Very shocked to learn about Pat Porter's sudden death.
I remember back during the summer of 1986, as a 17 y.o. long distance runner, Pat being a mentor to a bunch of long distance runners during a week long camp / workshop held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
We were in AWE of him. Totally.
I remember asking to see his tattoo, of which, he cheekily showed us on his upper thigh / bum region. I think that it depicted a panther clawing at his skin.
Anyway, I shall always remember him and his kindness towards us as kids. Funny thing is, is that as part of the camp, they had a belly flop contest at the University with the prize being one of Pat's running t-shirts. Fellow runners devised the most extreme diving / flopping methods by which to obtain it and Pat had the final say in who was worthy of it.
I remember guys going off the high dive full out with their backs arched and grabbing their ankles behind them to better create more surface area in which to make a larger splash and we on the sidelines (including Pat) just cringing at how much pain that those impacts must have been on those kid's bare skin. What a hoot.
But by and by, the campers went all out for it and one kid walked away with Pat's t-shirt (which I think that he signed).
God bless you Pat.
Peace and prayers going out to the Porter family.
Take care,
trollcrusher
;-)