Galen Rupp--As Important as Lemaitre

[trackster]

A lot of you sprints-uber-alles types will have trouble with the name of this thread, but you just have to search the web for the reaction to Rupp's silver in the 10K to realize that it caused a much, much larger splash than LeMaitre's first sub-10.

Of course, news of Christophe's sub-10 was suppressed in the US by the PC press, muting its impact. Rupp's silver was a different thing. Distance runners comprise a large, connected community. They don't need the press. There are gazillions of distance runners who obsessively read about running, think about running, etc., and for years, they've had to watch the big events hopelessly, thinking the east Africans were unbeatable and genetically advantaged. Even the elite athletes would lose at the starting line, surrendering before the race even started.

Yesterday, Galen changed all that. You should have seen the Let's Run boards. Last time I checked the main thread devoted to the 10K had over 600 posts in just a few hours--nearly all of them from people saying they broke down CRYING joyfully at the finish, or were jumping up and screaming at their TV (as I was). This was a huge emotional event, believe me. In the meanwhile, dozens more threads were started, all declaring Rupp was a boss, or calling him GALEN MF RUPP or somesuch.

An entire nation of distance runners has been galvanized. Hope is back.

And he still has the 5k to run. And win.

 

[trackster]

quote from today. Soak it in. This will be the best quote of the Olympics, if not the entire year 2012:

In the stands, Alberto Salazar, who coaches Rupp and Farah, was not surprised. This is a man who has told anyone who will listen for the past 20 years that the greatest myth in distance running is that the Africans had better genetics, or bigger hearts, or stronger will. He's been laughed at. He's been mocked. And still, the coach believed, all along, that this very thing would happen -- that distance running would again belong to Americans and Europeans.
"The Americans and Europeans had a defeatist attitude," Salazar said. "They gave up."


Salazar and his runners did not, however. They worked harder. They studied the Africans' training, diets and habits. They decided there were no shortcuts, and that they wouldn't be deterred if the positive results came slowly, or amid setbacks. And in the end, on this night, all of that belief, good talent, and a load of hard work paid off in a rousing statement that left the typical medalists in this event with hollowed-out eyes.

 

[freddie]

...and only three African women in the top ten of the Marathon this morning (admittedly two medals).

 

[GiovaniMarcon]

...and only three African women in the top ten of the Marathon this morning (admittedly two medals).

It was very nice to see Rupp's great final kick to overtake several other runners. While I'm happy he got a medal, of course, I can't help but feel that he held back a bit at the end, so as not to defeat his buddy.

While that's really nice of him, I doubt Farah would be so generous were the situation reversed.

Again, I'm not Rupp so I have no idea if this is true or not, it's just what I think.

 

[jacknyc]

As I mentioned in another thread, I think Rupp's performance was ground-breaking. He is the first runner of non-African descent to win a medal in the 10K since 1988.
African dominance in the long distances has just been a given for many, many years. This really changes that.

I also think that Rupp could have won the gold, but didn't have the confidence to think he could win. He basically followed Farah the entire race. Admittedly, Farah had better credentials than Rupp, so I think Rupp's mentality was just to try to run with Farah. But now that he did so well and has the silver, it will give him the confidence to believe that not only can he run at the top level, he can actually win.
If he had been a little closer at the start of the last lap, he might well have done it. He was gaining on Farah at the very end.
Anyway, I hope we see a repeat performance or better from him in the 5K.

 

[foobar75]

I have cable, and luckily, all the Olympic races are available On Demand, for free, the day after the event. I watched the 10K about 3 times already, and each time, I find myself just laughing and screaming! The historic nature of this accomplishment is sinking in now. I'm not sure if Farah could've been beaten, and I'm somewhat convinced he got a lift from the crowd that carried him to victory. But Rupp's kick in the final 150m was something to behold. He left all the rest of the Africans in the dust as he switched to another gear.

Is Farah running the 5K? Either way, Rupp should be among the medal favorites in that race, and I hope his confidence is sky-high.

 

[trackster]

Yep, they're both in the 5000. In fact, the 5000 field is brutal this year. But Rupp is right in the thick of it. He's as good as anyone.

 

[Cartouche]

A lot of you sprints-uber-alles types will have trouble with the name of this thread, but you just have to search the web for the reaction to Rupp's silver in the 10K to realize that it caused a much, much larger splash than LeMaitre's first sub-10.

Of course, news of Christophe's sub-10 was suppressed in the US by the PC press, muting its impact. Rupp's silver was a different thing. Distance runners comprise a large, connected community. They don't need the press. There are gazillions of distance runners who obsessively read about running, think about running, etc., and for years, they've had to watch the big events hopelessly, thinking the east Africans were unbeatable and genetically advantaged. Even the elite athletes would lose at the starting line, surrendering before the race even started.

Yesterday, Galen changed all that. You should have seen the Let's Run boards. Last time I checked the main thread devoted to the 10K had over 600 posts in just a few hours--nearly all of them from people saying they broke down CRYING joyfully at the finish, or were jumping up and screaming at their TV (as I was). This was a huge emotional event, believe me. In the meanwhile, dozens more threads were started, all declaring Rupp was a boss, or calling him GALEN MF RUPP or somesuch.

An entire nation of distance runners has been galvanized. Hope is back.

And he still has the 5k to run. And win.

Rupp or no Rupp. It's quite pointless, because the participation rate in industrialized countries in athletics has been minimal during the last 25 years, and most events traditionally dominated by whites shows sign of a gradual decay. I like watching athletics, but since a certain time, I don't give a damn about the ethnic composition of events, because I know that they don't mirror the real global potential. You can't seriously take a sport in which half the events are filled with global B-class athletes.

 

[Cartouche]

quote from today. Soak it in. This will be the best quote of the Olympics, if not the entire year 2012:

In the stands, Alberto Salazar, who coaches Rupp and Farah, was not surprised. This is a man who has told anyone who will listen for the past 20 years that the greatest myth in distance running is that the Africans had better genetics, or bigger hearts, or stronger will. He's been laughed at. He's been mocked. And still, the coach believed, all along, that this very thing would happen -- that distance running would again belong to Americans and Europeans.
"The Americans and Europeans had a defeatist attitude," Salazar said. "They gave up."


Salazar and his runners did not, however. They worked harder. They studied the Africans' training, diets and habits. They decided there were no shortcuts, and that they wouldn't be deterred if the positive results came slowly, or amid setbacks. And in the end, on this night, all of that belief, good talent, and a load of hard work paid off in a rousing statement that left the typical medalists in this event with hollowed-out eyes.

First of all, Americans and Europeans didn't care at all. They vacated the sport almost completely 25 years ago. That was the key reason for the illusionary "African domination".

Judging from the amazing improvements, Salazar's group is most probably on some very good stuff. But that's not so important, because Africans have been doping heavily as well since mid 90's. The most important thing that I would like to add that the effort put into producing long distance medal winners in USA is irrational, because US white runners have a much better potential for the 400-3000 m range. You can find a good 10 000 m runner within a 200 million population, O.K., but if you concentrated with the same effort on the above mentioned distances, you would win medals like on a conveyor belt.

 

[white is right]

Rupp or no Rupp. It's quite pointless, because the participation rate in industrialized countries in athletics has been minimal during the last 25 years, and most events traditionally dominated by whites shows sign of a gradual decay. I like watching athletics, but since a certain time, I don't give a damn about the ethnic composition of events, because I know that they don't mirror the real global potential. You can't seriously take a sport in which half the events are filled with global B-class athletes.

Yes i have noticed this too. All of sudden Black athletes are making in roads in the throwing events yet these athletes aren't placing that highly in these events at global meets. In the past American White athletes dominated throwing events.

 

[trackster]

For most track fans, there was only one performance yesterday: Galen Rupp's. Everyone is flabbergasted. The Olympic medalist dropped down to a shorter distance and in his first race of the season got close to national and world records, producing a time light years faster than anyone else's in the world this year.

Galen (who is a 10k/5k specialist whom most assume will soon switch to the 26.2 mile Marathon) ran the mile in Boston yesterday. No one expected he would come remotely close to 3:50 (a stated goal), but he did it.

Here's the SUPER EXCITING RACE VIDEO (announcers scream themselves hoarse).

 

[white lightning]

Galen Rupp put on an epic performance last night. I know he is not a mile runner but I would love for him to take another shot at the record. So damn close. I was jumping out of my chair watching it. I haven't been that excited since Christophe ran his first sub 10! Thanks for posting this amazing video of this incredible superstar. He like Cain should be able to break many, many records. I hope they both become household names!!

 

[jacknyc]

Great, great race!!!
Would love to see all the American mile records reclaimed by Rupp (or any other American-born American).

 

[white lightning]

Here is to Galen Rupp breaking the Amercian Record very soon. Great article. I love this kid.

http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/galen-rupp-running-indoor-5-k-february-16

 

[greyghost]

truth

yep. fantastic stuff by rupp... and yes he is as important as lemaitre , when breaking myths ....also watch out for cathain olionard this season , another caste buster

 

[WhiteBoySwag24]

It was very nice to see Rupp's great final kick to overtake several other runners. While I'm happy he got a medal, of course, I can't help but feel that he held back a bit at the end, so as not to defeat his buddy.

While that's really nice of him, I doubt Farah would be so generous were the situation reversed.

Again, I'm not Rupp so I have no idea if this is true or not, it's just what I think.

They are teammates I believe Farah would have... He is a good guy too...

 

[jacknyc]

Rupp with a new American record in the 3000m at a big international meet in Stockholm.
7:30.18 NR
I believe that makes me 6th or 7th fastest all time.
He is really becoming a caste buster!

 

[white lightning]

You beat me to it. Rupp is amazing. He is becoming a legend at a very young age similar to Steve Prefontaine. I just hope his story doesn't end in a tragic way like Steves did. Galen Rupp is just more proof that the Kenyans and Ethiopians can be beat. Keep it up Galen!

 

[trackster]

Here's a video of Rupp's last lap in breaking the American Record for the 3000. Would have been even faster if he hadn't had to constantly take the second lane to pass lapped runners.

 

[WhiteBoySwag24]

You beat me to it. Rupp is amazing. He is becoming a legend at a very young age similar to Steve Prefontaine. I just hope his story doesn't end in a tragic way like Steves did. Galen Rupp is just more proof that the Kenyans and Ethiopians can be beat. Keep it up Galen!

Of course Kenyans and Ethiopians can be beat. Plenty of those guys dope anyways. If you want me to give you a list I have one... The key thing to note is American Distance running is spiking again, the biggest boom since the 70s and 80s. Alberto Salazar doesnt believe in genetics and believe Americans are just as good. He has told the media this multiple times. Rupp is a fantastic runner. But, I dont see how his career is similar to Prefontaines. Pre died when he was 24... Rupp is 26 now. Pre held 7 American records at one time. Galen Rupp has two (10k and indoor 3k)... Both fantastic runners and coming from a NCAA division 1 collegiate runner I do know my facts. Despite being white they have had different lifestyles and different careers. Both are fantastic...

Look at this though. We have now Galen Rupp, Matt Tegenkamp, Chris Solinsky, Chris Derrick, Evan Jager, Andrew Bumbalough, Nick Symmonds, Andrew Wheating, Dathan Ritzehein, Ryan Hall, Cam Levins (technically not sure if he is full white), Eric Sowinski, Alan Webb, and plenty of other top notch athletes too.
Many white collegiate runners will go pro too.

America will be back on top (White American athletes) Its so annoying to see Lagat considered American and Lopez Lomong. Thats just not what an American distance runner looks like. All my teammates agree and plenty of other people agree as well.

 

[white lightning]

Everyone knows how thousands of hours of running are involved in an elite distance guys training. One thing they don't realise is how much work they do with plyos and weight training. Watch this workout with the legend Galen Rupp and you will be tired and sore just thinking about what he puts his body through to be the best in the world. There are alot easier career options but you have to admire the desire and dedication he puts in to be the best. Here's the video.

http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/24...son-7/video/684139-WOW-Rupp-in-the-Weightroom