I admit that I hate what NOP has done with "gimmicks" and it most certainly does not represent the common man.
If I want an American Hero Distance Runner that is Blue Collar, where do I look?
Is there anyone left?
I admit that I hate what NOP has done with "gimmicks" and it most certainly does not represent the common man.
If I want an American Hero Distance Runner that is Blue Collar, where do I look?
Is there anyone left?
My pick is Ryan Vail.
I would think Ryan Hall- he seems to just run. But people are afraid of his religious approach.
How about the Stotan guys?
Blue Collar, not sure. But Ben True lives and trains in Hanover, NH far from the "running scene" in Oregon and the rest of the west. He isn't backed by Nike and he's got more heart and guts than the rest of our LD runners.
nope none left they are too busy buying shirts from FanShop place where a "blue collar runner" shirt runs for 30 dollars.. yeah fu*#ing 30 dollars for a tee shirt that states your blue collar unf*#king real.
Yeah Ben True. I'm sure there are a lot of guys out there but most (NOT True) would be more sub-elite.
There's nothing wrong with being backed by Nike- it's more the gimmicks and high tech stuff that turn people off.
Stotan people run and work a little and, at least the ones I've talked to, are pretty hard core.
I still like the Hansons.
What is "blue-collar" exactly?
redux wrote:
What is "blue-collar" exactly?
The opposite of Alberto Salazar.
Easily Annoyed wrote:
redux wrote:What is "blue-collar" exactly?
The opposite of Alberto Salazar.
The I am a "blue-collar" runner.
I would say the Hansons as well. The fastest group? No. But they train hard and get serious results relative to what their college potential indicated.
I've never seen anyone run with a blue collar. So I guess they're extinct.
I think Blue Collar should refer to athletes who are holding down a full-time job in addition to training/racing at a high level. ALL national and world-class runners TRAIN hard, but can they accomplish all that while still working 40 hours a week in the "real world?"
Or maybe it just means the color of their shirt.
The weather is what considers the Hansons blue collar because of it's rigorous winters and humid summers. Tough conditions. That is about it.
Matt Elliott, definitely a blue collar runner. Although he hadn't been making a big impact on the national scene until his 4th place showing at USATF, looking back at the past couple years he has been consistently under 4 minute miler. At the same time he depends on his full time job as a teacher.
Ben True and Ryan Hall both give me the best feeling that they are blue collar, but not as truly hard working as Elliott. They are sponsored heavily, Hall more than almost any runner in the country, and have the freedom to run everyday without worrying about work.
Easily Annoyed wrote:
The opposite of Alberto Salazar.
So... athletes who dont win medals?
They're all dead, except for one living in Japan, Yuki Kawauchi. They ought to put him in a cage and try to lure him to breed with a ton of runner babes.
I don't understand guys who call themselves blue collar but they work in a shoe store or something for 30 hours a week, while having good training partners, coaching, access to free massage, etc. The Hansons aren't as white collar as the NOP but their lives are focused on running as fast as possible.
In my opinion, blue collar runners are the guys getting it done without all of the support and "glory". They have the full time jobs, family, etc and grind away with what they have.
I wouldn't say blue collar is holding a 40hr/week job and running. White collar job but a blue collar runner? I don't see it.
I consider a blue collar runner to be someone that doesn't need the bells and whistles of alter-G, aqua treadmills, cryo-saunas. A blue collar runner heads off into the mountains, trails, roads with a pair of shoes and a pair of shorts. Working hard using minimal technology.
Does a GPS watch negate a "blue-collar" status?