Often times people on Letsrun use the term "blue-collar runner" to describe someone. However, this is not a clear cut term. There are several different definitions of blue-collar runner.
1. Someone who has outperformed their perceived talent because of working very hard. This person did not show elite running ability or potential in high school or college but through persistent, dedicated work, have come to be elite. Dick Beardsley's marathon debut was in 2:47, but his Boston time of 2:08:xx is obviously elite. He is therefore a blue-collar runner. Many people referred to Brian Sell as this kind of blue-collar runner. This class of blue-collar is not related to social class, wealth, or professional status, but is dependent simply upon an athlete doing better than what his or her perceived talent might have suggested he or she was capable.
2. Someone who works a real job and still manages to run at a high level. This person might also be married and have children, and therefore crams their training into small windows of time, but is still successful. This type of blue-collar runner is the normal person with a job who still qualifies for the Olympic marathon trials, or the master who dominates their respective region. This is irrespective of what kind of job this person has. He or she is a blue-collar runner because they do a lot (performance) with a little (time to train).
3. Someone who works at a genuine blue collar job and still runs at any level. This person does a physically tiring job but still has energy to run at the end of the day. This classification of blue-collar runner is the only one not dependent on ability or performance. This is anyone with a blue collar job who also runs.
Discuss.