a good read about a good runner

I run that same railroad bed here in Oxford and have passed Brian a handful of times. I didn't know he'd had those sort of run-ins with hunters, but I'm delighted and a little awed that he'd come on so strong. The railway bed and the 5-10 feet or so immediately adjacent to it do indeed belong to the University, but the moment you dip away into the woods and the much narrower trails there, you're treading on dangerous ground. In particular, I love training on Thacker Mountain, which you get to by running 3-4 miles along that railway trail and then dipping into the woods. And the Thacker Mountain Hunting Club has a big ol' mailbox at the foot of the mountain where hunters are supposed to sign in on any day they show up to hunt. I stay away from the mountain--although not the railway trail--during hunting season. In the spring, summer, and early fall there's no problem. I've never come across a hunter with a gun.

Pablo Sierra gave a clinic to four of us here and I remember him talking about how he'd done many marathon pace runs through the woods, some of them with Brian, at 5:00 pace. On the track, too.

Terrific article.

I first met Brian after the Killer Kudzu 5K back in 2003, shortly after I'd moved to Oxford. I asked the RD who'd won the race, which had taken place at 7 PM on a warm May Friday with 80 degree temps. Brian had set a course record of 14:45 or so. The race course was brutal towards the end, with a late quarter-mile rising up a very steep hill through a cemetary (thus the "killer" in the race title). The hill was so steep that many 20-minute runners were actually walking. 14:45.

Local runners are proud of Brian around here. He and I have no more than a nodding acquaintance, and that's OK; having a runner like that on your local trails is a good thing. I was delighted at the article--a beautifully written and detailed portrait.

I hope he doesn't have regret later. Within 10 years, he won't be fast enough to earn anything (don't even argue) and will be broke and have to start real work. I don't know anyone who wants that at 55 years old, no matter the memories. Money is much more than buying your favorite hat and the older you get, the more most need/want it. I just think that he's due for a hard reality check. If people criticize me for looking at the other side of the coin, then don't even start the thread.

Well if he was a millionaire and ran an 18:00 minute 5K he'd be bashed a lot harder on this site.

myspacer wrote:

Well if he was a millionaire and ran an 18:00 minute 5K he'd be bashed a lot harder on this site.

Good point!! :)

I admire his dedication and his ability ... but that is definitely not the running lifestyle for me. I'll take slower times and a more balanced life every time. But, like he says, he isn't hurting anybody. Just because it's not right for me does not mean it's not the best thing for him.

Best article I've read in a long time. Unusual build (6.3/145) and lifestyle, but I'm pretty sure he's an honest person. He chose the lifestyle, and he does not have great needs.

Whatever he does in life when his running gets slower should not be a problem, because he has the determination to do what is necessary, and his material needs are minimum. A guy like that can probably live on $1000 a month or less. He never eats out.

I didn't realize the guy ran a 4:02 mile - that's fast, and based on that mile time, he should have been able to run 13:30/28:00 minutes with the right training and coaching. It looked like his training was too focussed on solely tempo runs to be effective to run even faster, but he was and still is a good runner, as his times just past 40 were top of the range (30:30 10km).

Good luck to him, and good on him for preserving the trails.

Ghost in Korea

i'm a big fan of runners and the running lifestyle but i really think that this guy takes in too far, and he also sounds like a genuine jackass to me. i would not want to be friends with him- he sounds like a self righteous prick.

"he sounds like a self righteous prick."

Um ... pot, meet kettle.

Did anyone notice his mismatched socks in the picture?

Hey, if you live in Oxford, we should run some time. Give me an email. I live over by Cambridge Station. Im a 17:30 5k guy, but wintersession has been killing me this week...only about 40 miles, so that slowed me down a bit. But yeah, make an email available on your screen name.

...er that was to kudzurunner

Tre1nt wrote:

I admire his dedication and his ability ... but that is definitely not the running lifestyle for me. I'll take slower times and a more balanced life every time. But, like he says, he isn't hurting anybody. Just because it's not right for me does not mean it's not the best thing for him.

I can't see it for anybody, eventually working at age 80 with no family. There has to be a LITTLE emphasis of planning ahead. He has another 40-45 years to go, and his time of even earning $10K/year running is almost over. There comes a point, where decisions are completely foolish.

Think he ate the pumpkin and saved the seeds to grow pumpkins to sell next year?

what a f***ing idiot. too much of anyhting is NOT healthy, i don't care what all you fools think. what he is doing is NOT cool. you guys want to glorify a recluse who thaws his powerbars out in the vents? give me a break, man. get on with your life. i'm sure he's great with the ladies too. seriously. i've heard it all now.

I think we should focus on the good points that Pope brings.

1. He is not a big consumer, probably does not even own a car. Good for the environment. Not a polluter.

2. Good neighbor, who minds his own business and does not bother anyone.

3. Good example on how to live the frugal lifestyle and cut your costs. Look at his build (6.3/145) he probably has a BMI in the 18 range - good example to most overweight and slothful Americans to get off their backsides and do some exercise (not necessarily to the amount that Pope does!).

4. When he does eventually retire he will probably live on a very small pension of around $600 a month, and will not eat up big tax dollars, because he will most likely remain in good health for most of his life.

5. He preserves the trails and prevents other areas from turning into concrete surfaces - good for runners and nature lovers.

6. And this is controversial, but he sends a message to hunters that killing animals just for the fun of it, is not a good way to spend time.

7. Shows that one can live a simple and healthy life in Modern America, without a whole load of luxury and material things. He has scaled down his life to the bare necessities, and if you were to measure relative happiness, he probably is more happy than an overstressed executive earning $200,000 per year, with the attendant hassles of maintaining and feeding that lifestyle.

8. Pope, is sending a message saying 'You don't need to live the ratrace in this country.' You can live a decent and productive life without getting caught up in all those things. That may seem contradictory, because his running persona is very competitive, but in other aspects of life, he does not push the envelope.

Ghost in Korea

ghost wrote:

6. And this is controversial, but he sends a message to hunters that killing animals just for the fun of it, is not a good way to spend time.

Ghost in Korea

That is not controversial, it is just plain STUPID, WRONG, AND UNINFORMED. How many hunters do you know? Every hunter I know does not kill animals for fun. They hunt to manage herds/populations, because it is a sport they grew up with, and for a love of the outdoors. Hunting is not completely about killing game. Most hunters are conservationists as well. Every fish I have caught that was not released and any game I have taken with a gun or bow has ended up as food for me and my family. I enjoy the outdoors - hiking, running, fishing, and hunting.

How do you feel about some of the 4 legged table fare in Korea?

"They hunt to manage herds/populations"

Gimme a break. That may or not be an outcome of hunting, but it's certainly not the motivation of most hunters. People generally hunt for the challenge it provides. It's not a very cost-effective way to put food on the table. Some hunters are conservation minded, but many others are just interested in getting a kill. I went on my first deer hunt at age 11, but quickly realized that shooting animals was not the a form of recreation I enjoy. There are hunters I respect, but a lot of them are idiots.

This is my nomination for post of the year. The pumpkin wasn't getting any play for some reason...socks ..unkempt yard etc I think it was time for off the wall humor as the message board was starting to devour one of its own... I remember pablo sierra getting in trouble with the spanish inquistion when he made accusations that some elite spainards were doping...i wonder if pope's doping obsessions fueled pablo's statements or if pablo's problem fuels pope's rants or neither or both...meanwhile i say his life is not hurting anyone and probably inspiring to many..

I have met Pope many times and run with him a few. We have talked quite a bit.

He doesn't come off as crazy or reclusive. He never even talked to me about his own accomplishments (or encounters with hunters) unless I asked. We just talked about running. He was interested in my running and running in general. He inquired about my training and I inquired about his. He offered me advice and insight. To me, he has always just seemed a little quiet, but still very kind and knowledgeable. I remember him showing up at local high school races, just to observe. He would talk to anyone that approached him.

I think the article portrays him in an odd and deceptive light. Sure, those hunting incidents happened, but they don't define him. They're not even that bad.