I'm not sure what seems defensive to you. But I have seen many of Ben's social media posts. Maybe you should ask what I've seen and start there before commenting. Thanks.
A post 3 days ago.
"Trying to become the youngest ever sub 4 miler on US soil.... Sam will be 16 and 85 days. Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the youngest at 16 years 259 days... took the record from Jim Ryun who was 17 years 37 days"
Prior to the race he broke 4.
"4.01.71 would be a PB and new world record at 15 years. Sub 4 would be the youngest ever to break 4 beating current Olympic Gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen who was 16 and 250 days. Sam will be 15 and 341 days on the day..."
A very common theme of being obsessed with years and days compared to others and how they match up, as if any of it really matters. Time for you to fade away on this, I didn't invite you to comment on my question it was directed at someone else. Thanks.
No one invites anyone to comment on anyone's posts here. Put something in public and the public may respond. You brought up the idea of Sam's father being obsessed with age group records. I don't know his father at all well but nothing seems obsessive to me. It does to you and that's your business, as is responding that I don't see anything that looks obsessive even though you weren't asking me directly. If I fade out on this it will be because I've said all I have to say and whether I do or not is my decision to make, not yours.
This post was edited 14 minutes after it was posted.
Reason provided:
fix typos
according to instagram he TT's a 2:52 1200m effort. That's absolutely crazy!
He accomplished something I thought we would never see again. Jim Arriola held the age 15 mile record for 48 years! That is madness. Ruthe could hold that record for longer than Arriola did. That would be beyond madness.
There is a strong chance that an up and comer, Charles Nippel, will likely break Arriola’s us record.
I know he ran 3.33 a couple of weeks ago but seemed to do that on will power and muscle memory in a race he would have won easily a couple of years ago .
Seems to have lost his effortless speed.
As a fan of his that has followed him since he won the year 9 boys cross country I can't work out why at 24 Sam is slipping quickly down the world rankings.