John Bingham's Newtonian moment: "Ah-ha! I will become rich selling underachievement!

He makes a lot of money. How much do you make? Jealous?

He came up with an idea and sold it to the world. Good for him.

I hope security had some big billy clubs.

Buddy, you need to get a life.

It's one thing to discuss it here, but you take it to a new level.

I've got some bad news. You've outed yourself as a bigger loser than the penguin.

Get a girlfriend or read a book immediately.

I read a book: Bingham's.

No clubs used. They escorted me to the door and then I snuck back in to hear Dean Karnazes speak. I tried to talk to him, but the Penguin was there and recognized me, so I got the hell outta there to the next room to listen in to Chris McDougall, but, sh it man, Bart Yasso was in there. He was in the middle of some har-har, there-I-was naked in the middle of the Gobi Desert and I have heard that story before, so I went to the Power Bar booth and watched Josh Cox run on a treadmill while a video of Christian evangelists building a well in Sub-Saharan Africa played above him.

I tried to ask him about the real mission on Team World Vision, but he was Twittering some recent do-goodery of his, so I went to the Stick booth and got a massage instead.

Hot damn I love this business.

Was Dane at the expo too? You shoulda stopped by his booth, too. He would've loved to tell you about himself.

Out here

GGT, I think you've got it exactly right. Thanks for the great laugh. You may be the Borat of running. Thanks for your part in calling out the BS.

hey yo wrote:

Was Dane at the expo too? You shoulda stopped by his booth, too. He would've loved to tell you about himself.

Out here

Roger that good buddy. I think all TRUE runners know that Dane is THE MAN! He gave up a promising legal career to be a spokesman for the midpackers. We all know that Dane doesn't (nor can he) run fast, he runs often. If you ever doubt how great he is just ask him and he will set you straight.

GO DUKE!!!!

Yes!

So much to see, so little time at these things.

Team Hoyt was next. Those zany guys are always willing to talk to me about subtle, extremely lucrative business models that milk the inherent human need to feel sorry for someone. As Barnum once said, "Give me Sheeple and I'll give you shekels."

Whenever I say that to the Joggler, he drops his balls.

Try it some time.

Dane Cook? That guy is a douche, man.

I'd love to look at the books of that operation.

Team Hoyt and Dean K. both deserve a sack whack, but I don't know who any of the rest of these guys are.

Well, it's sad to me that after 15 years of encouraging people to get more active, to join the wonderful running community, to support the best of us, someone would feel it necessary to make up something so silly.

No not billy clubs: Nice, shiney TASERS.

I can hear the audioclip now:

"No don't Tase me Penguin!

Don't Tase me Penguin!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh......aaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!"

ROFL

Seriously,

I would read Mr. Binghams columns and poured over his book because it reminded me that there was more to life than pure competition. It is disgusting and disturbing the level of enjoyment you seem to derive from your poor attempt at mockery directed at Mr. Bingham. I have Prs of 16:17 and 34:00 so I am by no means super competitive, but I run because it was and is a damned good time. I have won races in Slayer t shirts and basketball shorts, simply because I can.

Life is short. Enjoy it!

Yeah, honestly, I don't think the penguin articles have anything to do with the state of US distance running. Most people who read that are not competitive runners, and never would have been. It's geared towards people like my mom. My mom will never be a world beater, and has no plans on it, but likes to run.

If only someone would have told her at 50 that she should be working for that spot on the olympic team.

God, learn which demographics are targeted with his stuff, and you would realize that if it overlaps with potential national class runners at all, it is almost 0.

I agree. John Bingham isn't cashing in on an attitude that is generally good for running or health for thsat matter.

Some years ago when the massess were first moving in on the sport I still remember how he completely embraced the assumptions of the newbies that all elite athletes were a-holes. They exist, of course, moreso at the sub-elite level than the bonafide accomplished elite, but he was all ready to take up arms and burn the whole house down.

So John Bingham..if you are reading this. Good. You ARE a fat piece of shit. Touche. I have personally coached and trained runners just like yourself well past the fitness you are content to wallow in. They are much happier in the reality they live in today of good health and faster times rather than the worlkd of denial you expect them to embrace.

If you don't like running, get out of our sport, and go back to your couch.

You obviously have never really read his work then. Running is about the act of motion. This can mean birthing confidence and satisfaction in changing ones life PERIOD. Mr. Bingham conveys this quite well. Its the courage to start that matters. This seems vacuous to individuals who have never been intimidated by the sport of running. His works appeals to those who feel afraid to try.

Furthermore, I have found that most serious runners are generally poor conversationalists and not too fun to be around. When I was 13 and beginning to run, I found that approaching our local "serious: competitors for advice was awkward and intimidating. These individuals were so focused that they could not be bothered. I vowed that I would never be like that. I have internalized Mr. Bingham's message and my running has thrived because of it. I love meeting "penguins" because their convivial nature is awesome. It is what defines running for me: a fun atmosphere.

My personal best dropped over 2 minutes for 5k because I stopped obsessing over details and just ran. I had fun during races, which ironically, most of my fellow competitors seemed incapable of doing.

I will gladly waddle on.

This is strange ... but I think everyone on here is right.

* John Bingham did do a nice job of spotting an opportunity to personally profit, and execute it. And this is something we usually praise and feel good about.

* The fact that he may have done this, by taking people on the fence between trying hard and settling for mediocrity, and luring them back on the side with the couch and donuts ... this somewhat complicates things.

* Doing this has nothing to do with our elite runners, nor do Color Runs, nor does Warrior Dash, nor does any of that stuff because those things involve completely different people.

* A lot of people's lives are probably better than they were, because John Bingham comforted them into a level of activity that exceeded what they were otherwise doing.

* A lot of other people's lives might have been better, if they'd never had The Penguin as a crutch and tried hard instead. (Though personally I think they mostly would have just found another crutch, but I could be wrong)

* This whole "Penguin as Folk Hero" trope is BS. You shouldn't be any kind of hero for not trying hard, amusingly writing about it, and 'inspiring' other people not to try hard either. But you are certainly entitled to every dollar you make in the process.

Mostly though the OP posts were pretty d*** funny. That was fun.

Finally! We've all been waiting for some kind of analysis for 22 months! So glad you worked meticulously for almost 2 years to provide this commentary beantaxi.