Can he transition to coaching? He hasn't openly shown that desire... so I'm guessing that isn't in the works
The US desperately needs a marathon focused group that can produce some sub 2:08 guys. I don't see Rupp being head coach material but he should be part of this much needed program.
Well, he ran 2:09 after stopping briefly and he probably has a bulging disc in his back. That said, he’s still the fastest American marathoner at the moment. He definitely doesn’t want to go out like this. He’ll probably race pissed off at least once more for one last competitive result.
Can he transition to coaching? He hasn't openly shown that desire... so I'm guessing that isn't in the works
The US desperately needs a marathon focused group that can produce some sub 2:08 guys. I don't see Rupp being head coach material but he should be part of this much needed program.
Shoe companies won't allow a marathon focused group to train together. There aren't enough runners sponsored by any simgle shoe company to make it work.
Lol, 2:09 isn't washed up. You, BadWigins, carmine, Yawn all need to go form your own little society where you can validate the alternate realities you live in instead of trying to push them on everybody else.
1 - Try to resolve the issue with his back so that he can train and compete at an elite level.
2 - Retire from competition and move on to the next phase of his life.
If he retires, there is no doubt that Nike will take care of him. He is one of the most decorated runners in American history. Nike will sign him to a contract/ legends endorsement deal (a la Joanie and Alberto). I am sure they would let him coach or work for the company if Galen wanted to. But Galen has probably made many millions running over the course of an 18 year career as their top-paid American distance runner that he can elect to sit back and focus on being a parent for a few years.
Also, while Galen secluded himself and does not appear as openly as Meb did in his prime years, Galen is still a huge name. If he does a photo/autograph signing at a major marathon expo, the line will be around the hall to see him. Because he’s Galen Rupp.
It is possible he can recover from the back issue. The only question is whether there will be ongoing nerve compression preventing him from training 100%. He could elect to have surgery, but once you start cutting, he will ultimately have these same problems re-appear down the road. If he lets things heal naturally (which he should try to do), there’s no telling what the final outcome will be on ability to perform at an elite level or how long it will take to get back there.
Nevertheless, I wish him the best. I’ve always loved and respected Meb because you know if he toed the line he was going to leave it all out there. But I feel like with Galen, when he toed the line, it felt like he was going to do something really special. I mean - he sat at the starting line in Atlanta patiently waiting for the race start, knowing he was going to destroy everyone in that field. He was so far and ahead better than everyone else it’s not even comparable.
Ran 206 9 months ago in the heat. Looked great through 20. If he can solve the sciatic issue has a few in him....
This.
If the Champs were anywhere else in the world, he'd probably have scratched. Even so, he looked really smooth and solid through 20 miles.
Certainly not washed up.
Kind of sad, though, that we have all these full-time professional runners and our 3rd guy in the race is a full-time financial analyst (though that's obviously super badass for him!).
I think Fisher will be a great marathoner but would love to see other super talented runners move up sooner and to 2:07 or better. We certainly have the depth at 5,000...
Well, he ran 2:09 after stopping briefly and he probably has a bulging disc in his back. That said, he’s still the fastest American marathoner at the moment. He definitely doesn’t want to go out like this. He’ll probably race pissed off at least once more for one last competitive result.
Was thinking the same thing…he’s not like able or beloved like Meb to just hop around from expo to expo posing for photos with hobby joggers. He has too much of a cloud hanging around from Salazar to go into coaching like Shalane, and he’s certainly not interesting enough to go into media like Kara or Des.
I guess Shalane doesn’t have a “cloud hanging around” from Schumacher? It is un-freaking-believable how delusional you people are. Shalane is a hypocrite in the greatest sense of the word.
Totally agree with you about Shalane now, but I took the post to mean that Rupp would be going into coaching with a cloud over him, unlike Shalane who had the cloud develop her after she began coaching....when she got I to it I don't think there were any controversies about her, right?
It will depend on whether he can be injury free and whether he still wants to do it. The dude shows up in every race. His championship record doesn't have a blemish on it. I think if he can keep producing results he will keep going, but he has certainly earned respect for this record:
the brah is obviously a fierce competitor, he'll be back. I think many of you are overlooking how savage he is, don't let the awkwardness fool u, he'll be back to clipping the heels of kipchoge in no time.
Why would he retire? He has made good money, but not gobs of it. He is good enough and well known enough to still pull sponsorship dollars and compete at Majors, even if his days as a competitor on the biggest stages (Olympics/World's) is done.
And who's to say even that is true. Other marathoners come in to their own at an older age than he is now. Maybe he can hack it, maybe not, but he won't know if he retires.
He is still likely to be the best American for a few more years, at least...and that is not insignificant.
Does anybody think he could coach? Clearly he has to have the Salazar philosophy down to a T. I was not surprised Ritz turned to coaching with his methodical logging of work outs and the number of coaches he had. Could Rupp help up and coming runners?