Sell earns and to a large extent deserves the moniker of a blue collar runner.
Yes, he is talented, but he lacks the speed of many other runners (it is frightening just how much speed top marathoners have - even a guy with "modest" speed like Ritz has run 8:12 for two miles), and for that reason I am impressed at how tough and strong Sell is.
Running is a marginal sport from an economic standpoint - even more so in this economy. I am not sure anyone chasing the dream is in the least bit logical from a financial standpoint. That is OK, but to have any kind of expectations of a decent lifestyle is a stretch. Perhaps this is the source of the angst and jealousy.