Who is the nicest Pro runner you've met?

Jessica Furlan - Canadian Steepler

I saw her a couple times at the track over the course of a few weeks and one day she said hi and made some chit chat. Super nice girl!

Mary Cain

Jogging in central park, just so kind and clearly runs with joy. Hope she's back to racing this year.

I don’t know how qualified I am to answer this question considering I’ve only met 5 but by far dick beardsley. I have no idea if his story is published online but he told it in person at my camp and I️t was truly amazing.

Leo Manzano recognized me after the 2007 USATF Track Championship where he qualified in the 1500. In the autograph line he said "hey you were that kid jogging in the park yesterday" and I was star struck. Got a lot of autographs at that meet but Manzano stuck out.

Jordan Hasay apologized after stepping on my foot in an elevator. Being around her at a few races she is always all smiles and genuine. Aliphine Tuliamuk was very pleasent and genuine too.

Neely Spence Gracey is very friendly and kind, will talk about whatever you want.

Did a few shakeouts with Christo Landry and he offered tips about the town and course we were racing at.

Dick Beardsley is probably my vote too. Fantastic person to talk to and extremely positive.

Among many others...Merber - at track meets, Hall - at Boston, Meb - at Eugene, Geb - in Addis Ababa, Robbie Andrews - Eugene, Sara Hall - Eugene......all real nice. Can't think of one pro runner I've met who was an out & out a-hole. Kevin Sullivan wasn't too friendly after a race on Randall's Island about 10 years ago while we were doing a cool down together, but he had just finished a 1500 where he felt he had underperformed. As far as, "Why were they nice ?" Hmmmm.....I don't know. Born that way?

Tie between Meb and Deena.

1. Tie between Solinsky, Jager, Katie Mackey and Amy Cragg

2. Centro, Shannon Roxbury

forcerunner wrote:

Leo Manzano recognized me after the 2007 USATF Track Championship where he qualified in the 1500. In the autograph line he said "hey you were that kid jogging in the park yesterday" and I was star struck. Got a lot of autographs at that meet but Manzano stuck out.

Jordan Hasay apologized after stepping on my foot in an elevator. Being around her at a few races she is always all smiles and genuine. Aliphine Tuliamuk was very pleasent and genuine too.

Neely Spence Gracey is very friendly and kind, will talk about whatever you want.

Did a few shakeouts with Christo Landry and he offered tips about the town and course we were racing at.

Dick Beardsley is probably my vote too. Fantastic person to talk to and extremely positive.

MANZANO CALLED YOU A JOGGER!? What a jerk!

Ryan Hall - was a race anbassador for the race i produced in LA 4 years ago, got to spend 3 days with him eating sushi, ice cream, running, drove him to airport - picked his brain on my training and he was super nice and sincere.

Cam Levins - similar to Ryan, I hosted him for a race he ran a few years back and again shared ice cream and sushi. Was very humble, soft sponen and nice. Was patient with my questions and gave good advice.

Shannon Rowbury and her husband Pablo Solares - same race as above. Interviewed them in a video. Were very generous. Also ran with Pablo and watched Shannon do a track workout with him.

Jared Ward - gate river during warm up said hi and teaded pleasantries.

Jordan Hasay - gate river race, same as Jared.

Kara Goucher - was an extra in her commercial shoot. She was nice to everyone.

Meb - also an extra is one of his commercals. Was nice. Ran with him and he signed my bib.

Sara Hall - ran for her foundation. Interviewed her. Extremely sweet and warm person.

Noah Droddy, nice guy hit on me though.

Deena Kastor. Ran about 20 miles with her at the Chicago Marathon. Turned to her at about 20 or 21 miles and told her "It's going to come down to me and you for the overall masters title and I've got a pretty good kick." That was right before she smiled at me, politely laughed, then put 3:00 on me over the last 5-6 miles.

Kyle Merber and Amy (Hastings) Cragg get extra points because they knew I was txRUNNERgirl when I met them. Other than that, I'd say every pro runner I've met has been nice. Some are just more introverted than others, and/or more "intense" before or after a race. That doesn't make them mean.

I have met several professional runners, but the two that stand out to me as being extra nice are:

Mark Plaatjes

Chris Solinsky

Joe Falcon. I was 16 at the Jesse Owens Classic, which he had just won. I asked for his autograph, and he says, "what size shoe do you wear?" I said, "9". He opens his shoe bag, signs his spike with my marker, and hands everything back to me with this huge smile. "These oughta fit" is all he said. I was in shock.

Bill Rodgers, Grete Waitz, and Emil Zatopek.

Only one I've shared words with was Bill Rodgers at Cherry Blossom one year. Was cool to do the "good race" little hand touch after finishing with a legend, even if he is 20+ years older than me and I barely beat him.

Emily Infeld. She’s extremely friendly and warm. We met at a Bowerman community outreach event/fun run.

Never met him, but from every interview I've ever seen of him, I'd have to say Bernard Lagat. Always cheerful, always friendly, always gracious, and always complimentary towards other runners.

PortlandXCgirl wrote:

Emily Infeld. She’s extremely friendly and warm. We met at a Bowerman community outreach event/fun run.

I have never met Emily in person, but have emailed back and forth many times.

On the women's side Rachel Schneider is extremely nice as I have met her a couple of times and emailed many times.

On the men's side Alan Webb was very nice.