or could it just be that fam generated recent interest in the topic again and got others posting about it?????nah, can't be. there's only a dozen or so people on this site.
redux wrote:
I think it's pretty neat. But I am curious if anyone else thinks he's the person who was going on and on about TUEs the last few weeks.
Fam has always been a total douche. People got enamored with his "run reckless" spin on life when he was winning uncontested steeple titles, but now that he's a washed up name of the past, he's trying his hardest to keep his name relevant. The fact is that he did make 2 olympic teams and did put up some solid numbers during his time, but he was never on the level he thinks he was. His PRs are still 9 seconds off the AR in the mile, 11 seconds off the AR in the steeple, 18 seconds off the AR in the 5, 49 seconds off the AR in the 10, and light years away from any WR (however, he does have the NC state record for the 5K on the roads).
So let me guess. YOUR PRs are still 8 seconds off the AR in the mile, 10 seconds off the AR in the steeple, 17 seconds off the AR in the 5, 48 seconds off the AR in the 10, and light years away from any WR (however, you do have the OH state record for the 5K on the roads).
Fam-a-who? wrote:
Fam has always been a total douche. People got enamored with his "run reckless" spin on life when he was winning uncontested steeple titles, but now that he's a washed up name of the past, he's trying his hardest to keep his name relevant. The fact is that he did make 2 olympic teams and did put up some solid numbers during his time, but he was never on the level he thinks he was. His PRs are still 9 seconds off the AR in the mile, 11 seconds off the AR in the steeple, 18 seconds off the AR in the 5, 49 seconds off the AR in the 10, and light years away from any WR (however, he does have the NC state record for the 5K on the roads).
Letsrun for the past 4 years: TUEs are evil! Salazar and the Oregon Project are all dopers! We demand a list of all medications ever used by Rupp!
Letsrun after Fam writes about TUEs: What a jealous loser!
What a bunch of hypocrites.
This isn't about me toolshed. No, my PRs are 21 seconds the AR in the mile, 78 seconds off of the 5, and 236 seconds off the 10. But that doesn't make me any less qualified to judge whether someone is elite or not. Plus, I'm not the one challenging the USATF to let me in the olympic trials when I didn't qualify, posting blogs posts about other runners without naming names, or making excuses why I am not performing my job.
I think Fam's choice to try to get over his issues without synthetic drugs is good. I don't like how he's denigrating those who do. Really, he isn't in the same world as those competitiors so it's specious at best to attempt to draw parallels.
Fam should focus on road races and hobby runners instead of trying to poke holes is the uber elites. He wasn't ever really there even at his best. And that's fine. But don't drag them down in an attempt to elevate yourself. TUEs are within the rules and its silly to rail about them.
I know that Fam is reading this thread and others that pertain to him. It would be great if he showed some stones and debated this issue with us.
FAM WHO?
Ho Hum wrote:
dkakala wrote:The deal is that Fam wants to say that he won't get a TUE for his thyroid problem because he is too pure, unlike other people - whose names and medical details he refuses to give - that he suggests are abusing the TUE system.
When all Fam is doing is putting out innuendo about unnamed people whose medical details we know nothing about, how are you supposed to respond to his point. If he is accusing Rupp (or some other individual) and saying that Rupp has an illegitimate TUE, he needs to back it up and explain why.
Instead, this is more of Fam's usual deal of making excuses and saying that he would be running faster times except that he is too "pure" or "reckless" or cool or whatever to run faster times.
Did you even read the blog? He explicitly says that he WAS on asthma and thyroid meds. He says doctors told him he could get his levels back to normal with some time off, which he judged to be the better option than being on synthroid for the rest of his life. He doesn't have to name names, since we all know that a lot of athletes are on thyroid replacement meds. And probably more that we don't know. So if these guys have low thyroid hormone levels as a result of overtraining, which it seems they do, then all they're doing is synthetically adjusting their hormones to improve performance. How is that any different from taking EPO or testosterone?
Hi Fam. Thanks for posting here. Now get back to your training. After you're done all you're tweeting and blogging first of course.
This is Fam.
I have been getting some interesting emails from well known elites the last two days. My blogs do not usually generate this much attention so it was no surprise to learn about my blog being debated on here.
I haven't been here or posted on here in quite a while so NO I did not start any threads or write any comments anywhere-until now. Weldon can check the IP if he needs. I wish I had the free time to post, but I'm a new dad and am working hard one week out from hosting a race.
It has been over two years since this situation developed for me. It has been very difficult to deal with. Posting my blog has felt very liberating and helped me let go of and move beyond these things that have been holding me back. It feels GREAT to just move on from it. Looking through the thread I can see a lot of questions. At the request of one poster, I will do the unthinkable and discuss this topic here. I'll take questions from 2:30pm-3:00pmEST Then again from 9:00pm to about 10:00pmEST after my baby goes to bed.
I would appreciate and encourage posters who plan to ask a serious questions to do so without being anonymous if you feel you can.
I apologize in advance for my, "Middle school drop out writing."
Go
Do you have any plans to go into coaching? If so, any particular ages and competition levels?
Are you for the most part done running, professionally that is?
Any plans that we might not have guessed in the future?
I have been coaching a small amount of youth athletes high school level and younger on and off. I enjoy instilling ethical values and ideals and ways of viewing the sport that will help them enjoy running for a very long time. Basically attempting to set the tone for success for them.
You mention in your blog there are elite athletes who are unnecessarily taking thyroid medication. Name them.
Do you plan to continue to do so? Any possibility of becoming a full time coach somewhere?
Thanks, and I hope all is going well with you!
As I said in my blog, "The main question I come upon is a potential scenario that may or may not exist. Is it best for an athlete to stop running excessively to let the body begin to balance out naturally if such is the case? Or, should one keep running to maintain fitness and pursue athletic excellence by supplementing the body with medication if it is technically permissible and legal to do so? This answer may be specific to the circumstances of each case. Problem is, we may never know the details of any runner’s situation unless they offer them up. The bottom line is that some people do need to take this medication. In the end it is up to the physician to determine efficacy."
The language is clear in the blog. I'm not their physician nor their coach. I'm simply giving my take on a medication that I was told I would not be able run without using. I'd have to take it for the rest for my life as well. There are a long list of names taking this medication many people already know of. I didn't cite anyone in an attempt to keep the focus on my struggle and not single anyone out. I don't know their situation as quoted above. The blog details MY situation and MY take on what happened to me.
Thyroid medicine may seem and black and white to some (you), but is in a bit a gray area. In your opinion, what other "gray area" resources should be banned that top notch elite athletes are currently using? i.e. alter-g, underwater tredmill, etc...
Quite a few questions have already been asked here in the thread. Could you just address some of them?
I respect that answer.
Why would you have to take thyroid meds the rest of your life? Don't studies show that after their use is stopped, thyroid levels go back to what they were before use?
The blog is written as it is to explore the potential health hazards of running as an elite in the 21st century with current expectations of performance and consistency. Dissatisfaction with personal performance may lead some to take drastic measures with their health to win at all cost. My point is to run for the right reasons. Ultimately what is grey area is determined by the ethics and morals of each individual. There is no universal unwritten truth on it.
Some posters on here have attacked my PRs some of which are quite fast. That tells you directly of those unrealistic expectations. I'm offering a perspective that will help others run with contentment and in a way that is healthy long term.
The only way for non-elites to know an elite athletes views on topics like this is if they speak about it. Most won't as it is a shaky topic that might hinder a shoe contract or attract negativity from strong opinionated runners as it has on here.
I'm willing to take any criticisms. Hateful diatribes on my comments forces me to disable them. I encourage serious discussion with a clear and unbiased mind. I have shown many sides of the issue in my blog.
I have to go my baby is up from his nap. Daddy duty. I will answer more tonight. Thanks.
Fam