What's better? SLOW pro runners who get 👏 👏 on social media or GALEN MF RUPP, who gets the job done

I am curious about the history of Rupp hating at Let's Run. It started long before the Salazar ban, it started long before the Olympic 10,000 silver, before Mo Farah joined the Oregon project.

Was it because of the he-man, regular Joe image of Chris Solinsky, and other runners that got the build-up at Let's Run? sort of "I'll take the blue collar guy anytime over Rupp?"

I'm a fan of distance running, and U.S. distance running in particular. I'm a Rupp fan since 2006.

Bill Squires! He talked at my High School track banquet, as he was friends with my coach Pat McMahon (12th Mexico City Olympic marathon for Ireland.)

When I was 19, I was having a bad day in a 5-mile road race. Billy Squires catches up with me (he was in his mid 40s then) - and chats me up. He corrects my arm carriage, tells me to cut my stride and relax. I get my groove going and the rest of the race feels great, thanks Billy.

Big Red wrote:

I am curious about the history of Rupp hating at Let's Run. It started long before the Salazar ban, it started long before the Olympic 10,000 silver, before Mo Farah joined the Oregon project.

Was it because of the he-man, regular Joe image of Chris Solinsky, and other runners that got the build-up at Let's Run? sort of "I'll take the blue collar guy anytime over Rupp?"

I'm a fan of distance running, and U.S. distance running in particular. I'm a Rupp fan since 2006.

I've been on Letsrun (and was on Dyestat) since 2001. I've never been a Rupp fanboi, but I have greatly respected his accomplishments and abilities - same for Centro (who shares equal disdain here).

The Rupp negativity started when he was getting professional coaching from Al Sal, went Pro out of US, then ended up un-Proing and going to Oregon. The approach and path to his success was disconnected and overthought when compared to the resurgence of distance running and mileage-based approaches in the early 2000s. You had runners like Ritz, Hall, Solinsky, Withrow, McDougal, Magness etc etc and books like OAR and RWTB providing examples of hard work, miles and dedication creating success.

Rupp's paid-for, Nike-backed, private-school-reality approach left a bad taste when he came out of HS. He didn't have massive success early on at Oregon and that seemed to satisfy the haters. But once his SR campaign happened and the beast was loose, people had to work hard to hate on him. Too much success, too good of range, too much consistency from 2008-on. Only Solinsky stealing his 10,000m thunder and the Al Sal fallout really provided ammo to discredit his character.

should be studying 102 wrote:

remember before the olympic trials when a few of the pre-race favorites talked about the target on Rupp's back? Laughable. Rupp is a man among boys in American marathoning. A true bada$$ who puts in the work with out self congratulatory posting on Instagram. This dude is the "spiritual progeny" of the hard working, tough as nails marathon boom of the 1970's, he has a pretty darn impressive coaching pedigree that includes influences from legend Alberto Salazar, USA GOAT bill rodgers and OG coaching bada$$ Bill squires.

He was so calm he sat down on his butt waiting at the starting line. That is chutzpah.

Lets run encouraged hating on him well before any allegations of drugs etc with awful photos (e.g. the one in the mask constantly used when he won races) and coverage that made him look bad. Jerry's boys used to prank call him for kicks when in college too. Silly immature bullying really. The hating on him has to do with jealously and something to do with the stupid ideal of a the 'blue collar runner' and Rupp being the opposite. Not sure why Americans are so obsessed with being blue collar. Guess what, if you want to win Olympic medals as a westerner in pretty much any track event you are very unlikely to do it a by being 'blue collar'. I used to love logging onto lets run after yet another success or US title for Rupp to see all the haters apologise. By far the best US distance runner of his generation.

randomtucsonguy wrote:

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/galen-rupp-sits-at-the-start-line-as-they-wait-for-the-news-photo/1209504640

remember when Scott Fauble made fun of Rupp for this? Fauble, who has never really accomplished anything at all. Meanwhile, Rupp keeps qualifying for Olympic Teams

I'm happy to say I've always been a Rupp fan. I got interested in running in 2008, right before Beijing. Rupp ran a decent ~27:30 there and then had a great college season, so it was pretty clear to me, a new runner, that he was going to be a real deal at the pro level. I was also a big fan of Lukas Verzbicas, who was really starting to explode around then in high school. They are both around my height and "look" so it was easy for me to see myself like them, only WAY slower.

Anyone that has success is going to be made fun of by someone out of jealousy and envy. Rupp has been in 4 Olympics and put in a good showing every single time. Even now I would say he is almost a lock to be on the Paris team as well. I don't see three other Americans making that headway in the marathon, and with examples we've seen with other runners having great success in their late 30s in the marathon, I actually think Rupp could set the AR more than once yet. But only if he can get away from the draw of Boston in the spring (or great weather on a paced year at Chicago).

What do you mean by "better"? Do you mean "better" for pro running as a sport? Or something else?

Yes, Galen has a very impressive running résumé, but outside of running circles, no one knows or cares who he is. I would bet you that if you polled 100 average Americans, more of them would know who Sha' Carri Richardson is than Rupp.

Rupp will be on the marathon team for Paris, because overall we suck at mens marathoning.

And Rupp's PR is four minutes behind the WR. He's a 2:12 guy when his mentor Salazar had "the WR." He's a 2:13 guy when Rodgers won everything.

And unless we're looking at some groomed TT event, 2:12 and 2:13 are sparkling times for every other male marathoner not named Galen Rupp. Which is pretty dang pathetic.

I want Drew Hunter's form wrote:

Rupp will be on the marathon team for Paris, because overall we suck at mens marathoning.

And Rupp's PR is four minutes behind the WR. He's a 2:12 guy when his mentor Salazar had "the WR." He's a 2:13 guy when Rodgers won everything.

And unless we're looking at some groomed TT event, 2:12 and 2:13 are sparkling times for every other male marathoner not named Galen Rupp. Which is pretty dang pathetic.

How many of those guys have Olympic silver and bronze medals?

At least go talk with Ben True wrote:

randomtucsonguy wrote:

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/galen-rupp-sits-at-the-start-line-as-they-wait-for-the-news-photo/1209504640

remember when Scott Fauble made fun of Rupp for this? Fauble, who has never really accomplished anything at all. Meanwhile, Rupp keeps qualifying for Olympic Teams

Fauble actually did that? Jim Croce wrote a song that Fauble should listen to. When I saw Rupp sitting down at the start my thoughts were "They're already beaten. All of them. This race is for 2nd."

I have nothing against Fauble but he could never and he is one of the ones who actually cares like he wishes he was half as bada$$. Instead, he runs decently but is clearly not on the same level and continues along with his burrito adoration (nothing to do with Shelby, he has been a strong proponent of non-laced burritos for quite a while). I even remember a podcast episode in which he was asked would he rather never eat another burrito or win an Olympic medal (maybe it was set a WR or something basically impossible for him) and he literally chose the BURRITO! Explanation given was you have to enjoy life which of course I agree with but on the other hand it is almost impossible to imagine Rupp giving the same answer. He would say "I would live of a diet of who knows what in order to be the best version of myself."