Galen Rupp at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon; Deep thoughts on how you build a long term career!

Galen Rupp is an iconic athlete in American distance running. Now, in his mid 30s, Galen is looking at a career that has included four Olympic Games (2008, 2012, taking silver in 10,000m, 2016, taking bronze in the marathon, and 2020, placing 8th in the marathon). Galen Rupp won the Chicago Marathon in 2017, becoming the first American to win the Chicago Marathon in 35 years (that winner was Greg Meyer).

Galen is looking for one more run at the Olympic Games. He is hoping to be healthy and motivated for the Olympic Trials in LA 2028.

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This was an event for a group of NIKE key influencers around the Chicago Marathon, where NIKE is a sponsor. Galen Rupp, who is building up his mileage once again, is looking for a fall marathon in 2025. We spoke at the Boston Marathon in April 2025 at the Heartbreak Hill Running company shakeout run, with 900 of his closet friends.

Galen Rupp, 2016 Rio Olympic marathon, photo by Jeff Benjamin

Galen Rupp has evolved over the two plus decades that I have known him. I met Galen Rupp at the NIKE Border Clash, when he won there (I think it was 2003). I would see Galen Rupp at various races over the years, and he was always friendly.

Galen Rupp, 10,000m, Portland Track Classic, May 2021, photo by How Lao Photography

Now, as a father of 4, and a husband, Galen Rupp has grown up. He has become a human being, someone who juggles fatherhood, being a husband and building his fitness back to the elite marathoner that he was. Galen Rupp will know when he is ready. I have watched him race from the mile to the marathon. It was great to see Galen take silver in the 10,000 meters in London, when his training mate, Mo Farah won the gold. In Rio, this writer was there to witness his bronze medal in the marathon. Watching him in Sapporo, in the hot and humid conditions, Galen Rupp gave it all he had. One always knows that Galen Rupp, when he races, will leave nothing out there.

Galen Rupp wins the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials, February 29, 2020, photo by Kevin Morris.

It is different to see an athlete who has raced over 22 years. This writer interviewed Galen Rupp in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic. In that interview, Galen Rupp talked about having good training and being a Dad. He was allowing himself to enjoy his life. Galen Rupp has matured and is comfortable in his own skin.

Galen Rupp, Stumptown 2021, photo by How Lao Photography

This interview, done on the eve of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, in a special NIKE facility near the Hilton hotel, the headquarters hotel for the Chicago Marathon. Galen Rupp answered questions from the former head of NIKE communications, and then, really provided some great observations about a man who has spent 24 years of his life training, racing and living on the road. Galen Rupp is getting to the sunset of his career and he wants one more run to an Olympics. Can he do it? This writer believes, if Galen is motivated, and healthy, we will see him at the LA Olympic Trials for the marathon. We wish him luck on this journey.

Galen Rupp, 10,000 meters, photo by Mike Deering for The Shoe Addicts

This interview was recorded on my iphone in October 2024, and production was done by Mike Deering. Special thanks to Cheyenne Wood, NIKE communications manager, who is always very helpful with our coverage of NIKE athletes.

Here is what I posted when I added an edit to my Facebook post on Galen’s interview on October 11, 2024:

“A real treat! Galen Rupp, London 2012 Olympic silver, 2016 Rio Olympic bronze at the marathon. In 2017, Galen Rupp won the Bank America Chicago Marathon, the first American male to win Chicago since 1982 (Greg Meyer) !

Today, a small group of running influencers were treated to twenty minutes of fun facts on running, Chicago and Galen’s philosophy of running! After 4 Olympic teams,Galen has his focus on one more Olympics (LA 2028).

Galen Rupp had hip surgery last spring and is focused on running injury free. Affable, relaxed, Galen told this writer he is enjoying coaching as a volunteer at NAU, and is hoping for some short races in January, then perhaps a spring marathon!

The interview was done by Kennard McClellan, Nike Director of APLA Communications, who knows his running. Galen and him were quite relaxed and the runners were totally into it. These are the kind of things that NIKE did in the old days, and something they should do more often in the future, as they bid to champion running culture with their brand.”

We checked in with Galen Rupp on April 17, 2024, and he was hoping to race a marathon in the fall. Remember, in this interview, he noted he would love to race Chicago again in 2025. We wish him luck!

Find Galen Rupp on Twitter/X at :@G_Rupp

(Galen does not use X much, he is not a big fan of social media)

Find Galen Rupp on Instagram at : @galenruppofficial

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Special thanks on #SocialingtheDistance to Mike Deering, who edits the podcasts and tries to manage my enthusiasm.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-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." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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