Badwater runner Charlie Engle is out of prison. He's on Rock Center tonight (NBC).

He didn't come across as being very likable in his running Sahara documentary. I've often wondered if that's what put the stick up the arse of the zealous IRS agent who wouldn't stop harassing him n

I happen (by chance) to be friends with both Marshall Ulrich and the US District Attorney that prosecuted Engle. I was telling Marshall one night at dinner the story of how, when after seeing and hearing himself on a video they played at the trial, Engle says "Wow, I guess I do come off as kind of a jackass". Of course, Marshall isn't the biggest fan of Charlie so he got quite a good laugh out of this story.

Engle was a small fish that happened to have some fame and notoriety behind him due to the running exploits. The IRS agent probably said to himself, "How does he afford to do this?" Who can just take off work for months and months at a time to run. Who can afford 2 mortgages without a full time job?

I'm not saying that they shouldn't go after the loan officer that forged income levels or the one that approved it or many others in the process. They should, but Engle has never admitted any fault at all, either. He is a recovering drug addict because he finally owned up to and accepted responsibility for his drug problem, rather than blaming others. It's a shame he can't do the same in this aspect of this life.

Hasn't the other fairly well known runner named Charles Engle been in some hot water (as opposed to Badwater)? Not in the joint, but lots of possibly BS rumors about coke and a shady girlfriend, etc.

Remind me not to be named Charles Engle when I am reincarnated someday, or if I am, don't let me start running marathons.

Old Man Runner wrote:

Engle was a small fish that happened to have some fame and notoriety behind him due to the running exploits. The IRS agent probably said to himself, "How does he afford to do this?" Who can just take off work for months and months at a time to run. Who can afford 2 mortgages without a full time job?

And yet when the finances checked out a okay, he couldn't stop his harassment of Engle. Always thought it was ironic that the bank that gave him the liars loan was rewarded with bail out money, and Engle was the only one held accountable for anything. This is the kind of crap that makes you want to march the IRS straight into the ocean.

I know Charlie pretty well. He is someone who is passionate and like all runners, including Marshall, he has an ego as well as drive to help him accomplish what he has in the running community. I was around when he was arrested. I was in the courtroom. What you should know is Charlie had no mortgages when Norlander looked into him. Norlander also found nothing with his taxes. What happened was he spent too much money on his vendetta and had to justify it somehow. The hours put into prosecuting Charlie cost US the taxpayers way more than Charlie allegedly owes. Don't forget, the banks got their houses back and did not come after Charlie. They were ok with not shedding light on this. Also, the other flaw in your reply is the bank Charlie has been ordered to pay money to is NOT the lending institution the loans were made with. It was a bank that bought up their debt and as you know those bought deeds have a very unclear trail in most cases. I just thought you would like to know more detail straight from the courtroom.

The article states Engle ran roughly 7500 miles in 16 months in prison on a 1/4 mi "track." That equates to about 469 mi per month or 117 mi per week or 16 mi per day or about 64 laps per day. Really?? I guess he might have had the time and inclination. Thoughts? I think he's telling a tall fib!

I would think it would be possible, considering the stamina he has to run across the Sahara. It is also a federal prison, so they aren't confined to their cells all day every day, as long as they do what they are supposed to.

More big government spending time and money to infiltrate our lives.

Thanks to all who voted for, and re-voted for, The Great One of hope and change....much more to come.