Sir Lurkalot wrote:
I would venture there are very few "real" runners on this site any longer. Just a bunch of wannabe kids, weird old age groupers, interlopers, and cyber-bullies. Sometimes, one of these fine "athletes" makes the mistake of leaving a trail or real e-mail address and Mr. World Class Badass turns out to be a 17 year old JV scrub with a lifetime 5K PR of 19:30. (Isn't Google great?)
I respect what Karnazes and Reed do just as I respect Bekele, Ritz, or a housewife from "Team-in-Training". They all run with a purpose, goals, and they seem to enjoy what they do. I suspect many of the haters here are not committed to sport but just enjoy running their mouths in a consequence free environment. I also tend to think that their attitudes towards different approaches to running (ultras, charity, just for fun) probably also matches the way they feel about women, minorities, and immigrants in the real world - hateful, hurtful, and woefully ignorant. Sadly, these jerks only further marginalize a niche sport fighting for any modicum of respect from the larger public.
Do what you love, love what you do, respect the pursuits of others. Why is that so hard for some?
Very well said, though I can think of quite a few real runners on this site personally... The problem with your idea of 'respecting the pursuits of others' is that it is precisely what Karnazes is not doing. Or at least, I can think of two instances when he has been beaten in a race, thrown a tantrum, and tried to get the other person disqualified... Ugly.
He is also getting, in my opinion, undeserved attention. Pam Reed is class, no question about that, but Karnazes? Sixth in the Western States, 3 hours behind Jurek? Over two hours slower than the two russians who beat the course record in Badwater in 2001 (in conditions that weren't particularly kind!).
People bash Kournikova for getting undeserved attention due to her looks; Karnazes is certainly the running equivalent, but in a minority sport, and he is far from being world class!