The Exit Interview: Chris Derrick Retires From Professional Running

Jdke wrote:

0110101010100101010 wrote:

I wanted to talk about the Houlihan case. When the news broke about Shelby’s suspension broke, you wrote a pretty strong, impassioned defense of her on Instagram. Do you still stand by that?

I do.

You wrote at the time, “I’d like to think that the way BTC and its members have conducted themselves over the years has earned us the respect of our peers, the benefit of the doubt.” In my experience on social media and on our messageboards, and talking to people in person at meets, I’d say the majority of people – maybe the significant majority – don’t believe her. They think she cheated. Has that been your experience? And have you been surprised at all in the way the public reaction has reacted to this case?

I think that if something like that were happen to me, I would honestly be suicidal.

-Chris Derrick Talking about the Shelby Houlihan Doping Positive

I’ve generally tried to avoid reading about [it], which maybe makes me not a particularly good teammate. I just find it extremely hard to hear people say those things. And I don’t blame anyone for saying it because I’m sure I would think the same thing and in that sense, I’m not surprised. I used to read LetsRun, I know how people think, and I certainly know how it looks and how I would think if I didn’t know her and I can’t blame anyone for that. I really do strongly believe in her and I absolutely believe in the team and Jerry and their integrity. I just find it very, very hard to think about. I think that if something like that were happen to me, I would honestly be suicidal.

I think one of the things that I carried with me when I was really struggling with running is that idea – which seems pretty naive, I guess – that the choices, in terms of how I carry myself and doing things the right way, that at least, would last. That people would know that. And I guess her whole situation has made me think that’s all extremely tenuous and you actually don’t control what anyone thinks about you. Obviously, you can’t control whether people think you’re good or not, but also if you’re honest or anything like that.

Part of the problem too is I’ve read the internet too much. I know how people think and argue and I can’t even tell them that they’re wrong all the time. I can’t be like, “Sometimes you’re right and sometimes you’re wrong and this time I think you’re wrong.” That’s not convincing. You want totalizing answers. And I know that I’ve heard stuff from behind the scenes from some people in power who I think have a lot of legitimacy that would have privy information that they think that she is innocent and I wish that some of those people would speak more loudly. But it’s not for me to say.

I can’t blame anyone for thinking what they think. The world kind of sucks sometimes so I’m not going to tell you that it’s all roses and rainbows. It just makes me extremely, extremely sad.

Chris Derrick sounds ridiculous. A Stanford education and that is the result? A man who has such limited analytical powers that he comes across as someone who cannot reason with lucidity. You would be suicidal? What a foolish thing to say. Why would you be suicidal? This guy makes no sense. He is either extraordinarily naive or he is playing dumb.

TMADDDHASFNE wrote:

Had the talent, but wasn't able to take it to the next level. I blame Jerry and BTC along with training in lefty liberal Portlandia. Most likely his nerve issue was a result of the damp air and persistent fungus in environment.

He should have moved to Flag eight years ago and started training with Jim Walmsley and given ultras a try. He had good success on the dirt and should have pursued this over the pavement.

It's too bad he's going to be stuck in a boring soul-crushing job for the next few years. Maybe after giving his body a rest and after too much domestic bliss he'll try some trail runs.

Lastly, I wish him well, in whatever his pursuits, but we had high hopes for him and he let us down here on LRC. If only he'd tried running on "Pure Hate" he might have accomplished more.

Alexi Santana wrote:

adobe wrote:

Arcadia was fast for many years before that, and why Derrick targeted it for a 5km attempt.

Solinsky ran under 8:50 there as a junior, Webb vs Hall vs Jeffersons in 2000, the list goes on.

I've received a lot of responses on this point so perhaps I'm overstating the impact. There have always been some fast times that have been run at Arcadia.

However the depth was nowhere near what it became. Look at it this way - there was only one year from 1999-2009 with more than 8 sub-9's. From 2010 to now the fewest there have been in any year is 10. Here are the results by year:

2021
15
2019
14
2018
16
2017
25
2016
11
2015
18
2014
19
2013
16
2012
16
2011
10
2010
16
2009
3
2008
3
2007
0
2006
8
2005
1
2004
6
2003
11
2002
6
2001
2
2000
0
1999
1

What's weird is the year immediately after him (2009) had only 3. That was a stacked field, so I suspect something affected it like the race getting out slow.

Jdke wrote:

trying wrote:

What a stupid comment- he made a fair and open comment that sees both sides and he gives his assessment as someone close to the situation. You can't believe someone could feel suicidal? I hope you have empathy in your life for others because thatis extremely dismissive of someone's feelings after going through a horrendously stressful life event.

I find it hard to believe Shelby too but i can respect the view of a teammate and their opinion.

First of all, Derrick came across as nothing more than an apologist for Shelby. The rest was window dressing. Secondly, suicide is an extremely serious subject, as are mental health issues, and to conflate this serious subject with someone who decided to take PEDs to perform better in athletics and then was busted shows a shallow perspective. Why would the person be suicidal? Do they feel such shame in being exposed as a cheater? Maybe think about that before you cheat. Plus Shelby can still have a life. It strikes me as hollow and superficial as when OJ was in the Bronco after killing his wife and he said he had a gun and was possibly going to kill himself. Derrick plays the fool well. So do you.

Sad but true wrote:

- Following his high school class and seeing them set so many all-time performances. That class was stacked - Derrick, German, Puskedra, Colby Lowe, Ryan Hill, and the guy that somehow beat them all at Footlocker - Mike Fout

Seeing these names and reading that interview is super depressing. This group was so promising (especially Derrick and Fernandez), it would have been nice to see at least *one* of them have a long successful career.

The saddest thing is reading his interview comments. The things he mentioned as mistakes are common knowledge: not racing too much, the need to focus on the main goal, and listening to your body and taking a break if needed rather than overtraining. We all know these things! Many of those same mistakes were made by Hall, Ritz, Webb, and Solinsky, who all reached great heights but burned out too soon. Why don’t these guys know better by now? Why didn’t their coaches know better? So frustrating.