Dean is overrated and Jim is great? Or the other way around?
The only thing I remember about Dean is a passage from a book where he called ahead and ordered a pizza (not sliced) to be delivered to a corner of a road as he was on a long run, where he picked it up and ate it like a burrito as he ran. Makes me want to puke just thinking about it.
I'm sure he meant Dean was/is overrated. This would be my answer too. In the late 2000s, Dean may have been the most famous and most endorsed American distance runner. He was basically a good local runner who self promoted his little stunts to successfully fool millions into thinking he was redefining the limits of human endurance. It would be hard to get more overrated than that.
Dean was an above average runner but he was not an elite runner. He won Badwater once on a year when the competition was weak and got famous from that. He is a world-class self-promoter, but far from a world-class runner. Walmsley on the hand is a real talent. I would love to see all the people on these boards who look down on Walmsley toe the line with him and see how that works out.
He also dominated US cross country for a few years and prior to winning the Munich marathon ran a heat and a final in the 10000, setting an American record
Parker Stinson. Ever since he made those poor choices and had to block all the oregon guys from his insta for it, it has been clear what his true colors are.
Noah Droddy has been almost exclusively style over substance for his pro career. His whining via twitter about not getting better sponsorship opportunities is legendary. Perhaps fitting that they're buddies and training together now.
Pre and Rogers caught the imagination of young runners in the 70s. We were aware of Shorter and his gold medal, but we loved Pre and Rogers . Pre, and then Rogers influenced the sport in the US more than anyone ever. Maybe they are overrated because their times do not justify the influence they made on the growth of the sport.
He was 21...4th was still a huge run. Other than Schul and Dellinger in 64' the US had really never medaled in the 5k...it took another 44 years after Pre's 4th place to get someone on the podium. Let's also not forget about the 8 American & 8 Collegiate records he held at one time. Just playing devil's advocate...
Bill Rodgers wouldn’t qualify for NCAAs nowadays in his prime. His 2:09 is pedestrian at best. He was a road racer who popularized the sport, and famous for it. but I would say as a runner he’s generally overrated
He wasn't the best but not overrated. He protected his lead numerous times in major Marathons. When he was at his best he was not being pushed.
On my team, before Pre died, Dave Wottle was considerably more popular. Tony Waldrop was big also. When he ran a string of sub-4 indoor miles that was a big thing in mainstream media.
Tubby Tuke is the most under rated runner considering besides Kipchoge and Bekele he is the only other man to run under 2:02 for a Marathon and if I am not mistaken I think he also ran 2:01:38 for the distance on 8000/1 odds
On my team, before Pre died, Dave Wottle was considerably more popular. Tony Waldrop was big also. When he ran a string of sub-4 indoor miles that was a big thing in mainstream media.
Every runner from a small country with the NR, who couldn't hold a candle to the real competition. Like yeah you got the NR and PB'd huge, but still only achieved 5th - 8th in a world final. Nobody even knows the poor east Africans names who got 2nd - 4th, oh boy but do these boards ever blow up when a brit or Canadian finish 5 seconds back in the same race.
Every runner from a small country with the NR, who couldn't hold a candle to the real competition. Like yeah you got the NR and PB'd huge, but still only achieved 5th - 8th in a world final. Nobody even knows the poor east Africans names who got 2nd - 4th, oh boy but do these boards ever blow up when a brit or Canadian finish 5 seconds back in the same race.
Idk dude. I'd say getting 5th-8th at Worlds is holding a candle.
Meb. Love the guy, his story, and his contributions to American running and American running culture as a whole.
Longevity aside, he never ran any uber-outstanding times. Yes, he has an oly silver, but the marathon was exceptionally weak in '04. Again, great story, but not deserving of a 'first name basis athlete' the likes of which we reserve for LeBron, Kobe, Ichiro, Deion-hell-even Pre
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