Education
Culpepper graduated in 1991 from Coronado High School in El Paso, Texas.
Culpepper graduated in 1991 from Coronado High School in El Paso, Texas.
His 2:09:41 at the 2002 Chicago Marathon tied him with Alberto Salazar for the fastest ever debut marathon by an American, and remains his fastest marathon. His personal bests include 3:55.1 for the Mile, 13:25 for 5k and 27:33 in the 10K.
High school and collegiate
He went on to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, where he developed into a national-class runner. Professional
Following graduation from Colorado, Culpepper continued to live and train near Boulder.
Culpepper represented the United States. at 10,000 m at the 2001 World Championships as well.
That fall, in his debut marathon in Chicago, he ran 2:09:41. After taking 2003 off from marathons, Culpepper ran his second at the United States. Olympic Trials in Birmingham, Alabama.
Renewing his long-time rivalry with Keflezighi, Culpepper bested "Meb" in 2:11:42, with the lead changing several times in the final miles. He ran 2:11:02 to take fifth in the 2006 Boston Marathon.
(This race is featured in the documentary, SHOWDOWN – Five Elite Distance Runners, One Dream)
He finished the race, held at Flatirons Golf Course, in a time of 37:09.
He crossed the finish line of with a time of 1:07:57. He trains in Boulder County, Colorado, lives in Lafayette, Colorado and recently opened a store in Louisville, Colorado called Solepepper Sports.
Along with competing on four World Championship teams, his accomplishments include finishing fourth in the Boston Marathon in 2005, winning the 2004 United States. Olympic Trials Marathon and finishing 12th at the 2004 Olympic marathon in Athens. Culpepper has won three United States. Cross Country titles and three track titles (two at 10,000 m and one at 5,000 m). In 1989 and 1990 he won five Texas state titles in cross country and track, but did not compete in his final season (1991). In 1996 he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association outdoor 5,000 m title and placed 10th at the Olympic Trials in that event. The following year he improved to 2nd at the USATF Nationals (behind Bob Kennedy) and represented the United States of America at the 1997 World Championships. In 1999 he won his first open national title, the United States of America Cross Country Championships. That spring he also won the 10,000 m at the USATF Outdoor Championships and ran that event at the 1999 World Championships. In 2000, he took second in the 10,000 m at the United States. Olympic Trials, overtaking champion Mebrahtom Keflezighi in the final lap but not quite managing to pass him by the finish line. He won another United States. track championship in 2002 when he took the 5,000 m title. In 2003, he won the United States. 10,000 m title. Culpepper then placed 12th at the Athens Olympic Marathon, which would have been the best performance by an American marathoner in several Olympics had Keflezighi not won the silver medal. In 2005, Culpepper ran a 13:25.75 personal best in the 5,000 meter run at the 2005 Norwich Union British Grand Prix in London, England. At the 2007 United States Cross-Country Championships, Culpepper won his third cross country title, finishing first in the 12,000 m with a time of 37:09. On February 10, 2007, Alan won the Open Men"s 12K at the 2007 United States of America Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colorado. lieutenant was Culpepper"s third United States of America Cross Country victory. He also won in 1999 and 2003. On June 8, 2008 Culpepper won the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon in Denver, Colorado.
