Who you got in Chicago: Farah or Rupp?

I say they cross the line together, holding hands.

Is Kawauchi still going to be running CM? Is he now starting to run full time? How fast would Rupp and Farah run if they actually had to hold down a full time job? - Sub 2h 30?

I'm going to have to go with Farah, this time. I hope it's Rupp but his pulling out of the half in Europe causes me to be concerned that he missed some training and that will affect his race. I really hope I'm wrong and I will qualify my prediction by saying that if I am wrong about missed training, then I think Rupp will beat Farah. We will hear about the training after, I think. I'm really just predicting that Rupp missed training, I guess.

It'll be a miracle if they both start and/or finish.

Gravy wrote:

It'll be a miracle if they both start and/or finish.

I've got my money on both finishing but not starting

Yuki Kawauchi FTW, slo mo and Rupp going home devastated!!!!

There's no chance they both start.

Mosinet Gemerew FTW. You heard it first.

Farah without a doubt. Rupp will DNF. If the Achilles injury is real it likely affected his preparation, even if he is healthy enough to race. Assuming Mo had an uninterrupted build-up he will win. He’s in Rupp’s head. Too many losses to Mo.

I'm struggling to understand how anyone can think Rupp is favourite.

Once you factor in Farah's PB was set in very hot conditions in London this year (21° and sunny by 10am) then all factors point to sir Mo finishing out of Rupp's sight.

Clipse187 wrote:

I'm struggling to understand how anyone can think Rupp is favourite.

Once you factor in Farah's PB was set in very hot conditions in London this year (21° and sunny by 10am) then all factors point to sir Mo finishing out of Rupp's sight.

Again with the extreme heat nonsense. Elites in 2018 London ran from 18 at the start to 21c at the finish. Rupp ran his PB in 18c. He's never run in optimal conditions. Give it a rest.

Hmsgkmdgvs wrote:

Farah without a doubt. Rupp will DNF. If the Achilles injury is real it likely affected his preparation, even if he is healthy enough to race. Assuming Mo had an uninterrupted build-up he will win. He’s in Rupp’s head. Too many losses to Mo.

Rupp wins. If his Achilles held back his training this will only HELP. No overtraining this time, he will be fresh and rested.

Does ANYONE have an update on Rupp's Achilles? Asking for a friend...

I was looking forward to this race due to Hasay and Cragg running, but since they have both withdrawn from the race, I'm no longer excited about it.

This is now a Nike Promotional race, where the attention is going to be on 2 nike athletes. That does not make for a pure race.

I'm seriously thinking about skipping it, and just focus on my long run in the morning.

16° at 10am in Prague so 5° cooler than for Farah's PB. Not saying London was "extreme heat" (although very hot for a London April) but if you don't think that is worth 15 seconds over a marathon then your understanding of physiology is probably pretty limited.

Kipchoge ran 2:04 in London which on his form was slow (ridiculously!)

Mo split 61/65 in London 2018. He was basically on his own, holding on for dear life the last 10-15k of the race. His debut in 2014 was a bonk. Rupp has won twice and shown that he has learned how to attack the second half of a marathon and push the pace. He also has a 2:06 under his belt, meaning that he will not be intimidated by pace. So, on paper, Rupp has the advantage of experience.

I would not be concerned about Rupp missing some training due to his Achilles as long as he was able to get work done in the water/alter g, etc. If he is pain free on race day, it will not be a factor. If he is hurting on race day, he will not have a chance and will probably DNS as AlSal has always been hyper protective of Rupp.

So, I would say Rupp will be Farah if healthy just because Rupp has been racing more consistently and has proven himself to be a top marathoner. But, if Rupp and Farah are shoulder to shoulder at mile 25, Farah will out kick Rupp. Rupp cannot hold a candle to Farah in an all out hard kick in a race at any distance.

Farah: 1:59:47

Rupp: 2:00:32

After I posted earlier, NOP put up this video on FB and Instagram. Last workout for Rupp, they say, and no indication that it's not full speed ahead.