• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home IAAF

The Sun Rises, the Sun Sets: Bernard Lagat vs Galen Rupp, by Dave Hunter, note by Larry Eder

Larry EderbyLarry Eder
February 26, 2012
0
0 0
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RuppLeads-USAInd11.Jpg

Galen Rupp, 2011 USA Indoor, photo by PhotoRun.net

Dave Hunter takes on the task of reminding us what the reality of Galen Rupp and Bernard Lagat racing against each other really means.


When Bernard Lagat and Galen Rupp go head-to-head on the track, those who love track & field are united in one uniform thought:  We want them to battle each other forever.  Yet we know that can’t happen.  

RelatedPosts

2022 Munich Diary: The Women’s 10,000 meters

2022 Munich Diary: Perkovic for history, Warholm for revenge, Ingebrigtsen for double, Duplantis for top Jump!

2022 Munich Diary: Jakob Ingebrigtsen to defend his 1,500m/5,000m double from Berlin 2018!

Galen Rupp, the young distance prodigy, has followed a carefully-scripted program of progressive development over the past decade that places him, at the relatively young age of 25, at the threshold of what most believe should be the best racing years of his life. His pathway of continued improvement has been wisely constructed by Alberto Salazar, a coach who knows first hand the right steps – and the wrong steps – an aspiring distance runner can take.  After an exemplary collegiate career at the track and field laboratory that is the University of Oregon, Rupp stands at the dawning of his nascent professional career.

It is a different story – and a different time – for Bernard Lagat.  For this savvy veteran, one of the most articulate and beloved performers in the sport, there is very little he hasn’t accomplished.  An eight time winner of the Wanamaker mile, Lagat has secured his place as one of the most successful middle distance runners of this or any era.  With his 1500/5000 double gold medal performances in the 2007 World Championships representing perhaps the zenith of his career, Lagat has proven time and again, year in and year out, to be a fierce competitor who can find a way to win off any race pace.  And while no one can rightly say that his recent performances have evidenced any noticeable slippage, Lagat knows – we all know – that time’s winged chariot is hurrying near.  Lagat’s shifted attention from the 1500 to the 5000 as his primary focus – an expected evolution for a maturing middle distance runner – is an unspoken concession to the aging process.  While there is reason to expect more inspiring performances from Lagat – such as his convincing Millrose 5000 win in an American indoor record time of 13:07.15 earlier this month – the shadows are getting longer as Lagat, at age 37, enters the gloaming of his career.

Frustrated by the age mismatch of these two great runners, we conjure up silly lamentations that can’t change things:  “If only Bernard were younger,” or “If only Galen had come along earlier in Bernard’s career.” But we can’t concoct some magic elixir which would more perfectly match the primes of their stellar careers.  We just need to sit back and fully appreciate their spirited battles.  In fact, their age difference – the very aspect of their rivalry which will limit the duration of their duels we love to witness – actually adds spice to their races against one another as we speculate, “Can Bernard outfox Galen again?” “Has Galen found that special strategy that can prove to be Bernard’s undoing?” “Is Galen getting stronger and smarter?” “Has age rendered Bernard vulnerable?”

Another chapter in the anthology of the Lagat/Rupp rivalry was written here in Albuquerque Saturday night at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships.  Squaring off in the 3000, the master and the student toed the line in the final event of the evening.  At the opening gun, Rupp surged to the front.  There would be no dawdling tonight.   Dishing out a steady diet of 31+ second laps on the 200 meter banked Mondo track, Rupp was at the point of a trio that included Lagat – closely in second – and Lopez Lomong.  Floating around the oval – dropping the remainder of the 3000 field – the threesome maintained this rhythmic pace with amazing accuracy.  But the race pace, as impressive as it seemed to most in attendance, was really not taxing given the recent race efforts posted this winter by both Lagat and Rupp.  When the 1600 was passed in 4:11, it was clear that the tempo, which would prove to be oppressive for all but the most elite middle distance runners, lacked the punishment that would be required to take the sting out of Lagat’s patented finishing kick.  To set the race up for his final push, Lagat easily slid into the lead with 700 meters to go. Lomong, moving up to second, and Rupp, now in third, gamely held on.  But each had to know that they had seen this movie before. With Lagat in command, the pace increased inexorably, but not dramatically, as Bernard began to turn the screw.  With 300 meters remaining, it was clear that Rupp was struggling as he began to lose contact.  Lagat gapped Lomong in the penultimate lap and the outcome was clear as the bell lap sounded.  Powering through the final circuit, Lagat, with no challengers remaining, uncorked a furious kick over the final 120 meters as the full house roared its approval.  The stopwatch – which never lies – told the story.  Lagat’s final 400 meters was clocked in 56.01 seconds and featured an eye-popping – and truly unnecessary – final 200 meters in 25.42. The message was clear: while Father Time will ultimately catch up with Bernard Lagat, it would not be at this track meet.  And as the capacity crowd will attest, the performance they witnessed by Lagat suggests that such a day of reckoning is very far away.

Always gracious in victory, the 3000 meter champion lingered in the post-race afterglow to fulfill all autograph requests.  Later, with the media, Lagat, gushing with enthusiasm, offered his take on the race. With his children at his side, Lagat admitted that “I wanted to show these kids that their dad can still run fast.”  The victor felt this race coming.  “I have felt so good all week.  I ran easily for thirty minutes yesterday.  And I felt so good tonight when I warmed up,” he confessed with a smile.  When questioned about why no one can detect in him any perceptible loss of top end speed, the 37 year old runner, admitted candidly, “I train hard with younger runners.  There is no fooling around.  It is all business. I just felt so good tonight.  When I got to the last lap, I said to myself ‘Why not?’  I have my ticket for Turkey and am going to Istanbul.  I will return to Tucson tomorrow for 7-10 days of training and then I will head to the World Championship meet.”  “You know,” he said with a quick smile, “I am the defending champion.”

At the far end of the track, Galen Rupp walked alone.  He had run a courageous race over a shortened distance that – when racing against Bernard Lagat – clearly worked to his disadvantage.  It was obvious that the 3000 had taken a lot out of him.  But it was not possible to discern if the pained expression that etched his face reflected the race effort or the stark realization that Bernard Lagat is not yet succumbing to Father Time – and is not likely to do so any time soon.

[The writer, who can be emailed at dhunter@brouse.com, has raced over 90 marathons, including the 1983 B.A.A. Marathon, where he set his P.R. of 2:31:40.]

Author

  • Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

    View all posts

Previous Post

2012 USA Indoors, Day 1: Performances deserve a sell out, by Elliott Denman

Next Post

2012 USA Indoors, Day 2: Ashton Easton, by Elliott Denman, note by Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."

Similar Post

2022 Munich Diary: The Women’s 10,000 meters
European Athletics

2022 Munich Diary: The Women’s 10,000 meters

August 16, 2022
2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week 2, Day 1
Cross Country

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Seven, Day One

August 16, 2022
Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Redux: Team USA blows past other nations in medal count
European Athletics

2022 Munich Diary: Perkovic for history, Warholm for revenge, Ingebrigtsen for double, Duplantis for top Jump!

August 16, 2022
2022 Munich Diary: an intro to the European Athletics Championships
European Athletics

2022 Munich Diary: an intro to the European Athletics Championships

August 16, 2022
2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Six, Day Seven
Cross Country

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Six, Day Seven

August 16, 2022
2022 Munich Diary: How to follow the European Athletics Championships!
European Athletics

2022 Munich Diary: How to follow the European Athletics Championships!

August 13, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

July 5, 2022
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

July 17, 2022
Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

July 19, 2022
Running Legends Recall Fun Times With Bill Squires

Running Legends Recall Fun Times With Bill Squires

July 7, 2022

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5

RunblogRun Editorial: The Sorry State of Running Television Coverage, by Peter Abraham, note by Larry Eder

4
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

4
Cary Pinkowski did the Heroic Thing–My letter to CNN on the LSB Chicago Marathon

Cary Pinkowski did the Heroic Thing–My letter to CNN on the LSB Chicago Marathon

3
2022 Munich Diary: The Women’s 10,000 meters

2022 Munich Diary: The Women’s 10,000 meters

August 16, 2022
2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week 2, Day 1

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Seven, Day One

August 16, 2022
Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Redux: Team USA blows past other nations in medal count

2022 Munich Diary: Perkovic for history, Warholm for revenge, Ingebrigtsen for double, Duplantis for top Jump!

August 16, 2022
2022 Munich Diary: an intro to the European Athletics Championships

2022 Munich Diary: an intro to the European Athletics Championships

August 16, 2022

Popular Stories

  • USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

    Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs: False Starts reconsidered

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Running Legends Recall Fun Times With Bill Squires

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Geoff Wightman, a man with many talents…

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent Tweets

RunBlogRun Follow

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. RunBlogRun is the voice of the sport.

RunBlogRun
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
23m

Neil Gourley after making Men's 1500m final at Munich 2022 https://youtu.be/D5mR5H_QRcU via @YouTube , @stuartweir, @scotathletics, #Munich2022,

Reply on Twitter 1559386992286134274 Retweet on Twitter 1559386992286134274 Like on Twitter 1559386992286134274 Twitter 1559386992286134274
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
26m

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Seven, Day One , by RunBlogRun, ...https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/08/2022-runblogrun-summer-cross-country-mileage-program-week-seven-day-one.html , #sirjohnwalker, #crosscountry,

Reply on Twitter 1559386313979154432 Retweet on Twitter 1559386313979154432 Like on Twitter 1559386313979154432 Twitter 1559386313979154432
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
49m

2022 Munich Diary: Perkovic for history, Warholm for revenge, Ingebrigtsen for double, Duplantis for top Jump! by EME News, ...https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/08/2022-munich-diary-perkovic-for-history-warholm-for-revenge-ingebrigtsen-for-double-duplantis-for-top-jump.html , @Munich2022, #BackToTheRoofs, @mondohoss600, @PerkovicSandra, @kwarholm, #jakobingebrigtsen,

Reply on Twitter 1559380528079314944 Retweet on Twitter 1559380528079314944 Like on Twitter 1559380528079314944 Twitter 1559380528079314944
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
1h

2022 Munich Diary: an intro to the European Athletics Championships, by Stuart Weir, https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/08/2022-munich-diary-an-intro-to-the-european-athletics-championships.html , ...#Munich2022, #BackToTheRoofs, #europeanathletics, @stuartweir

Reply on Twitter 1559370707837956096 Retweet on Twitter 1559370707837956096 Like on Twitter 1559370707837956096 Twitter 1559370707837956096
runblogrun RunBlogRun @runblogrun ·
2h

2022 RunBlogRun Summer Cross Country Mileage Program, Week Six, Day Seven, by RunBlogRun, ...https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/08/2022-runblogrun-summer-cross-country-mileage-program-week-six-day-seven.html , #archjelley, #sirjohnwalker, #bringbackthemile.

Reply on Twitter 1559361423662145537 Retweet on Twitter 1559361423662145537 Like on Twitter 1559361423662145537 Twitter 1559361423662145537
Load More...
Next Post

2012 USA Indoors, Day 2: Ashton Easton, by Elliott Denman, note by Larry Eder

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist