It's Official: Mo vs. Rupp Chicago in Chicago With Pacers

This thread has hit 81 posts in less than two days. As the Chicago marathon is still about 120 days away I expect the number of posts to be above 1500 by race day. Within those posts will be over 400 time projections, 350 drug cheat allegations, 275 criticisms of Salazar, 225 criticisms of the BroJos, 30 mentions of Donald Trump and 6 mentions of Mary Cain.

This is a fascinating match-up. The pre-race hype, especially here, will be at a fever pitch by the time the gun goes off. Too bad it will probably be 90 degrees, no one will go with the pacers due to the hot weather, and the winner (Rupp) will run 2:12. I hope I’m wrong though.

Mary Cain (first mention).

Say what you will about Farah, but he certainly does not duck competition. I thought this phase of his career would be a glorified victory lap where he'd cash in on his name and past accomplishments. But since the world championships in 2017, Farah has:

1) Won the Great North Half against Jake Robertson (impressive given the short amount of turnaround time)

2) Beaten both Daniel Wanjiru and Callum Hawkins in the Big Half.

3) Taken third in the London Marathon, beating a slew of big names

4) Won two more 10ks, including the Great Manchester Run (the second win was a gimme, but still worth mentioning).

Now, he's going toe-to-toe with Rupp, who has been the most consistent world-class marathoner not named Eliud Kipchoge since 2016. The personal history ups the stakes -- if Farah loses, it will undoubtedly hurt his legacy, whether that is fair or not.

I personally can't wait for this. To me, this is the most excited I've been for a marathon since the Kipchoge-Kipsang-Bekele showdown in Berlin.

Raddison wrote:

This thread has hit 81 posts in less than two days. As the Chicago marathon is still about 120 days away I expect the number of posts to be above 1500 by race day. Within those posts will be over 400 time projections, 350 drug cheat allegations, 275 criticisms of Salazar, 225 criticisms of the BroJos, 30 mentions of Donald Trump and 6 mentions of Mary Cain.

Good point. Speaking of Donald Trump, do you think Trump will let Mo Farah in to the US after the muslim ban? Also, he is an immigrant (illegal) to the UK from Somalia, so the government will be wary that he will illegally immigrate to the us as well.

MUSAGA

Nike Pacers wrote:

Scorpion_runner wrote:

I can't trust it. Since they are both with nike, can't trust it.

Let's just call it the Nike Midwest Marathon..... rupp, mo, hasay, dibaba...

Yep. Another stunt paid for by Nike.

Wow you guys are woke AF.

Oh Mo vs. Rupp Chicago is in Chicago? Thanks for that brilliant thread title edit, LRC.

"I think since MO knows since Rupp is the only comp he's gonna really take it to him. Especially since their PR's are close. This is gonna be epic. I'm callin Mo the winner."

Hopefully the organisers will invite some other top guys so that it isn't just a race between the two of them. Remember, they are no longer training partners or coached by the same chap or even based in the same country so both of them could do training specifically designed to target the others weakness.

I'd take Farah to beat Rupp; does Rupp really believe he can beat Farah? In some track races he has looked very pleased to finish second to him!

I don’t Know I think they are closer in the marathon as far as talent. Galens 10,000 meter time is better

So the only time Rupp has beaten Farah is when Farah fell down in the race?

Fentrekker wrote:

goat vs. goat wrote:

Greatest marathon of all time coming up?

I am a provisional fan of both Mo and Rupp, but I can't see this as a race for the ages. Firstly, Chicago has a boring course. Secondly, Chicago's boring course is only more boring when the race is scripted by pacers. Thirdly, as good as Mo and Rupp are they do not have the marathon pedigree of their Kenyan and Ethiopian colleagues. Hugely disappointing that there will be pace makers. Imagine how much more interesting a race we would have had in London this year had there not been a suicidal escort service?

I hope that if the Chicago organizers and Nike are hyping this match-up that they will do something about the TV / streaming coverage. The absolute worst, nauseating coverage in marathon history has been provided by the local Chicago station. They're much more interested in taking to people along the route ("my uncle's closest friend is running because his parakeet has cancer"), interviewing this dancing group of men in drag at a water station ("wow, this is a real happening!") and every-15 minute weather updates from their cutey weather woman (wow! - she has so much personality!).

I remember when Bekele made an appearance in Chicago. At some point he was dropped from the lead pack and it wasn't even covered. I don't think the announcers even mentioned it.

Have your barf bag close at hand.

One thing you have to hand to Farah, and that is the fact he is a fierce competitor when he's racing. The dude went out in 61 flat against the greatest marathoner of all time, and gamely fought the second half to a respectable 206 (probably most difficult way a 206 has ever been run).

Almost assuredly Farah would have run two minutes faster with even splits, and that was with the less than ideal weather in London this year.

Rupp ran a pretty good race with pretty good weather in Prague, and was heaving at the end. Granted, the course is supposedly quite a bit tougher than London, but even if it was +1 minute, we're talking maybe 205 flat for Rupp.

I don't think a TON will change by Chicago, but unless Rupp can unleash that 5 mile kick like he did last year at Chicago after a much faster pace, I don't think he beats Mo at the marathon this year.

Good weather and good pacing, I think we will end up with about 2:04:45 for Mo and 2:05:05 for Rupp (but consolatory AR).

NOW...

Rupp had nev

er beaten K. Bekele, until he did (2012 Olympic 10,000). Say what you want about the Bekele of that time, but he still had the fastest 10,000 the year prior, and was (maybe still is) the greatest 10,000 meter runner ever.

I do think come Tokyo 2020, that Rupp will have will have a chance at beating Mo in the Marathon. Mo will absolutely be on the physical decline by that point (Age 37.5), and Rupp will be right near his marathon peak (just turned 34).

Areon wrote:

Is there bad blood between these two?

I saw eric jenkins on a run and ran with him for a couple miles last fall. I asked him that very same question. He said there was no bad blood and they didnt dislike each other but galen REALLY wants to be mo in a marathon.

Dad Runner wrote:

So the only time Rupp has beaten Farah is when Farah fell down in the race?

Yes, in an indoor mile. Farah basically was a better tactician and had a much better kick than Rupp. On the road running a marathon though, Farah's advantages might be neutralized. It'll be a fascinating matchup because they both know each others strengths and weaknesses.

Rupp was heaving at the end because he saw the clock on the last stretch and was really pushing to break 2:06. The only thing that worries me about Chicago would be if the organizers water down the field except for Mo and Galen and they end up watching each other for 22 miles and ignore the pacemakers. I imagine Rupp will make a move around there and Farah will just sit on him until the very, very end and try and outkick him like it was a track race.

ex-runner wrote:

Serious question, why won't Rupp run London?

Valid. Equally puzzling is why doesn't serious east-African talent run Chicago anymore? Yes, Kimetto, Kipchoge, and Bekele have been there in the last decade, but the trend is downward over the last couple years when it comes to SERIOUS east-African talent (e.g. 2:05 guys) in American marathons. I think something is going on behind the scenes, "encouraging" them not to show up. Same thing on the women's side.

You gotta be kidding me. You're touting Jake Robertson and Callum Hawkins as the pinnacle of competition in the half marathon? All of those races are in the UK, where competition can be easily controlled.

Barabbas wrote:

This is a fascinating match-up. The pre-race hype, especially here, will be at a fever pitch by the time the gun goes off. Too bad it will probably be 90 degrees, no one will go with the pacers due to the hot weather, and the winner (Rupp) will run 2:12. I hope I’m wrong though.

Isn't it windy af in Chicago? I would expect that to be a problem before the heat.

strict testing? no pacers? or is it the entry fee is $32?

rojo wrote:

goat vs. goat wrote:

Greatest marathon of all time coming up?

Is this a joke? Do you work for BOA or Nike? I LOVE the matchup and the sport needs rivalries. It used to be we heard how these guys were great friends, playing video games, then we didn't hear much. Is their a rivalry? Bad blood? It makes it WAY more interesting.

???

BOA as in the company with the great split shorts? what do they have to do with it?

And how is your response relevant to goat vs. goat's comment? did you reply to the wrong person? I don't get it.