Someone Should Tell Shelby No One Really Cares

blarf wrote:

Someone should tell Shelby no one really cares in the grand scheme of things. Competitive running is such a microscope that largely doesn't matter in the grand scheme of life. I had a friend in college (elite runner) that got popped for doping after school. I saw him a few years back and I literally completely forgot about it. Like didn't even once think of it when I saw him. This was about 15 years ago that he got caught, and at the time it seemed like a huge deal. But when I saw him again I only thought of him as a good runner and a good guy. He retired after getting caught and lives a pretty happy life now. I guess the one difference is he admitted to it right away.

I'm not saying she's a not a cheater, but it's such a small part of life. No one will remember any of us in 60 years except our kids.

blarf wrote:

Someone should tell Shelby no one really cares in the grand scheme of things. Competitive running is such a microscope that largely doesn't matter in the grand scheme of life. I had a friend in college (elite runner) that got popped for doping after school. I saw him a few years back and I literally completely forgot about it. Like didn't even once think of it when I saw him. This was about 15 years ago that he got caught, and at the time it seemed like a huge deal. But when I saw him again I only thought of him as a good runner and a good guy. He retired after getting caught and lives a pretty happy life now. I guess the one difference is he admitted to it right away.

I'm not saying she's a not a cheater, but it's such a small part of life. No one will remember any of us in 60 years except our kids.

History Biffy wrote:

friendliest person wrote:

I actually kind of care. It's an fascinating story. I do think she likely doped--the case against her is just too strong for it not to be so--but I am interested in seeing if she really can come back to some kind of form, when she's past her physical prime, has been out of competition, and whose name will never not be associated with this. I care in that way.

Not sure what's so fascinating about this one. An elite runner doped, got caught, came up with a stupid excuse, got laughed out of town with that excuse, got banned, and now comes back. Not that special.

Somewhat comparable examples out of the top of my head are Baumann, Kisorio, Gatlin, Blake, Gay, Schwazer, Roberts and Rollins-McNeal.

Some of the above got banned more than once, and a few came back in comparable form. Gatlin improved after his first ban, and was still at the top after his second ban, and Kisorio also set PRs after his first ban - partly enabled by the super shoes.

So yes, it will be interesting where this doper will end up. Another ban, a few PRs? She is above 30 now, but hasn't raced in super spikes yet, and USADA decreased her testing substantially in 2023 and 2023, so who knows.

blarf wrote:

History Biffy wrote:

Not sure what's so fascinating about this one. An elite runner doped, got caught, came up with a stupid excuse, got laughed out of town with that excuse, got banned, and now comes back. Not that special.

Somewhat comparable examples out of the top of my head are Baumann, Kisorio, Gatlin, Blake, Gay, Schwazer, Roberts and Rollins-McNeal.

Some of the above got banned more than once, and a few came back in comparable form. Gatlin improved after his first ban, and was still at the top after his second ban, and Kisorio also set PRs after his first ban - partly enabled by the super shoes.

So yes, it will be interesting where this doper will end up. Another ban, a few PRs? She is above 30 now, but hasn't raced in super spikes yet, and USADA decreased her testing substantially in 2023 and 2023, so who knows.

Exactly.

blarf wrote:

friendliest person wrote:

I actually kind of care. It's a fascinating story. I do think she likely doped--the case against her is just too strong for it not to be so--but I am interested in seeing if she really can come back to some kind of form, when she's past her physical prime, has been out of competition, and whose name will never not be associated with this. I care in that way.

Yea you totally nailed it. I do care in that way in the sense it’s interesting and interested to see if she comes back. That’s a good point. Maybe I should rephrase like “nobody hates you”. People have long busy lives and I used to care a ton about this stuff when I ran competitively. But I do hope she redeems herself and she’s not a horrible person.

blarf wrote:

Someone should tell Shelby no one really cares in the grand scheme of things. Competitive running is such a microscope that largely doesn't matter in the grand scheme of life. I had a friend in college (elite runner) that got popped for doping after school. I saw him a few years back and I literally completely forgot about it. Like didn't even once think of it when I saw him. This was about 15 years ago that he got caught, and at the time it seemed like a huge deal. But when I saw him again I only thought of him as a good runner and a good guy. He retired after getting caught and lives a pretty happy life now. I guess the one difference is he admitted to it right away.

I'm not saying she's a not a cheater, but it's such a small part of life. No one will remember any of us in 60 years except our kids.

blarf wrote:

Someone should tell Shelby no one really cares in the grand scheme of things. Competitive running is such a microscope that largely doesn't matter in the grand scheme of life. I had a friend in college (elite runner) that got popped for doping after school. I saw him a few years back and I literally completely forgot about it. Like didn't even once think of it when I saw him. This was about 15 years ago that he got caught, and at the time it seemed like a huge deal. But when I saw him again I only thought of him as a good runner and a good guy. He retired after getting caught and lives a pretty happy life now. I guess the one difference is he admitted to it right away.

I'm not saying she's a not a cheater, but it's such a small part of life. No one will remember any of us in 60 years except our kids.