my 1 cent wrote:
Honestly, I am glad that I am no longer a competitive runner. I have no idea what drove this young man over the edge if suicide was indeed the cause, but I can imagine being a sub-elite distance runner in crisis mode. Allow me to project…
Just watching the Olympic Trials and recent DL performances (both men and women, but especially the women), it’s clear there is almost zero chance to be competitive at the elite level without the use of performance enhancing drugs.
I’d imagine it would be a very difficult transition for someone like Daniel, formerly a national-level high school and college runner trying to reach the professional level, having to watch others surpass you with ease as they cheat their way to medals, endorsements, and fame.
This sports needs a hard reset.
I was a 4:00 miler myself and a 29:00 10,000m guy. I can tell you running made me a selfish person. I had a lot of hostility and self centered behaviors when I was competing. A college teammate of mine went pro and was one of the top Americans. He came to my house for a couple of days to visit and I honestly could not believe I was ever friends with the guy. He was on his phone looking at his social media accounts non stop. Would not engage in a conversation if it was not about him. My wife could not stand him neither could I. Look I am not talking about the young man Daniel but look a lot of you young guys are going to realize in a few years that there is a lot more to life off the track and some will realize there is a certain type of bad attitude that is involved in this sport. You guys are not fighters and some of the attitudes that you have are honestly going to get the living crap beat out of you because 90% of men that are not runners are a lot bigger and badder then you.