Chris Barnicle = Greatest performance of the 2016 OTM

"They should have all been forced to take the shuttle to the finish line to wipe the sweat from Barnicle's giant balls."

POTD.

His facebook status:

I qualified for the #olympicmarathontrials back in October, 2013 a couple weeks before running my only other marathon in Frankfurt, Germany. That race too did not have the result I was looking for. But before running @deena8050 had told me that the most beautiful element of the marathon is how it is an experience that will change you into something not everyone can call themselves, a marathoner.

I use to escape the stress of injuries, not racing as well as I had dreamed of or any of the "failures" that I battled in running with cannabis. The irony is that after working in the cannabis industry all over California I now use running to free myself of the stress the cannabis industry. Thank you to every soul who blessed me with your positive energy before, after and during my marathon Saturday. It was such a beautiful day.

all wrong wrote:

He would have never had the resolve and fortitude to run a 2:22, but he gets to make a mockery of the sport after capitalizing on his 10K speed and getting a free ride.If you win a US championship on the track, then you are free to run the marathon trials but otherwise you've got to go the full 26.2.

Barnicle, Christopher (USA) M 02:21:58

[sex]=M

Go ahead, admit you were wrong. It's ok.

Barnacle smokes 4 hour barrier reefer

I don't really understand why so many people think it's so awesome for a person to make a joke of himself. I'm not going to say that Barnicle's performance makes a mockery of the sport or anything like that (the whole thing isn't that big a deal), I don't really get the reverence for overt lack of effort.

I'm not going to call the guy a loser, but I also don't really see what is cool or exciting about the whole thing.

not getting it wrote:

I don't really understand why so many people think it's so awesome for a person to make a joke of himself. I'm not going to say that Barnicle's performance makes a mockery of the sport or anything like that (the whole thing isn't that big a deal), I don't really get the reverence for overt lack of effort.

I'm not going to call the guy a loser, but I also don't really see what is cool or exciting about the whole thing.

Just curious, what's your evidence for his "overt lack of effort?" I'd guess he put out a tremendous amount of effort on Saturday. Definitely far more than all of the DNFs.

He's a 1:02 guy who had chronic injuries and decided to leave the sport. He decided to use his qualifier despite not being in shape. He ran a 1:24 first half and then suffered for another 13.1 miles. What's cool is that he didn't drop out. It's also exciting to see a guy with PRs of 13:3X, 28low and 1:02 and still running, still enjoying running, and enjoying the marathon for what it is.

He also is known for taking cannabis while training. I personally find that exciting because I know how uncomfortable that makes so many of the runners on this board.

not getting it wrote:

I don't really understand why so many people think it's so awesome for a person to make a joke of himself. I'm not going to say that Barnicle's performance makes a mockery of the sport or anything like that (the whole thing isn't that big a deal), I don't really get the reverence for overt lack of effort.

I'm not going to call the guy a loser, but I also don't really see what is cool or exciting about the whole thing.

Delusional . wrote:

"That's where I think cannabis needs to be seen is is something that is ... it can be connected with fitness. It doesn't have to be, like, people say, "Oh you're an athlete you can't use cannabis." "

It's not people, it's WADA and USADA. Either it is performance enhancing or it isn't. If it is then it is reasonable to ban it. You can't have it both ways (legal and beneficial).

Actually, you can have something be both beneficial and legal. Caffein immediately comes to mind. Yes, past a certain level it's illegal, but under that legal limit it's perfectly fine.

If some chemicals in pot have anti-inflammatory properties it's no different than ibruprofrin. Given pot's sedative properties, it's certainly not a stimulant.

So Mark Wetmore coached Chris Barnicle?

Nagano called, they want their controversy back.

Ever heard of Ross Rebagliatti? Clearly it is more beneficial in snowboard downhill. And he kept his gold medal. Running? No way it is beneficial.

TruthSayer wrote:

they should have given the spot to the first runner who didn't qualify.

How many unregistered names are you posting under??

He qualified.....that's it. He finished, Ritz did not.

He really had no business in the race if he knew he was not in shape to run a decent race.

Actually his qualifying time was all he needed to say he had "business in the race".

Look, this guy has busted his ass for years and has more talent in his pinkie than all these posters have in their entire bodies. He has suffered through 4 stress fractures and Crohn's disease. He had every right to be in that race. And by doing so he proved to be one tough mofo. Good for him.

"he had no business" Right, except for running a OTQ time. Idiot.

0000atmeal wrote:

all wrong wrote:

He would have never had the resolve and fortitude to run a 2:22, but he gets to make a mockery of the sport after capitalizing on his 10K speed and getting a free ride.If you win a US championship on the track, then you are free to run the marathon trials but otherwise you've got to go the full 26.2.

Barnicle, Christopher (USA) M 02:21:58

http://live.frankfurt-marathon.com/2013/?page=2&event=L&pid=list&search

[sex]=M

Go ahead, admit you were wrong. It's ok.

Nice.

Definitely not the fastest stoner in the race. Y'all are straight ignorant if you don't think a bunch of other qualifiers partake as well.

Granted, he was obviously not physically ready for it, but this guy was working his ass of every single time he passed by us. I get how him competing bugs some people, but he earned his way in and he at least respected the sport with a hard effort on the day of the race, notwithstanding the result or whether anyone thinks he deserved to be there or not.

Agreed.

And anyone who thinks he made a fool of himself, or a mockery of the event, or was disrespectful, or should have given his spot to someone else, you're crazy. More than 80 percent of each field shouldn't be there in the first place, but that doesn't bother anyone. And no one seems to freak out like this when someone announced they'd start, and not attempt to finish the Olympic marathon, and her spot was not given to someone who was actually ready to run:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4714155&page=1

Fact is, dude is a 1:02, 28:10 guy. Barely anyone else is. Dude also went 5:30 for the first three, which barely anyone else does. He also went 1:24 for the first half, which would win probably 99.9 percent of all halfs nationally these days. Then he suffered to a 3:45, which beats a lot of us, included me.

If you're still upset about this, where did you finish Saturday? Did you quality for Rio? Why not? You didn't run there? Why not?