Eight Suggestions For Galen Rupp
Well Ga(y)len, you made it to Beijing. You're one of the best distance runners in the United States. You just turned 22 years old. You hold the NCAA Collegiate Record for the 10K at 27:33.48. Your team won college nationals last fall. You're the poster-boy for the most prestigious running university in the country. You're adored and loved by all, America's great hope for the future against the Africans. Life is goo~~~
What's that? Life's not good at all? You're not adored and loved by all? Running fans root for you to lose!? They hate the way you dress, they laugh at your poses, they refuse to realize how good you are, and they despise Oregon?
Fret not; I've got a plan to repair your image. The zeitgeist of the LetsRun community seems to slant towards universal hatred, but you can become the next-Bob Kennedy, the next-Anthony Famiglietti, the next-Ryan Hall… someone impervious to the insults lobbed by distance running fans. My plan will hopefully not hurt your running, but you'll be a lot more tolerable to those paying attention. What do you have to lose? Certainly not many fans.
Just take my advice:
1) No more celebratory poses
I think everyone pictures you and Ryan Deak meeting each other as juniors at the 2002 Foot Locker Nationals's and trying to one-up each other in the art of ridiculous hand-gestures thereafter. I don't understand why you have to throw up an Oregon "O" or the "Number 1" finger when you win, but I don't hate you for it. Quite a few people do, though. How about a show of humility? A tired smile and a congratulatory pat on the back of whoever finishes second too much to ask for?
2) Never race Josh McDougal AGAIN
It's just not a fair match-up for you. It's impossible to root against McDougal, the Kaka of American distance running. He's pious, incredibly hard-working, gives all credit for his talent to God, nice, humble, a consummate teammate, and seems to run for the love of the sport. Some have questioned whether he overtrains, but don't hate him for it. I've never met either of you two, I generally don't care who wins college meets, but I was pulling hard for him at NCAA Nationals last fall. You'll never be as well-liked as him. Realize that no one ever will be and avoid him.
3) Please remove the Band-Aid on your nose
Protective Goggles : Breathe Right Nasal Strips : : Horace Grant : Galen Rupp. They're unnecessary, extraneous, loud, unaesthetic, and oft-criticized. It's impossible to look tough in one of those. Sure it might save you two seconds, I don't know… but so might shaving your head completely. The nose strips embody the old you. Lose them.
4) Either run for Oregon or turn pro
Perhaps the biggest bone of contention among your critics, are you part of the team or aren't you? I find it apropos to mention that what I respect most about you is that you are willing to put school aside in the pursuits of your full potential as a runner. But many believe that you should either commit to running for Oregon, or turn professional like you have been acting.
Seriously, how does an amateur such as yourself afford all of the benefits you've so publicly flaunted? The underwater treadmill, the trips to Europe, and, lest we forget, the high-altitude tents… You're not living the life of a normal college runner. Turn professional if you're going to be like that. Or else people will call you out for stretching separately from your team and training under your own special coach.
5) Keep ya girl outta the LetsRun eye
If I know one thing from browsing the boards, it's that distance runners don't think anyone is hot. It wouldn't matter if you were dating Brie Felnagle today, or Jackie Zeigle five years ago (before the racist business); anyone you date will be labeled FUGLY. Don't expose her to the masses, don't bring her to meets, and don't mention her in interviews. Some will hate you for being a runner with the gall to pull chicks.
6) Think about moving up to the marathon
While I consider you an excellent prospect to chop a bit of time off the America record in the 10K, you have more chance to medal or contend at major marathon races. That's all that anyone seems to respect. If you don't medal, then you're just a "typical American runner substandard in comparison to the Africans."
On the other hand, when Abdi Abdirahman was your age, his PR was almost a minute more than yours is today. Perhaps figure that your improvement would be harder to come by since you're starting from a lower base time, but you seem well set-up to run 27:00 on your day in a few years.
The trouble is that probably won't be good enough to compete for wins unless all plays out in your favor.
You have outstanding marathon potential. You're faster and younger than Ritz and Ryan Hall were when they made the jump. Your coach was a super-elite marathoner in his day. Assuming that others feel as I do that you project as slightly better than Ryan Hall (eh, maybe I shouldn't assume anything), the world might expect you to contend for the World Marathon Majors series title.
Your hopes of becoming a superstar [sic] lie in the marathon. Seize onto that hope.
7) Only sleep in tents that are outdoors
For that matter, start running outdoors.
The equipment and tools you use may make your life easier, but they're just not normal. Understand that few can relate to the luxuries you're privy to, most admire runners like themselves. Prove your grit by training normally; maybe suffer a stress fracture or two! They're an empathetic group, those posters; you rarely see threads trashing Matt Withrow (as you shouldn't, he's still a major talent not to be forgotten).
Fact is, if you trained more like them, they'd like you more. If living at altitude a few months a year and running on golf courses can duplicate the benefits of the altitude tent and underwater treadmill, consider them seriously as alternatives.
8) Consider distancing yourself from NIKE a bit
A segment of the LetsRun community considers you Phil Knight's little running action figure. He's taken a great interest in your career, bankrolled your coach's group, and inspired Oregon to return to its distance roots in recruiting. The Swoosh may offer the sweetest deal for you economically, but non-NIKEheads have lost respect.
On second thought, I'd understand if you can't leave the tutelage of Salazar. If that's true, then just turn pro already. The moneys waiting for you, I'm sure.
Labels: 10 K, Billynho, Breathe Right Nose Strips, Galen Rupp, Olympics, Oregon, RUN
posted by Billynho @ 1:54 PM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
Very intelligent and witty. You pay adage well.
I disagree with a lot of your statements. If Galen Rupp is one of our greatest chances at competing with the Africans than why not try to compete at the highest level? The breathe right strip may be a small advantage but if it's an advantage why not use it?
I can understand your argument about running for Oregon or turning pro but I'm sure we don't know everything and he seems to have a lot of pride for Oregon and probably still wants to compete in an Oregon uniform while training to reach his full potential.
As far as moving up to the marathon, I'm sure that's the eventual plan for him and don't you think that Alberto Salazar has considered that? The way that he trains his runners is a gradual build up to the marathon and frankly at 22 that's not the best move for him at this point.
Finally, as far as not using all of the technology that he has access to is absurd. Anyone with the opportunity would take it. To suggest that he should have a stress fracture or two is probably the most ridiculous statement in your article. Also, to compare him to Matt Withrow is a preposterous comment when you view the post-high school success of the 2 runners.
If I had to opportunity to run intervals on a water treadmill or do repeats on a snowy hill, I would choose the hill. It builds toughness. So your belief that "anyone" would choose the technology, I disagree. Alot of Africans train barefoot and I think they are doing just fine.
I respect his competitiveness. I raced him in 2005 and while I thought it was quite hilarious seeing salazar place the breathe right stripe on his nose before the race, I respected how hard he took losing and afterwards I watched him do hard repeats on grass.
I'm guessing that Galen doesn't do every workout on an underwater treadmill. It's just a good way to get in some extra work without worrying about getting hurt as easily. It's not like getting on this machine magically makes him better, he's still working his ass off to be a great runner.
As far as the breathe rite strip, I never understood the big deal. No one makes fun of Ladainian Tomlinson when he wears one. Also, the apparently beloved Josh McDougal wore one during races too.
Galen hata in the house!... I really don't disagree with your comments, and the stress fracture line was a joke (I thought it was obvious). But I still contend Rupp's privileged use/access of tools such as the underwater treadmill has resulted in a detachment from the typical American college runner. He can train however he likes, and if it makes him a better runner than he would otherwise be by running outside, then by all means I'd encourage him to stay in the pool. This post was merely a semi-serious examination of the reality that Rupp is despised by an abnormally large percentage of running fans (compared to his contemporary highly competitive runners).
I like Galen more the more often I see him and read his comments. Yes, I think he acts a little ridiculous (see the picture in the piece), but his rate of improvement has been constant and very impressive. And I agree that he seems to genuinely like running for Oregon. The jokes in the piece are tongue in cheek and inspired by comments from track fans.
Well it is a good thing Galen doesn't listen to no nothing idiots like you.
If he did, he wouldn't have 6 NCAA titles this year.
Other than that, you are pathetic excuse for a "journalist" calling him gay because of the pronunciation in his name.
Perhaps the only gay person is you.
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