Abdi drinks red stripe?!?!

"Are those guys the Facists, Walt?"

"No Donnie, these men are Nihilists. They're nothing to be worried about."

i love Big Lebowski.

so maybe wrote:

you were a selfish ass. you still seem to be an ass and very bitter about the sport in general. i enjoy running, heck i love it, but i refuse to believe that you have to be some self-absorbed ass clown to be good at it. i am as fast as you were but still manage grad school, a marriage, research, church, friends and a lot of time for family. you clearly hate yourself, or the way you were, and regret it very much. i am sorry. i wish someone would have taught you the importance of well-roundedness early on. maybe you would like your life. you are ridiculous if you think you possess knowledge of some transcedant nihilism that renders all attempts at personal improvement meaningless. you persistence in evangelizing your negativity is proof of your ongoing self-absorption, running or not.

Ahhh, we've got a winner. Ding, ding, ding, ding!!!! Yes, my friend, I am guilty as charged and what you've described here is characteristic of so many others and THOSE are the ones I'm trying to reach, not people such as yourself. I actually did pursue other activities and academics when I was running, but it ALL was relegated to the back burner in favor of running and that is my point.

prehall wrote:

wait, i thought you just said that you "pretty damn good". don't go backtracking on me, that ain't nice.

Pretty damn good realtive to all of you, yes, but really quite mediocre in the grand scheme of things, eh?

Just an opinion wrote:

TFG wrote:

I seriously hope that you never have kids or are a role model for anyone, and if you do have kids I hope that they escape from you quickly and realize that you are a fraud and will not let them pursue anything that they enjoy because of your "do-not-try-because-you-will-fail" soulless attitude.

Is this seriously what you got out of what I wrote? I am simply referring to the completely selfish, vain (and yes, it IS vain), and compulsive "sport" that is long distance running. I would advocate that people trapped in this lifestyle broaden your horizons and DO something more selfless, valuable, and altrusitic. It's got nothing to do with not giving it your all.

just an opinion,

I can't believe you don't realize the irony of your posts. You write about compulsive distance runners who spend all the time on these webpages, yet, you are the one that keeps posting incessantly on this thread..how many times have you checked this thread...many, many times it seems.

There are some that seem to be like you claim you "were". Although it is pretty obvious that you are still compulsive and pathetic...but most of us see running as a great diversion and enjoy following our sport participating in it... any way, this thread is not about you and you ideas about running and running fans , you selfish prick, its about abdi!

You my friend either want to push people's nerves or have a serious obsessive compulsive neurosis that you probably need to get checked out. You should be glad it was running you were addicted to in the past, instead of crack.. BTW, i've ran faster than you and have a meaningful career.

hey, this was supposed to be about how much abdi loves red stripe. lighten up everyone!

That is definitely a Sam Adams as well in the back that nobody has mentioned or noticed.

I can't find the video on the front page anymore, can anyone post a link?

No one has mentioned that Abdi is going all intellectual on us, check out what was on his bookshelf

http://www.amazon.com/Infidel-Ayaan-Hirsi-Ali/dp/0743289684/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-3175577-3939109?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192579308&sr=8-1

Just an opinion you are probably one of the most ignorant people I have ever met. How dare you say to someone that their obsession, running, is a meaningless and pathetic endeavor. The fact that someone lives and breathes running, that they live a disciplined life in order to be te best possible runner is not selfish and meaningless. The are glorifying their life, they are making something of it, they are putting a whole hearted effort, giving 100% of themselves in order to test the limits of their bodies. They are saying to themselves that they want to be the best they possibly can be. How is this meaningless. If every man in the world would put 100 percent into something the world would be far better off. The fact that the person is simply running in circles around a track is not selfish and meaningless. Their running is inspiring people, every joe-schmo hardcore not so great runner, has some admirer on the neighborhood wishing they could run as hard or care as much as joe-schmo. Do you understand how many lives running has saved. The discipline and self worth of running has given meaning to so many peoples lives, and here you are degrading them saying their obsession is worthless. Running is a micro-lesson of the world. Everything I have ever learned about the world and how to live my life, I have learned through the endeavour of running. I have learned a myriad of lessons that I would have never of learned else where. The monetary wealth of running for me so far has been zero, and maybe never will be much, but the wealth spiritualy,physicaly and emotionaly is not meaningless.

So many kid in kenya would be dead, if there was no running.So many depressed people in the world would have commited suicide if it wasn't for running. So many people would have never of been the doctor they are today if they would have never of ran their hearts off when they were younger. The fact that you have had bad experiences and, you feel you have gained no wealth from running,is so sad. I feel deeply sorry for you, because I wish you could experience all the wealth running has for me. But dont speak in ignorance and say running is worthless, becuase it simply isn't. Its sad that you ran 29:30 and feel that you are better than everyone and need to share you superior knowledge from your high pedastal. But the jury has spoken and they all think your wrong, and if it is so meaningless why do you feel the need to go to letsrun.com and give us your opinion. Maybe subconsciously you know you cant live without running and only hate the sport because you could never be as great as an abdi, and want everyone to stop running because they might end up miserable like you?

abdi looks like a pretty fun guy to me.

some people are such douchebags. you know, the kind of guy who somehow thinks he can justify calling runners dorks and losers while obviously spending a good amount of time on a running message board. that's just my opinion.

What is going on with this thread?! I sense cynicism, but that's letsrun for you. Anyway, I like Abdi and his house. I admire anyone who finds such great success doing something they love, especially running.

Just an opinion wrote:

Is this seriously what you got out of what I wrote? I am simply referring to the completely selfish, vain (and yes, it IS vain), and compulsive "sport" that is long distance running. I would advocate that people trapped in this lifestyle broaden your horizons and DO something more selfless, valuable, and altrusitic. It's got nothing to do with not giving it your all.

What exactly is it that you do that is so "selfless, valuable, and altruistic"? I'm genuinely curious.

Second question: Are all hobbies completely selfish and vain, or just ours? Not everyone runner, by the way, lays their life on the line for distance running.

I know plenty of runners, both faster and slower than you, who have moved on with much less regret and bitterness than you--in fact, they look back on their running years with nostalgia and fond memories, and hold it as one of the most important and fulfilling things they have done.

Live and let live. I only find a completely devoted runner--or hobbyist of any stripe--to be off-putting when they are also a holier-than-thou asshole about their devotion. You're just a holier-than-thou asshole of a different stripe.

Just an opinion wrote:

Is this seriously what you got out of what I wrote? I am simply referring to the completely selfish, vain (and yes, it IS vain), and compulsive "sport" that is long distance running. I would advocate that people trapped in this lifestyle broaden your horizons and DO something more selfless, valuable, and altrusitic. It's got nothing to do with not giving it your all.

What exactly is it that you do that is so "selfless, valuable, and altruistic"? I'm genuinely curious.

Second question: Are all hobbies completely selfish and vain, or just ours? Not everyone runner, by the way, lays their life on the line for distance running.

I know plenty of runners, both faster and slower than you, who have moved on with much less regret and bitterness than you--in fact, they look back on their running years with nostalgia and fond memories, and hold it as one of the most important and fulfilling things they have done.

Live and let live. I only find a completely devoted runner--or hobbyist of any stripe--to be off-putting when they are also a holier-than-thou asshole about their devotion. You're just a holier-than-thou asshole of a different stripe.

Food for thought wrote:

After seeing just how "niced up" Abdi is, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of a effect his material wealth has on his running. In my opinion, running is very much an art form and runners share much in common with artists. What comes to mind here is something I have termed the "successful artist paradox". The paradox is that in order for an artist (and a runner alike) to be successful he or she must be starving (in the sense that they have deprived themselves of the vanities of material wealth); however, once the artist is successful he or she will become immersed in material wealth and removed from the conditions which allowed the artist/runner to hone their craft and experience "success". I predict that Abdi will not run well in the trials next month.

dude, Tergat and Geb both have Mercedes! Its women you have to watch out for!

Just an opinion wrote:

Wow, amazing that anyone would be offended by those comments and feel the need to respond, but, then again, look who we're talking about. Oh, and by the way, I have run a 29:30 10k. Nothing that I said was inaccurate. It is a trivial, meaningless pursuit, this distance running thing we all waste our time doing, unless, of course, you need extra endurance to capture your daily meal.

Is any other sport more meaningful? How does football help the world? Has basketball been able to cure AIDS or feed starving children or deliver world peace? Is tennis an avenue to greater understanding between cultures? What exactly is a meaningful sport, in your opinion? And if your answer is none, then why single out distance running? Is sprinting more meaningful?

Ok, you're better than we are. Is that what you're looking for?

I've had a blast with this sport for over 40 years and now my son is having a blast with it. I've made some great friends through the sport, travelled to places I'd never have gone were it not for running, probably would not have the wife and family I have now were it not for running, wouldn't be surprised if I'd had a heart attack at 43 or something like my dad did if not for running, and have never found anything that's given me the same sense of accomplishment as running has. You can't ass-kiss your way to a PR.

I don't see any of that as meaningless or excessively self absorbed. If you do, that's your prerogative, but you really don't come off to me as as well adjusted and balanced as you seem to think you are.

I love the red stripe beer portion becuse if anyof yu were at nationals a cople of years ago he was double fisting whatever he could get his hands on in the bar! Go Abdi!

Seriously can we get a troll-o-meter on this guy? I give him an 8 out of 10. He didn't put enough absurdity in his posts to make it as amusing as it could have been and make those who bit on his gimmick look really dumb, and he posted a little too often to keep baiting the high school crowd in love with running.

Abdi is a champion. The fact that he is so skinny, in such a huge SUV...it just makes me laugh uncontrollably.