"I had so much fun today, and I'm pleased with the result, " said Lagat.
Lagat credits Li for designing training plans that keep him sharp without wearing him out.
Lagat has won a record eight titles in Millrose's signature event, the Wanamaker Mile.
The 38-year-old Lagat regained the American indoor mark Saturday with yet another victory at Millrose.
Li said Lagat's confidence allows him to keep the faith that more isn't always better.
The strain on Lagat's face was evident as Rupp pumped his fist and the crowd went bananas.
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It's only the eighth road race for the 38-year-old Lagat, who will be joined by 15, 000 runners.
For the time being, though, if another runner breaks his record, Lagat may just lower it again.
Rupp, who had already qualified for the 10, 000 meters, was running against the Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat, a favorite.
Bernard Lagat, formerly of Kenya, now of the United States, won gold at the World Championships last year.
Against all odds (and precedent), Rupp summoned a late charge to edge Lagat by 15 hundredths of a second.
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For all his American records and medals at the world championships, Lagat hasn't been lucky lately at the Olympics.
Lagat will seek to take care of the one hole on that list Saturday at the 106th Millrose Games.
Lagat now owns the American indoor records at 1, 500 meters, 1 mile, 3, 000 meters, 5, 000 meters and 2 miles.
Lagat has become synonymous with Millrose after winning a record eight titles in its signature event, the Wanamaker Mile.
That's the unusual racing scenario for Bernard Lagat, who will make his half-marathon debut in the NYC Half on Sunday.
"I'm definitely going to give myself a chance, " he said of returning to Millrose year after year as Lagat has.
So Lagat will race the 2 miles Saturday at the Armory looking to run faster than 8 minutes, 9.72 seconds.
The Wanamaker was won by one of Lagat's teammates on the U.S. Olympic 5, 000-meter team at last year's London Olympics.
Yet for all of the hard work he puts into training, Lagat cites inactivity as one of the reasons for his success.
At age 37, Lagat continues to defy the corrosive effects of time.
Lagat, who ran 3 miles from home to school growing up, plans to compete in the New York City Marathon one day.
Lagat met his wife Gladys, who became an athletic trainer, in college.
"He's a serious guy in training, but sometimes you need to give him a little motivation, " said Lagat, who also lives in Tucson.
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Peter Thompson, a longtime coach and former official with IAAF, track and field's governing body, said there are obvious physiological benefits to Lagat's approach.
Lagat settled for silver behind El Guerrouj in Athens and was almost four seconds short of the Moroccan's world best, clocking 3:35.27 in Birmingham.
Here's a quick look at what's up with Lagat, a native of Kenya who went to Washington State and became a U.S. citizen in 2004.
"When you look back in history, when you look at the stats, you're going to look at, 'Wow, Bernard Lagat, bam, bam, bam, '" he said.
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