Macharia Yuot

Come Feb, we will have someone with more love for this country then most people who were born here. Yes, he will be a citizen come Feb.

Yuot's motivatino didn't even seem to be money. He loves the city and getting to perform in front of it. He wants to do things most others don't (race a marathon the day after winning nats). Are all of these decisions smart, no. But he will learn. After Saturday it is up to him to make the mistakes and learn from them.

Clearly Conflicted wrote:

Yuot was probably working incredibly hard on Sunday, given his effort on a difficult course the day before, but 2:25 is practically a fun-run for a fellow of his caliber. Besides, I have heard that Philly was a bueatifully orchestrated wreck of an event held in one of America's finest, most historically alluring and violent piss-hole megaslums.

Racing a marathon the day after a national XC championship is obviously stupid, but taking into account the easy cash, the fact that the marathon was in Yuot's back yard, and the expiration of his collegiate eligibility, it was unquestionably a savvy move. I can't help but praise this humble gentleman even though I'd like to rip the numb shit to hell and back on message boards, and I wish he were an American even though imports are never genuine citizens no matter what the INS paperwork says.

Man, you are conflicted. Yuot is a "numb shit" (what does that even mean?) and "humble" (a dubious compliment if anything) according to you. At least you can't help but praise him, because Macharia Yuot might be the greatest athlete I've ever competed against, or even met. I wish I could make you understand just how erroneous your appraisal is - complimenting his shrewdness and his "caliber," as if everything just comes to him, while you hide behind anonymity.

Macharia Yuot's citizenship obviously has a bearing on his career as a runner, but seems insignificant next to the consideration of who he is. I have never seen someone compete as hard as Macharia. His running is completely honest, in training and performance, and his character goes far beyond that. I hope that my post can balance out some of the inevitable, petty cutting from some of the "real American citizens" on the board who choose to tear down instead of build up.

Congratulations, Macharia. I saw you after the Philly 1/2 back in September but didn't get a chance to say hello. I hope all is well.

Brandon Newbould

Fairbanks, AK

Messiah College '04

VERY well said, many of us take for granted what we have. Knowing what Macharia has gone through has made many of us feel humble.

When he received his award on Saturday he made two remarks that struck me. One was that he said that he'd miss all the people he competed against over the last four years. Second, in reply to the announcer asking about his possible running career he said "This is fun!" He probably ran the marathon for fun, being a Philly resident and in good shape. The guy has been through enough in his life to recognize a pleasure in his life and take advantage of it for all it's worth. I think a lot of us forget that we run because it's fun. Maybe he doesn't micromanage his running career like a lot of us do.

I heard he ran the race to buy a year's supply of Tusker

AKMarmoset wrote:

Man, you are conflicted. Yuot is a "numb shit" (what does that even mean?) and "humble" (a dubious compliment if anything) according to you. At least you can't help but praise him, because Macharia Yuot might be the greatest athlete I've ever competed against, or even met. I wish I could make you understand just how erroneous your appraisal is - complimenting his shrewdness and his "caliber," as if everything just comes to him, while you hide behind anonymity.

I absolutely mean this in the nicest possible way, but had you not decided to spend your post-collegiate years in the Alaskan bush, your tongue-in-cheek detector might not be in such dire need of recalibration. I was not tearing into that foolhardy athlete Yuot at all, nor am I doing so now.

Macharia represents what is good in our sport. Don't we want guys like this suceeding in the sport? I've spoken with him at many national meets and congradulated him after more than one victory, and he is one of the most gracious and humble people I've met. It's stupid to say that if he gets citizenship he won't be a real citizen. He prolly understands the value of that citizenship alot better than you jokers on here, and I wish him luck in all his future pursuits.

Clearly he ran in the Philly Marathon so that he is geared up to pace Lance Armstrong next year.

If one cannot see the sincerity in his comments and actions, then you have no soul.

His Nats triple last spring might not have even won a DI conference meet, but thats not the point. This is a guy who saw people being killed all around him, and had to convince himself to keep going. Fairly relavant to our sport, and life in general.

He is very happy, and very lucky, for his current circumstances. He acknowledges this all the time. I can't think of a person who does not wish him well, and further success.

MY's running is not about running. Its about life, and how one CHOOSES to live it.

Clearly Conflicted wrote:

I wish he were an American even though imports are never genuine citizens no matter what the INS paperwork says.

Dude...The kid left \"his\" country, do to the prospect of being murdered. He was in no way any more of an \"import\" than those that came over here trying to escape persecutions in previous generations. I know the kid. His goal is to one day run for the US. Unless you would like to call all the white folks who have come over here, running away from religious or other forms of persecution non-genuine Americans, I dont think you have any ground to make the claim you just made. Unless you are rascist.

Yuot is one of the most inspirational runners I have ever had the pleasure of learning about.

Ah, the classic "I was just joking" defense that someone always trots out when they spout off like a jackass and they get called out on it. Couldn't you just apoligize?

Off the Grid wrote:

If one cannot see the sincerity in his comments and actions, then you have no soul.

d3alum wrote:

It's stupid to say that if he gets citizenship he won't be a real citizen.

Grar wrote:

I dont think you have any ground to make the claim you just made. Unless you are rascist.

DO ANY OF YOU STUPID SONS OF BITCHES DO MORE THAN SCAN WHEN YOU READ? THE FÜCKER WAS KIDDING! EVEN I CAN SEE THAT AND I'VE BEEN DEAD FOR YEARS! MY FÜCKING GOD!

Lister wrote:

Ah, the classic "I was just joking" defense that someone always trots out when they spout off like a jackass and they get called out on it. Couldn't you just apoligize?

moron...why do you suppose he chose tha handle?

If Clearly Convicted is who I think it is then the rest of you kids need to cut him some slack. Tongue in cheek is his artform...:)

Alan

I hear some sheep bleating in the fields. Why don't you all go and join them.

thoughtful skeptic wrote:

Certainly Yuot's double was "tough," but did it strike anyone else as "dumb" as well? He will have the lingering effects of a marathon in his legs for at least 1-2 months, maybe more. Moreover, he ran 2:25, which doesn't make the standard. Why wouldn't he wait until he had optimal preparation? I doubt that he was able to put in 20+ mile runs at the end of the CC season, although I could be wrong. Just my two cents.

this is the same guy who tripled at nationals in track (steeple, 5k, 10k) and won all 3

he's just tough and obviously has trained his body to be used to this kind of thing

not every runner needs 1-2 months to recover from a marathon

Div. 3 harrier wrote:

had a nice 1k purse waiting for him.

He did? He was sixth, and according to the website money only goes five deep ($3.5K, $2K, $1K, $750 and $500). Or do you mean someone was literally waiting at the finish for Yuot with a purse worth a thousand dollars? I think the innumerable analysis-challenged and irony-impaired on this board probably thought that's what you meant.