Which runner has inspired you more than any other? Serious responses please.

Awesome thread. I'd have to say Matthew Elliot. He started off as a 4:42 miler from HS and put in the work. His positive attitude is amazing (find his interview of when he took 4th at worlds trials). Also he lives a busy life as a school teacher, which I admire as a future educator.

Matthew Elliot for sure. Chris Derrick, as well, a very cool person.

Homestar

The runner which inspired Trackjacket to run: Trackjacket. This may seem like a "troll" post; I assure you, it's not. Upon getting off of the couch, realizing I have a talent, it inspired me to see how good I can be.

Moral of the story: be your own runner.

my hs track buddy. we were equally bad in hs. ( 450ish milers). after years of consistentt training he has now run a 243 marathon and gives me hope that I can do the same.

John Walker and Filbert Bayi. I had stopped running after high school, but following their rivalry leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics (which Bayi, alas, didn't get to do because Tanzania boycotted) got me enthused about my own running again.

I think I would say Joe Falcon.

As I was really getting into running in college he was the top US miler and I liked the way he carried himself.

In 1990 he won USA's, the Dream Mile and the Goodwill Games.

In high school, perhaps John Stephen Akhwari, in this particular sequence from Bud Greenspan's epic documentary series "The Olympiad":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq3rOMnLGBk

I think that good writing about running inspired me at least as much as any particular runners did. Kenny Moore's writing in "Best Efforts" was probably at the top of the list, but there were certainly others -- George Sheehan, who made running seem acceptably important; John Parker, who wrote some excellent articles on various runners (a piece about Jim Ryun stands out in my mind) along with books like "Once a Runner" (the story didn't particularly grab me, but some of the writing is remarkably good and insightful) and "Marty Liquori's Guide for the Elite Runner" (although the book's main author was ostensibly Liquori, Parker's style is recognizable throughout); and Marc Bloom ("Me and Julio Down by the School Track") immediately come to mind. This sport has been blessed with some terrific writing.

There were many runners whose form I incorporated into my own running to some degree at various times -- Rodgers, Shorter, de Castella, Salah, Ngugi, Bikila, and others.

Perhaps my favorite runner to watch was John Ngugi. He probably still is.

32 year old Ryan Wilson won a Silver medal at 2013 Moscow Worlds.

I'd have to say Don Kardong. No epic running battle, no miracle finish. He is an Olympian, but also founded Bloomsday and was President of RRCA. He's supported elites and sub-elites, helped foster the Roads Scholar program, and been a voice for distance running.

He was fourth in the Olympics, same as Pre. Pre may have the legend, but Don does the work.

Emil Zatopek

Weary wrote:

John Walker and Filbert Bayi. I had stopped running after high school, but following their rivalry leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics (which Bayi, alas, didn't get to do because Tanzania boycotted) got me enthused about my own running again.

For anyone who hasn't read it, I offer this article about Walker and Bayi, written by Kenny Moore for Sports Illustrated when it was still publishing quality work about international sports:

Hicham El Guerrouj. I love how this guy just never gave up on Olympic gold, and how serious and professional he was about training.

"I train very hard, until I am sick. Sometimes I train like a foolish man who has no mind."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t61_SEtfpq4

- last 30 secs

Definitely Jim Ryun, and way before I was 17. The mile was the marquee event in track then, and he broke four minutes (at 17) just ten years after the first guy who did it. I eventually lived in the same dorm that he did (for a couple months, anyway).

But also Abebe Bikila (I gave a report on the marathon in grade school, back when there were only a few hundred marathoners in the US), Ron Clarke, and Herb Elliott.

And especially Ted Corbitt. His longer-distance feats genuinely awed me. And at the national marathon championship race I got to share locker space with him--his face was weathered, but otherwise what a physical specimen!--and stand next to him on the starting line. I was right even with him, all the way until the gun went off.

Lindgren. I can relate to his personality best.

Sam Wanjiru

When I was in high school, I picked up a copy of Runner's World in the local bookstore and happened to come across and article about his half marathon WRs. I was amazed at how young he was (only 1.5 years older than myself) and from then on I kept up with his results. His fearlessness was so awesome to behold.

Reading about Paavo Nurmi inspired me early in high school, though I was most inspired by the other runners on my team. I was fortunate to meet Bob Timmons later on, who was quite an inspirational coach.

Vladimir Kuts is the runner who has inspired me the most, with his passionate front running tactics and his strenuous methodical training.

Ron Clarke inspired me with the way he talked to me, and with his determination to run fast times and test himself.

John Ngugi for his work ethic, talent and for running races his own way.

Carlos Lopes for his patience and strength.

Wang Junxia for her hard work and her glorious records.

I have been the most inspired by my friends, some of whom have passed on, may you rest in peace.

Louis Zamperini (Unbroken) and Michael Brannigan (New Yorks 2013 NXN Regional winner).

Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed, and thank you for the serious responses. I look forward to reading the articles and videos that were posted when I have more time. Please keep this thread going! Shout out to Matthew Elliot who was mentioned earlier in the thread. Also, I agree with the post that we can inspire ourselves by pushing our limits and becoming the best that we can be.

Merry Christmas!