Ricky Quintana: Are you in a lot better condition this year than last year?
Galen Rupp: Yeah, definitely. I feel a lot more confident, just because my training has been going so well the last couple of weeks and I've been healthy. That's been a big thing for me; I've gotten sick a lot in the past. Not being here [worrying] about my foot or anything is a big confidence booster, too.

RQ: Last week, the race was a strategic one. What do you think it will take to win this race time-wise?
GR: Timewise, i don't know. I definitely feel that it will be as fast as last year. I think that there are a lot of guys who will push the pace early and then a lot of guys are going to have strong kicks at the end. When you put those together, it will be a really fast time.

RQ: What do you think the key points of the course are?
GR: I think after the hill [again] this year. The second time around, the guys are tired and they are beginning to get those doubts in their head. That's where a lot of guys are going to make their move, on the top. I think that will be the big point this year.

RQ: Do you think that everyone will be watching Shadrack (Kiptoo)?
GR: Definitely, he's a great kid; he's a fantastic runner. You just look at those times. He'll definitely be up there, no matter what. He has a really good shot at winning this year. I think he's the favorite.

RQ: Last year, you ran 14:20 for 5,000m. What did that mean to you?
GR: That meant a lot. That was a big thing, too, at the end of the year. I was glad to finish my year on a good note like that. The weather was hot there, so that was another plus. I think if the weather had been a little better, I may have run a little faster. Also, just [knowing] I can run that fast for 5k gives me confidence on a course like this.

RQ: Do you feel you are in that same kind of shape?
GR: I think I'm definitely in better shape than that. My workouts have just been great this year.