We've found our sport's greatest fan. Mike Mahon just attended his 2,000th cross country meet

I started running and racing at 13 or 14. Was my high school's leading distance runner (this may not be saying much). Went to USATF (or whatever it was called then) meet, without a parent, as a teenager. I'm a fan and participant in competitve running still.

I may have been to 10 cross country races. That may be rounding up.

I ran a dozen or so meets in junior high, four years of HS, five years at college, a dozen or so years club, then went to meets for both my kids for four years of high school and college, and have accompanied my wife/coach for over thirty years now for high school XC season. I think I can count the number of meets I've list on one hand, but 2K is impressive.

I've been to probably close to 100.

That's gotta be Top Ten all time for former hammer throwers. 😎

Geetch, that's impressive to me. I was thinking 100 is big-time; 1000 makes you an all-time great.

Now here is a guy with a tolerance for tedium. I cannot imagine anything more tedious.

Nice story. It's always fun when he "reveals" which Allouette jersey will be the main one for the year. He's a Mass institution- even going to post-collegiate meets.

Good article!

I'm pleased he's found a focus for his energies.

Imagine leaving at midnight for a meet the next morning.

Nooo...I said 100, not 1000.

So I'm only "big-time", but still good for a thrower.

Really enjoyed the article. Conveyed the magnitude of the accomplishment while respectfully coverall all aspects of the story and man.

A nice hobby for the local aspie. But what would you think about an adult male with no relative on the team who always came your high school meets and was obsessed with your stats? Yeah.

Had a somewhat similar situation where I'm at. A guy with a notebook who was obsessed with stats and knowing when runners birthdays were so he could know if they were old for their grade. I did take some people back at first, but honestly people mostly embraced him after that. He clearly had autism or something similar going on and was a nice guy.

Good to know there are outlets for people who have passions that might escape the ordinary person’s vantage point.

All of the coaches are well aware of who Mike is and the vast majority of athletes love him once they learn about him.

That's good to hear.

It’s a bit off putting at first tbh, but as Jon mentioned, everyone knows him by now.

After the initial shock wears off, it can be inspiring for a somewhat average runner like I was to find out that this guy knew who I was and knew I ran well at a meet weeks prior and congratulating me on it. Made me feel like someone other than immediate family and friends cared.

congrats to mike!

Golf? Baseball? Basket weaving? Neoliberalism?

Never heard of the guy, just read Jon’s 2017 article and oh my god what an epic adventure that was. Jon’s finest journalism by far. Loved it, Michael Mahon is an absolute LEGEND.