Friday, October 5, 2012

Yup, Rupp "Got Somewhere" with his Olympic 10,000 Silver Medal

Last December I posted comments on Galen Rupp's American 10,000 meter record of 26:48. As usual, a gaggle of Rupp haters had posted on the message boards at the premier running site Let's Run that Galen was a wimpy loser who would never get anywhere.

I'd opined that Rupp had guts and could well medal in the 10,000 meter run at the London Olympics. I'm happy to say I called it right--track and running fans know well that Rupp kicked hard past Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia for the silver medal right behind his training partner Mo Farah. I watched the race on live TV with an old friend, and I have to say it was the most exciting Olympic moment ever for me.

Prior to the Olympics, Galen put together a stellar season: American indoor 2 mile record, a fast 3:34 1500 meter race in April, a sub 13:00 5,000 meters at the Prefontaine Classic meet in Eugene in June, and best of all, a thrilling sprint victory over the incredible Bernard Lagat in the closing meters of the Olympic Trails 5000. Yup, I stood up and yelled my head off at the TV. I love Lagat, but it was time for Galen to move ahead.


Update, Spring 2014. Galen Rupp broke his own American Record in the 10,000 meter run with a 26:44.36 at the Prefontaine Memorial meet in Eugene, Oregon.