“If you’re a one-trick pony, it’s easy for guys to figure you out”
The Game: Galen Rupp
Directed by RJ McNichols
Heading into the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando this week, we thought we’d dig up RJ McNichols’ piece on American distance running legend, Galen Rupp. The short is focused on 10,000m running, with footage from the 2021 Portland Track Festival 10,000m race but Rupp’s focus even at that time had long been the marathon, having won the Olympic bronze in 5 years earlier. Much of the approach he speaks to is largely general and can be applied to any distance or competitive situation.
Central to Rupp’s success is his dedication to a carefully constructed plan of attack heading into any race. A true gamesman, he knows the field and objective has tuned his fitness to carry out his designs. Keys to success are to know when to strike, to be dedicated fully to the attack, and to not let his opponents know when it might be coming.
Early in his career, racing in high school and college, Rupp was viewed by some as a one-trick pony. A strength-based runner who could stretch the field but couldn’t close the door in a tight finish. This was illustrated by his close losses to rival Chris Solinsky and Abdi Abdirahman. Over time, he developed his leg speed and ability to shift his running mechanics and kick off of faster paces. He also sharpened his understanding of his own skills and how and when to employ them in order to shift a race to his favor. This development opened up his toolbox and put his competitors on their heels, turning him into one of the most dangerous all-around racers in the world. It earned him an Olympic silver medal in the 10,000m, the then American record of 26:44, a 5000m best of 12:58, a 3000m best of 7:30 and a 3:50 mile on the old BU indoor track.
At 37 years old, it’s been 12 years since his 10,000m silver medal and 8 years since he secured the bronze in the marathon. We’ll see if the gamer still has the tools to execute a plan of attack that would put him on his 5th Olympic team.
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