting at?

You are wrong about this. The average person thinks a win in Chicago, New York, hell even the Marine Corps marathon is prestigious. When my brother won the Marine Corps marathon, his co-workers were asking him if he'd win New York or Boston.

And the average runner (as compared to person) cares a lot more about a Chicago Marathon win than they do a 2:05 loss in some marathon they've never heard of. I do as well.

As for the guy who said, we talked about this last year for Boston. That's not true. I wondered if it was true before the final Boston field was set. The final field ended up being decent and Rupp didn't win.

rojo wrote:

You are wrong about this. The average person thinks a win in Chicago, New York, hell even the Marine Corps marathon is prestigious. When my brother won the Marine Corps marathon, his co-workers were asking him if he'd win New York or Boston.

Lol @ hobbyjoggers. NOBODY thinks the Marine Corps Marathon is prestigious.

Athlete Rep here: I submitted an athlete who has run 2:07 for Chicago and they said no. Amazing.

moose wrote:

rojo wrote:

You are wrong about this. The average person thinks a win in Chicago, New York, hell even the Marine Corps marathon is prestigious. When my brother won the Marine Corps marathon, his co-workers were asking him if he'd win New York or Boston.

Lol @ hobbyjoggers. NOBODY thinks the Marine Corps Marathon is prestigious.

lol I've never even heard of it

mrtalent wrote:

Lilesa will be a challenge for Rupp. Since he beat Rupp at the Olympics it seems like it is now unlikely for Rupp to win, unless he can finally pull off something faster than his usual 2:09/10.

Is this going to be Rupp's big breakthrough?

You clowns just don't get it. All 3 of Rupp's marathons have been CHAMPIONSHIP races. Without pacers, no one is going to pop a sub-2:05. Look at Kipchoge's winning time in the Olympics - 2:08:44. Why didn't he run 2:03 or 2:04?! It was a CHAMPIONSHIP race. Rupp is not going to Chicago for some silly time trial - the time will not be fast.

And Rojo - 2/10. Your hate for the NOP is real.

Rupp perhaps needs a fast time -- 2:07 something or better -- more than a major marathon win?

Two things:

The adidas camp is still better: Mary keitany, Caroline Kipkirui, Dennis Kimmeto,Wilson Kipsang, the Mutais, Pres Jipchirchir, Daniel W.,tamirat tola, Joyciline Jepkosgei

Kipsang won Tokyo

Mary K won London

Daniel won London

It appears that Lelisa is going to pace Rupp, plus Dibaba on the women's side

I see you Nike with your script!

Barabbas wrote:

I am perplexed by all of this. A win in Chicago doesn't have the casche it once did. At this point in his marathon career, you would think Rupp would be gunning for a fast time. He could probably run sub-2:05 with pacers, but there are no pacers in Chicago. What would be the point of a slow-ish win in Chicago?

You are correct. But you're missing the fact that a win in Chicago is great business for Nike. Chicago is one of the biggest races in the US and one that means a lot for a shoe/apparel company. Not the same as NY or Boston, but definitely 3rd. And by far Rupp's best chance for a win among those three.

mypredictor wrote:

Barabbas wrote:

I am perplexed by all of this. A win in Chicago doesn't have the casche it once did. At this point in his marathon career, you would think Rupp would be gunning for a fast time. He could probably run sub-2:05 with pacers, but there are no pacers in Chicago. What would be the point of a slow-ish win in Chicago?

You are correct. But you're missing the fact that a win in Chicago is great business for Nike. Chicago is one of the biggest races in the US and one that means a lot for a shoe/apparel company. Not the same as NY or Boston, but definitely 3rd. And by far Rupp's best chance for a win among those three.

I don't buy this at all. Nike knows 95-99% of it's buyers don't care that the winner of Chicago is a Nike athlete. Their target audience responds to nice race t-shirts and a large expo with swooshes everywhere.

Quite simply Chicago does not have the budget to bring in big names. Did they spend it all on appearance fees for Hasay and Rupp? If I was a potential winner, what would pull me to Chicago instead of the glitzy, popular, and most importantly rich NYCM? Nothing.

Rupp winning Chicago would be cool but Nike knows it's not putting extra dollars in their pockets. They would be better off using half his appearance fee to hand out free Nike hats at the finish line.