Salieri: Mozart? You might be disappointed.
Katerina Cavalieri: Why?
Salieri: Looks and talent don't always go together, Katerina.
On Friday night in Brussels at the Memorial van Damme meet, Galen Rupp ran 10,000m in 26 minutes and 48 seconds, a personal best by 22 seconds and a new American Record by 11. Rupp's previous best had come in the same 2010 race where Chris Solinsky had become the first American to run under 27 minutes with a performance that sent shock waves through U.S. Distance Running.
In the Brussels race, just as in the 2010 race, Rupp finished third. However, this time he trailed only Kenenisa Bekele and Lucas Rotich, and he beat -- among others -- the 4th fastest man ever at 5000m, Eliud Kipchoge. Watch the video, below, and feel your pulse quicken as Rupp moves into second and pushes the pace with 1200 to go.
As the news of Rupp's AR hit the public square, or at least the message boards of LetsRun.com, there was a strange, but in some ways predictable attempt to diminish Rupp's run. One writer asserted that Solinsky's run had been more impressive; another pointed out that Rupp had never beaten Solinsky in a 10K; still others predicted that Rupp would never win a World Championship or Olympic medal.
Perhaps not, but why all the hate? Why not just keep quiet and let the record stand for itself? What is it about Rupp, in particular, that invites this churlish negativity? I think it might be something I'll call it the "Amadeus Effect."
In the film Amadeus, the composer Antonio Salieri can't reconcile the sublime genius of Mozart's music with the childish bearing of Mozart the man. Salieri, who knows his own mediocrity, takes it as a personal insult that God would bestow his gifts on someone who didn't look and act the part of a great composer.
I suspect that Rupp has a similar effect on those who, while saddled with their own mediocrity, want their running heroes to "look the part" of a great distance runner. For these people, great runners should be tough bad-asses like Steve Prefontaine... or like Chris Solinsky.
Rupp isn't like that. Rupp has always seemed more goofy than tough. The haters have always dismissed Rupp for his "privileged" athletic pedigree, his breathe-right nose strips, his pollen masks, and his generally well-adjusted demeanor. When he was beaten at Footlockers by Matt Withrow, he was derided as "the rich kid with the altitude tent and the private coach."
But -- unlike Withrow and so many others -- Rupp has gotten better and better. He won NCAA Titles in XC and Track. He won national titles. He now has American Records for 10000m outdoors and 5000m indoors. He is a legitimate medal contender for next year's Olympic Games.
The comparison with Mozart isn't exact. The implication of "Amadeus" is that Mozart didn't have to work at being great, while Rupp has worked extraordinarily hard for the last decade to be where he is. But the Salieris of the world still find it hard to accept that someone who runs 26:48 seems like a little kid with funny hair, and easy smile, and a can of grape soda in his hand.
12 comments:
I definitely think its the "rich kid" feel he has and that borders "cheater". He has the altitude tent and cryo-sauna and all that stuff but as we all know alberto has pushed for every little advantage he can get and he also pushes the boundary of what is legal. I think its the thyroid medication he takes and the blood platelet medication. To me he is a guy that has everything needed for success including talent but when things dont go his way he whines like a baby.
p.s solinsky is becoming the same way with his season this year.
Welcome back, Jon!!!
Hopefully the blog will return to some normalcy now. I know it stinks to have one less go-to website to read each day.
Thanks, Mike M!
And to the other Mike, remember that it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich kid to run 26:48. But don't worry, Maestro Salieri and I absolve you!
I have to admit I also find myself struggling to admire Rupp.
I respect the performance, and see it as the best 10,000 meters run by an American, on top of being the American Record.
Yet what makes me struggle isn't his Mozart Genius, or his boyish looks, but how I see Rupp as a reflection of the not-too-distant future of running: calculated, industrially and commercially assisted performance.
We can delve into the semantics of where industrial and commercial assistance started or if its been in Running for awhile (in fact, I see in Rupp a striking argument to help Oscar Pistorius' petition). I think it's interesting to think about.
The problem for me is the respect of his choices. I see Rupp now how I see Japanese running: corporate sponsored "candidates" based on their corporations' approach/funding. True, Nike is basically the only "corporation" in town so far doing things to the extent that they've done on Rupp so there isn't much competition yet. But regardless I no longer see the man (or boyish-looking man), but the creation of a fine-tuned SuperHuman 1.0 (or I should say SuperAmerican 1.0).
And a part of the me that loves running dies off: the same part that dies off when I find out the records of baseball are tarnished by steroids, or when I find out a great runner I respected was doping.
If the goal is to run the fastest you can go with specialized technological tools, then why stop doping?
If the goal is to run the fastest you can go using your talent, a good coach, and what's reasonably readily available (the line I'm trying to walk is a foam roller VS blood platelet medication...and i think this line is up for debate), then that's a sport I'm interested in following: let's call this rambling The Yuki Kuwachi Defense.
Is Galen Rupp running's version of Ivan Drago? If so, is Solinsky really Rocky Balboa?
Perhaps, if Rupp is Drago, Rocky is some Kenyan with no contract, no support, and a second-hand pair of shoes making his way up from nothing to world-class.
Completely agree with clay its hard to accept Galen mainly because he doesnt seem real he doesnt seem human. Every race every workout every run looks to me more like a by product of science rather than natural talent.
Galen clearly has natural talent and a whole lot of it but where would he be without Albertos scientific training routine? would he be sub 27? sub 13? Or would he just be a Tim Nelson a Ben True or a Chris Barnicle?
To the big bad mike miller, Solinsky appeared to have what it takes to be a rocky last may at his american record but this year was just embarrassing dropping out of races and making excuses.
I would also like to welcome mr waldron back this exact debate is why i love reading his blog so much he raises interesting points and the people who comment are also well informed like miller. So glad to have you back
To all the Rupp bashers, let me ask you this: Do you have any first hand insight into him or his group?
There's no denying that he's a rich kid with a plethora of advantages (all legal, most of which tier one athletes could have access to), but the bottom line is that he is a 25 year old American from outside Portland, Oregon who just became the 16th fastest human in 10,000m track history.
Years ago, before I personally learned more about Rupp and his group, I was a critic of what they were doing. But now, after realizing that they do nothing but perfect their craft and work hard, I respect him and Salazar a ton.
It's simple to poke fun at Rupp for his masks, his hypothyroidism or his iron injections; but guess what - he's doing what he needs to do. I can't begin to express my frustrations with hypothyroidism, which I have. I can't begin to express my frustrations with allergies, which I have. I can't begin to express my frustrations for my girlfriend and athlete, Jess Barton, who has suffered for years because of an uncommon form of anemia. Believe me, if Jess was as well taken care of as Rupp, she'd be deeply suspected of PED's because of the level she's capable of competing at, just like Rupp.
The point is that Galen Rupp is a lucky man to have fallen into the position he's in. Because of pure chance, he's got a top notch coach in Salazar - who because of his connection to money - has been able to ensure that Rupp is at full health. But to bash someone who is so great, who has overcome so many odds, who is incredibly hardworking and deserving of all of our support - is wrong.
And to touch on people saying that Rupp doesn't seem human; get to know him a little bit, he's plenty human. Just because someone doesn't understand or agree with what he's doing doesn't make him any less of a human being. And lastly, Salazar's training isn't all that scientific. I know almost exactly what they do for training, and it's pretty good stuff but nothing out of the ordinary at the world class level. You'd be surprised.
Galen Rupp is the man.
- Tom
Sup Tom,
First off I am confident that Galen is not doing anything illegal. However he does everything within the rules to give himself an advantage. Is that a crime? Absolutely not. But personally as a fan of track and field I cannot support that.
I know you are very knowledgable of the sport but do you have an insight into his training or albertos? I agree on the track and workouts and such it is an old school approach with hard workouts often and semi high mileage but how are they able to work so hard? It is because of his "thyroid problem" (which just about every salazar athlete gets diagnosed with) and it is the blood platelet thing that essentially replenishes the body quicker after a workout allowing him to workout more often.
As far as the human part haha I have heard from a number of people that have met him that he is arrogant and cocky ...which means he is just like the rest of us!! I'm sure hes a great guy dont know if you have personally met him but he seems like a normal guy but as spike said he does have that ivan drago feel. With the altitude house since high school and the private coach with that backing of nike throughout his career. I could never root for tiger woods (even pre divorce) because of the same reasons. He was a child prodigy and was supposed to be amazing and he was just like galen. But he always seemed unreal. He was doing great things but he never waved to the crowd as he passed he would swear on the course after a bad shot. He seemed unlikable and thats the feel galen has for me
My grudging respect aside, what i'd like to hear about is people's thoughts on the role of technology and science in running.
In our game, dopers who are caught using blood transfusions or steroids or other illegal drugs are given extremely harsh criticism by the running community, labeled a "Cheat".
On the other hand, someone who uses an altitude tent, or extreme cyrotherapy, or blood platelet medication which can also give a significant advantage is seen in such positive light as "Dedicated," "Resourceful" or maybe "Pushing the limits of Science"
But the line between them is very thin, and is constantly moving: lots of drugs labeled okay or not even understood before are now marked "banned/illegal". Lots of banned techniques were discovered and used in the name of science just like ones today are.
Do people think the current line drawn labeling illegal substances/practices is correct?
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