gamecock wrote:
Let's say he's really done. So? He has won FL, won NCAAs both in XC and track, made Olympic finals, and married well. Lots of people would gladly take that and be "done."
a lot of people would gladly take the 13:18 he ran in the heavy wind in canada not so long ago where he basically ran it alone. very few americans can hit that mark in perfect rabbitted conditions in europe.
but in the world of letsrun if you're not ready to at least crack an AR or be a new kid on the block with seemingly unlimited potential (wait 5 years to see how unlimited that really is) you are done.
most if this is because we live vicariously through these guys and if we decided to hang 'em up at 14:01 or 14:42 or whatever and have always wondered since then what we could have done "only if" (only if nike spotted my talent, only if i had an alter g, only if salazar was my personal coach, only if i could have worked out with so and so, etc. etc.) then how can we painfully watch someone with more talent and more heart continue to go after it and believe in themselves when the future is much less than certain.
the issue here isn't goucher, it's a bunch of insecure, miserable dreamers and hangers on. if you decided to let it go, then LET IT GO. take yourselves out of the fantasy and simply observe, you might experience some joy and appreciation rather than jealousy and anguish.