This interview was done in October 2024, and posted in the spring of 2025. We are reposting as Galen Rupp is competing in the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Galen Raced the Wharf to Wharf Road race last summer, an iconic road race from Santa Crux boardwalk to the Capitola boardwark in coastal California. The four time Olympian is looking to see how his body is faring and how he can build towards a final push to the LA 2028 Olympic Trials and Olympics. We wish him well. This writer has seen Galen Rupp race since his sophomore year in high school, and a Junior Olympics 5,000m track race at San Jose City College.
Originally posted Spring 2025
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.
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 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.
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.
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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.
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.
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:
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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