Will Rupp ever sign up for London or Berlin

Maybe, why dont you ask linden if she's running as well?

Rupp is a professional. Professionals don't "sign up" for major marathons. It's kind of a courting dance. The athlete has to fit into the race director's plans and the race has to fit into the athlete's plans. A recent quote by Mo Farah gives some insight into the process:

"I don't know which marathon yet - which one invites you or which one is going to look after you,' Farah said after beating a soft field to win the London 10,000 in 29min 44sec.

'I think Chicago is a little faster. New York is a little hillier. But what athletes are they going to have? That is the key again. If you are racing against all the big names then why not learn from the big guys.

'Rupp is running Chicago. If I want to do the (Tokyo) Olympics I have to know how to beat this guy and race this guy and how to battle with him."

Before Rupp ran 2:06 I imagine he got only token interest from London and Berlin because they invite athletes based on their times, and Rupp's wasn't good enough. 2:06 still isn't 2:03 or 2:04 so he is probably a second-tier athlete for race directors, which means he's not going to get as much money upfront which is a big gamble for a professional marathoner. You don't want to spend months training for a marathon and come away with not much money to show for it if you run poorly. I imagine the ultimate goal for Salazar/Rupp is to win the 2020 Olympic marathon so they will do whatever races that will prepare Rupp best for that race. If that means racing the big boys at London or Berlin, then they will try to make that happen. If it means building Rupp's marathon strength for two years and practicing tactics at second-tier marathons, then that may happen as well.

Why do Salazar and Rupp’s highest goal is to win 2020 Olympic marathon? An Olympic marathon is nowhere near as prestigious as London or Berlin, and wouldn’t bring you the same fane and fortune as them. They are aiming for a second class target

It carries FAR more prestige in all contexts that matter. To the general public, an Olympic ANYTHING is the greatest accomplishment in the discipline. They do not know that the competition is more shallow purely based on the fact that Kenya and Ethiopia only get 3 entries each.

To the general public (including most hobby-joggers), the London Marathon is the equivalent of something like the Marine Corps Marathon. They're both big marathons that happen every year. In contrast, the Olympic Marathon is the pinnacle of the sport, and it will be FAR easier to market the Olympic Marathon Champion than the London Marathon Champion.

????? wrote:

Why do Salazar and Rupp’s highest goal is to win 2020 Olympic marathon? An Olympic marathon is nowhere near as prestigious as London or Berlin, and wouldn’t bring you the same fane and fortune as them. They are aiming for a second class target

Are you kidding? Do you know how many Americans have won the Olympics since WWII? Two total. Winning Olympic gold is still a big, big deal. Why do you think Kipchoge ran in 2016, foregoing a fall marathon? Kipchoge has won big marathons but he still wanted the gold medal. Yes, in the short term winning London/Berlin gives you more fame and fortune, but in the long run, Olympic gold is worth more. Rupp is highly paid now, so he doesn't need the money like runners from Kenya might. I'm sure Rupp wants to win London/Berlin, too, but not if they don't help him win the Olympics. Also, lets be honest, Rupp is still 2-3 minutes behind the top guys. Winning the Olympics in a tactical race in warm weather against fewer Africans is more likely than winning London/Berlin.

P.S. I wouldn't be surprised if Rupp runs London next year. It would be foolish to race the Olympics having no experience against his competition. 2019 would be the only year he could do it before the Olympics because in 2020 he will have to race the Olympic Trials and then the Olympics.

This will most likely be Rupps last chance at a gold medal. He has the silver and the bronz. The goal has always been winning gold.

Les wrote:

Before Rupp ran 2:06 I imagine he got only token interest from London and Berlin because they invite athletes based on their times, and Rupp's wasn't good enough. 2:06 still isn't 2:03 or 2:04 so he is probably a second-tier athlete for race directors, which means he's not going to get as much money upfront which is a big gamble for a professional marathoner.

London definitely would've wanted Galen to run. No question. It's Galen that wouldn't have been interested. If what you said is true then why would they let Mo Farah in a few years ago, with no marathon PB at all? At least Galen was the 2016 Oly Bronze medalist.

And Galen would get more appearance $ than some 2:04 Kenyan guy.

reed wrote:

Les wrote:

Before Rupp ran 2:06 I imagine he got only token interest from London and Berlin because they invite athletes based on their times, and Rupp's wasn't good enough. 2:06 still isn't 2:03 or 2:04 so he is probably a second-tier athlete for race directors, which means he's not going to get as much money upfront which is a big gamble for a professional marathoner.

London definitely would've wanted Galen to run. No question. It's Galen that wouldn't have been interested. If what you said is true then why would they let Mo Farah in a few years ago, with no marathon PB at all? At least Galen was the 2016 Oly Bronze medalist.

And Galen would get more appearance $ than some 2:04 Kenyan guy.

This. Not sure what planet this Les guy is living on. He's like the high school kids here that get wrapped up in times - 2:04 at Dubai by Ethiopian X or 2:04 at a non-major by Kenyan Y means nothing. This has been proven over and over and over again. London or Berlin would roll out the red carpet for Galen - no questions asked (albeit he would costs waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than Ethiopian X or Kenyan Y). And anyone with a brain knows he would likely be the favorite over anyone not named Kipchoge (or possibly Farah).....

Rupp is NOT 2nd tier to any race director, He won when he ran 2:06 and he ran away from a 2:04 Marathoner, plus the Olympic Silver in the 10000 in 2012, and the Olympic Bronze in the Marathon, and his fast 10K's 26:44 and 26:48 and the 12:58 5k and the indoor 3000 in 7:30 and the 3:50 mile and his longevity as a top distance runner meaning he has been around long enough to have a fan base or people who are interested in how he does, and being the rare top distance runner not from Kenya or Ethiopia which right or wrong increases his marketability, but even if he was Kenyan based on Rupp's credentials alone he is FIRST TIER

What you said is correct for most, but not all athletes. Rupp has a sizable endorsement deal from Nike, in fact, he has a personal relationship with the CEO. I am not saying appearance and performance incentives don't matter, but Rupp is not chasing the buck when it comes to racing. Rupp is a competitor and is attempting to build a legacy of success. With that in mind, where and when Rupp race will be based on the pedigree of the event and his opportunity to win. Global championships and of course American majors will his first look. I can't think of any great American marathoner who ran London, Berlin or any other marathon until they ran on U.S. soil a couple of times.

reed wrote:

Les wrote:

Before Rupp ran 2:06 I imagine he got only token interest from London and Berlin because they invite athletes based on their times, and Rupp's wasn't good enough. 2:06 still isn't 2:03 or 2:04 so he is probably a second-tier athlete for race directors, which means he's not going to get as much money upfront which is a big gamble for a professional marathoner.

London definitely would've wanted Galen to run. No question. It's Galen that wouldn't have been interested. If what you said is true then why would they let Mo Farah in a few years ago, with no marathon PB at all? At least Galen was the 2016 Oly Bronze medalist.

And Galen would get more appearance $ than some 2:04 Kenyan guy.

Farah is simple. He's a BRIT and a national hero. Rupp is not. Farah is almost obliged to run his hometown marathon. Well, Rupp would REQUIRE more appearance money than a Kenyan for him to be interested. But would he be competitive? Especially with the crazy fast pace they went out on this year? He's never run a marathon like that yet. I think in a year he could be. Interesting that he and Farah are roughly equivalent right now at the marathon. It would be very interesting if Farah raced Chicago in the fall.

He might be now after running 2:06 and winning the third-tier Prague Marathon (not even a marathon major), but prior to London he was a 2:09 guy who had only won a domestic marathon. He has good track credentials, but they pale compared to Farah. If I'm the London race director looking at the 2018 field I invite Farah first without question if I want to invite a track guy who hasn't run a fast marathon, then think about Rupp. It could well be Rupp WAS invited to London this year, but didn't want to race Farah just yet. Next year might be different. It would be a huge feather in Salazar/Rupp's cap if he beat Farah at home next year.

Runnergrl wrote:

This will most likely be Rupps last chance at a gold medal. He has the silver and the bronz. The goal has always been winning gold.

Yes, things building nicely for Rupp. He already runs well in warm weather -- something Hall never was good at. He's learning marathon-winning tactics and has run faster, but not super-fast. If he runs, say 2:04 at London next year, the only thing I can see stopping him is Kipchoge IF he decides to run the Olympics. If Kipchoge decides to run the Olympics, even at his age, he's going to be very, very hard to beat. He already has a mental trump card over everyone -- he was 25 seconds from running under 2 hours. Not a real race, but still.... something to think about for the competition.

You must be another high schooler still leaving brown stains in your underwear pretending to know what you sre talking about. Ask any ELITE athlete and they will tell you their dream after winning major marathons: Olympic gold. I bet you they will even tell you they feel their careers incomplete without that in their resume.

Learn a thing or 2 kid .

the only second class target i would aim for is your sister

No. Next question.

If I am the Berlin or London Marathon RD, why would I pay a premium for Galen Rupp (and have the Oregon Project controversy) if I can get faster Kenyans way cheaper? I get it that American marathons would do that, but to a German or British audience, Rupp is just another foreign guy.

Berlon wrote:

If I am the Berlin or London Marathon RD, why would I pay a premium for Galen Rupp (and have the Oregon Project controversy) if I can get faster Kenyans way cheaper? I get it that American marathons would do that, but to a German or British audience, Rupp is just another foreign guy.

Agreed. I don't believe London or Berlin will want to pay a premium for Rupp. They would pay him whatever the going rate is for a 2:06 athlete. For Rupp to run either of these races would mean Rupp needs them more than they need Rupp. If Rupp feels he is capable of going well under 2:06 then he may sign up for one as he knows the pace will be that fast. However, if his focus is on the 2020 Olympic Marathon then he will probably stick to races where his tactical skills are more critical than blazing speed.