period exclamation wrote:
Sage, yaboyscottjurek is Tony Darracote.
Thank you! Is that really true? Well if so, now we have a face and a name...
I honestly don't know what the "yaboyscottjurek" account has posted over the years since I blocked them on Instagram a long time ago. But whoever it is, they seem/seemed to really have it out for me (and I'd imagine probably ultra runners like Camille). I'm not saying we've not deserved criticism or to be poked fun at....as I'm all for quality humor and I've certainly made my fair share of mistakes and indiscretions over the years...
Context: I was hospitalized with a life threatening pulmonary embolism, racked up five figures of medical debt (lost part of lungs which is permanent damage), then we had lost our home and basically everything in a fire...and this was also not long after Sandi's sister passed from cancer at the age of 35.....
So I'm dealing with all that and here comes "yaboyscottjurek" to shoot me while I'm down with what I'd claim is close to defamation kinds of content (in that it aims to hurt my credibility and reputation as a coach and therefore our business and adding to financial strain). The account had posted a picture of me (Photoshopped) that implied I said/wrote a quote that I didn't say (it was not positive)...
Now since Camille and I may be seen as "public figures" one could also argue that it "goes with the territory" and we are of course open targets for memes and "satire." It's not like I'm not also critical of "influencers" and call out bs all the time on social media and do some satire myself. And when you put yourself out there on social media you are prone to being a target...no doubt. And yes, everyone goes through life with some sort of adversity/tragedy/obstacles at times (some worse than others obviously!).
But I'll tell you this: It's not funny when you've basically lost everything and hit rock bottom in life and then some annoying meme account essentially bullies you under the guise of "satire". The ultra community likes to pride itself on being "friendly and open and inclusive" and the reality is that you've got some pretty unhinged characters with an axe to grind against "roadies" and "sponsored runners" - and that they are way more judgmental and toxic/insecure compared to many in the road and track running crowd imo. I used to say "LetsRun is tame compared to the comments section on iRunFar."
Now I'm not going to defend what Camille has done in the past. And I don't really know what shes doing now. But I don't think unnecessary "bullying" is just as I believe it creates a more toxic culture in general. Some criticism is certainly more valid at times and of course should be called out (i.e. dopers in the sport!) and sure some humor and memes are all fun and games and about not taking the sport or life too seriously. That's great entertainment and cheap laughs! Making fun of ideas and concepts is more advanced humor than making fun of people directly though (and doing elementary photoshop jobs) imo.
But for the record, if the alternate on team USA was in fact allowed to start the race now in the 24 hour champs... then Camille didn't technically "block a spot." Sure her communication (or lack thereof) was bad and who knows what else she's done?...but it's not like the "spot was wasted"....so she was correct in what she had posted in some regard about not having this strict deadline that determined who on the team could actually run/start?
