How well are top runners known in their hometowns?

In fact go to www.sanluisobispo.com, and she is on the front page there.

My experience is that most of the top runners at various levels are well known by other runners in their community. Most top runners are not known by anybody else.

Absolutely no one knew who Johnny Gray was when he went to the supermarket. In fact, very few knew who he was when he went to the local track. I also remember very few people knowing who Willie Banks was when he went to small meets at CSUN.

I read a funny quote from Blake Russell shortly after she qualified for the 2008 Olympic marathon team. She said her neighbor said something like, "Oh, now we know why we always saw you out running."

In Northern Virginia - Alan Webb is reasonably well known. I see him often and he at times must step out of his zone of privacy that most of us enjoy. Then again, he has not moved from his boyhood home so many more know of him.

The Concrete Runner wrote:

My experience is that most of the top runners at various levels are well known by other runners in their community. Most top runners are not known by anybody else.

......and??? Don't you have any other advice? You know...like about running on certain types of surfaces?

Pfitzinger Pfan wrote:

I read a funny quote from Blake Russell shortly after she qualified for the 2008 Olympic marathon team. She said her neighbor said something like, "Oh, now we know why we always saw you out running."

Most of the people in the small town think I'm training for the Olympics - though I'm slow as snot in Letsrun terms. They see me in the store and make comments like "How goes training for the next Olympics?" Sort of a shame for the truly talented runners ... not to be recognized for what a talent they are.