Have you ever met an elite runner? What were they like?

Meb has clearly embraced the role of an approachable ambassador of the sport. Bravo to him for being that.

My first experience with a "famous" runner was way back in the mid-70s when I was in early high school. Francie Larrieu (sp?) did a clinic nearby and signed autographs. She was very friendly to all of us and made a huge impression on someone who was just getting into the sport. Will never forget it. More than 40 years later, I got to meet her in a different capacity and shared the story with her... which was an equally big thrill! She obviously appreciates the fact that she made a positive impact on young runners.

I've met Jo Pavey in a couple of her roles as an ambassador for the sport, including running with her pace group at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon. She's lovely. Very friendly and chatty, and still a decent runner.

got to see Randolph Ross at a waffle house. really cool guy and got a picture. apparently he stops there a bunch and the workers had no idea he had a gold medal

I was at that race sitting very near where that was video'd. I tell you what, I hated A Pappas with a passion after that pathetic grab for attention. That was a 10,000 at Stanford and she did that shiite the entire race. I wanted to turn around and punch her in the throat by the end.

I met Jonathan Gault at a indoor meet at Boston University this winter. I approached him, said hello, and he awkwardly responding before briskly heading onto the infield.

Elite runners are regular people who happen to run fast. Some are chatty, some are quiet, some are nice, some are rude. Just like any random person you come across.

With one exception: they are fiercely competitive to a much greater extent than any random person you come across. I don't think you'll ever come across an elite runner who's not fiercely competitive.

I talk to my daughter almost everyday. Some days she can be a pain in the ass, but for the most part she a pretty normal mid 20’s young lady. Likes interacting with people, but she says some get a little creepy.

I ran in D1 and had a handful of teammates go to Olympic Trials. Two of them finished in the top 8 in their events. All but one were really down to earth, friendly guys. One was a very intense jerk. Probably just like any group of people with big goals, there will always be one jerk.

I lived in Mammoth Lakes , CA a few years. I was not there for running, but was running with the local amateurs and pros were around. Met all of the pros there. Ryan Hall, Meb, Deena, Jen Rhines, Ian Dobson, Josh Cox, Dan Browne. Not a single negative interaction. Dobson was a cool guy. Deena and Meb were always very nice. At that level, they may be more aware of their persona so they may be careful not to have negative interactions. But I mostly got the sense they were just normal, decent people being themselves.

Living in SoCal and going to meets I have met JJK, Alison Felix and a few other top tier sprinters who were all very nice to me also.

I am a fan of the sport, but have always tried to be respectful and only talk to people if they appear open to it and I keep it brief and show my appreciation of their time.

Hobbs Kessler - basically what you would expect from a chill college-aged kid, down to earth guy.

Bershawn Jackson Jr - Hawked down a community 4x4

In Jamaica last week - Yared, Cole, Jen P, Josh (yes Josh), Grant, Marco A, Alison, Vernon N, and others at the Hotel .....all kind, engaging and willing to talk about running with you.

Nah some aren't particularly competitive. Some barely even follow the sport, they just like to run fast and show up at races to run fast.

This is true. I won the 50+ in $$$ paying 10k. They had out the first six, the first three 40+ and me as first 50+. I'm about 5' 8 1/2" and 146 lbs and I looked like a middle weight boxer compared to the others, the first six all being Kenyan..

They are literally just normal people just like you.. yall need to stop putting people on a pedestal just because they are good at something lmao

Anyway - I also met Roger Bannister!

He did a talk at UVic and I chatted with him afterwards. I had a copy of his book, but he was genuinely surprised by it - a rerelease job with an alt title with no pics! I told him that I devoured his book (an original edition!) in HS and he loved that. We also had a chuckle: I also went sub4 with 3:59.4.....but in the 1500m. 😂

He signed the bastardized book and I later gave it to some teenager called Cameron Levins.

yes and no

i have met many. and some rich and famous

outside their niche, the are "normal" per se.

but not really

a lot of top people have an unbelievable aura. and energy.

it is sexy and a blast.

that said, these chosen few may or may not be blessed with any more IQ points than the rest.

so idol worship is a useless thing.

the thing is that today, i'm not seeing that aura in too many athletes nor actors, nor who's who.

not too many jump off the page.

hollyweird is out of the picture.

this is very true. John's the only person in my personal track and field hall of fame.