Profile of US OT marathon qualifer Stephan Shay who lives in a van down the beach

Has long as dude is happy, cool.

Shoebacca wrote:

Sounds like an interesting life...

With a family, the RV thing wouldn't work. But single?? You can be in Colorado Springs, then later in San Diego, then in Tampa. The 'big living room', 'wide TV' and 'extra den' in a house are overrated. Soon enough, he'll have a mortgage. In the meantime, he can go wherever he wants. For now in his life, that's pretty good.

Not everyone wants a huge house, wife or kids. Good for him. Living life on his own terms.

HRE wrote:

Doesn't seem like he's sacrificing anything to me. It sounds like a blast. Ultimately I think we all should live in vans.

I'm guessing you made a more traditional choice.

What do you have at the end? A weird RV and a bunch of mileage. Two things no one values that pays real money.

The bank of mom and dad fixes lots of problems with dropping out. It must be nice.

I did make a more traditional choice. I wasn't creative enough to think of the one Shay made and I could have made it without the bank of mom and dad, who never had any money anyway and were great people. The more I think of it the more I think we should get rid of all the crap we have and be more free to roam around.

OP wrote:

HRE wrote:

Doesn't seem like he's sacrificing anything to me. It sounds like a blast. Ultimately I think we all should live in vans.

Well, sounds like we got us a writer here...I LIVE IN A VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER!!!!

Have you shot your baby?

Which city does he live in?

cubicle slave wrote:

He does seem to be living the good life and is aware of being responsible for the future of the world. Best of luck to him in the pursuit of his running dreams.

Sponsors should be looking much more at people like Stephen Shay. They are the guys that most runners can relate to and the way they live their lives gives that spark of inspiration to many to train hard and explore one's limits.

In contrast, PED-infused Africans or people taking hormones and living in oxygen bubbles are a turn off to most runners. Their actions show only how ugly the sport can be.

Sponsors, take note on what message you are giving to the running community!

Where's the pos/rep/like button

The world's greatest free climber Alex Honnold lives in a van:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1856241/alex-honnolds-ultimate-adventure-vehicle

theohiostate wrote:

The world's greatest free climber Alex Honnold lives in a van:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1856241/alex-honnolds-ultimate-adventure-vehicle

Alex Honnold is not even close to the world's best free climber. He maybe the world's boldest soloist, but he is not the best free climber.

He received a large insurance payment after his dad passed away. He quit school and lived off that. Now he lives of his sponsorships. Living in a van is advantageous for a pro climber. Not an apples to apples comparison to a pro runner.

I'm reading "Lolita" at the moment.

That's a horrific name for one's home.

If he can swing it, and he's not hurting anyone, why not? In my bike racing days I had a bunch of friends who bummed around the US couch surfing or sleeping in vans, living off prize money earned in weekend races. They enjoyed their lives. It's not a particularly effective path if your goal is to become a corporate executive or whatnot, but being one is not as fun as it may sound.

a rock climber wrote:

theohiostate wrote:

The world's greatest free climber Alex Honnold lives in a van:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1856241/alex-honnolds-ultimate-adventure-vehicle

Alex Honnold is not even close to the world's best free climber. He maybe the world's boldest soloist, but he is not the best free climber.

He received a large insurance payment after his dad passed away. He quit school and lived off that. Now he lives of his sponsorships. Living in a van is advantageous for a pro climber. Not an apples to apples comparison to a pro runner.

LOL. Living in a van is an advantage to a pro climber but not a pro runner?

As far as Honnold goes, if he's bold enough to attempt routes that the others are afraid to try, then he's got my vote.

Stop hating on him. He lost his father, for God's sake.

Wikid wrote:

Sad state of affairs when any human...runner or not

Does not have housing...

The market does not provide for all.

Housing should be a basic human right.

Food medical care too.

Yeah I can relate to financial and food and shelter insecurity, grieving, family problems, abuse, exploitation and injustice in society, etc.

If this fellow and his family are such stout christianmen and or mormonmen, what's the problem? He had fallen into misfortune and his friends and peers abandoned him? I am a monk and a pauper just the same. When rich or poor. And the innocent and then Just do indeed suffer for the transgressions of the multitude.

No chicks, no money, no place to call home and live in privacy, no place to sleep peacefully...not good for someone trying to be a pro runner. He isn't pro so they should stop stating that.

He doesn't make money racing really and getting a little money for travel and maybe some shoes from a company doesn't make one a "pro"

Dumb decision. Run fast and get legit sponsorship and have freedom or quit running and get a good job and have the money to create freedoms in your life. Being homeless basically ain't cool and trying to be a homeless pro runner is an oxymoron. He needs his real friends to convince him to get his life together, this is silly. Sorry

He's a joke and has no shot in making the team. Not sure why he's even wasting his time.

Van life? Sounds more like a sad life. He needs to get a life. He's getting way too much attention just because he lives in a van. Seriously who cares.

pop_pop!_v2.1 wrote:

HRE wrote:

Doesn't seem like he's sacrificing anything to me. It sounds like a blast. Ultimately I think we all should live in vans.

I'm guessing you made a more traditional choice.

What do you have at the end? A weird RV and a bunch of mileage. Two things no one values that pays real money.

The bank of mom and dad fixes lots of problems with dropping out. It must be nice.

Did you read the article? Dude has 2 jobs in marketing. With his low cost of living, I doubt he needs to hit up mom and dad for cash.

cubicle slave wrote:

He does seem to be living the good life and is aware of being responsible for the future of the world. Best of luck to him in the pursuit of his running dreams.

Sponsors should be looking much more at people like Stephen Shay. They are the guys that most runners can relate to and the way they live their lives gives that spark of inspiration to many to train hard and explore one's limits.

In contrast, PED-infused Africans or people taking hormones and living in oxygen bubbles are a turn off to most runners. Their actions show only how ugly the sport can be.

Sponsors, take note on what message you are giving to the running community!

Plus 1!!!

In the mid 70's I rented a room in a friends house. $75 a month. I lived on the cheap working various low paying jobs or collecting unemployment when I was out of work. I drove an old Ford Falcon.

I trained twice a day and raced and carbo loaded at the local donut shop. This is back when donuts were considered carbs.

I was local talent at best. But it was fun living that life.