Galen Rupp is set to return to racing after a two-year struggle with injuries and poor performances. On July 2022, he finished 19th at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with a time of 2:09:36.
What happened?
Galen Rupp's racing career was derailed by a series of setbacks, including a DNF at the New York City Marathon in November 2022. He last finished a marathon in July 2022.
Why it matters for Galen Rupp
The past two years have been the most difficult of Galen Rupp's career, with a mix of subpar results and DNFs. He is now working with a team of therapists and running mechanics experts to fix his form.
Galen Rupp has been rebuilding his form, which he thinks was thrown off after his back injury. He cited the positioning of his hips and how his left foot interacted with the ground as areas for improvement.
What comes next?
Galen Rupp is back on the starting line at the Chicago Marathon, having spent the past two months training in Flagstaff, Arizona. He is looking to have a solid race, but is vague about his goals.
Galen Rupp's coach, Mike Smith, has been working with him to overhaul his mechanics. Rupp has returned to his previous volume, with 130 miles per week and 25-mile long runs.
Galen Rupp is unclear about the role of his former coach, Alberto Salazar, in his training going forward. Salazar was banned by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for four years in 2019.
Galen Rupp is free of the back pain that had plagued him for several years. He is looking forward to having a personal relationship with Alberto Salazar, but needs to figure out what the rules are.
The Chicago Marathon will be Galen Rupp's first major race in several months. He finished second at the Chicago Marathon in October 2021, with a time of 2:06:35.