Ford Palmer on ESPN: Runner, Vegan, Lifeguard, 4:00.00 miler

Nice, I was actually wondering more about the guy after his breakthrough year

I saw this the other day. It's a great article, don't get me wrong. But it will always make me mad that the heartwarming things will make it to ESPN but no one will give a crap about huge stories and achievements like breaking American records. Sure it isn't what will make money in the short-term, but it's that kind of coverage (and lack thereof) that will keep track& field / Cross country / Road racing in obscurity.

Nice article, thanks! The closing quote from Gags is pretty funny though in light of recent danielson news.

four flat point zero zero wrote:

Nice article, thanks! The closing quote from Gags is pretty funny though in light of recent danielson news.

I think he meant all the ones he has coached, not all of them... the Danielson news is hardly recent, that came out several years ago

Great story, I really enjoyed it. Ford Palmer sounds like an interesting guy.

* For the record, Gags never coached Tim Danielson, not sure why that's confusing to one here.

yep, not to take anything away from the author but I doubt ESPN would've printed it had it not been for the "Ex-footbal" player angle. (granted is part of Ford's story)

"Aileen Meagher"

Another Matt Elliot type story. It really makes you wonder how many guys there are out there, that could really be good if not for being unlucky enough to be stuck in a terrible HS program, or playing the wrong sport.

Nice story, good information, but very poorly written. Choppily constructed and the reader gets pulled in a lot of different directions. I am glad when someone tries to become a track journalist, but one shouldn't follow in the footsteps of Letsrun and think any track writing is good writing.

poorconstruction wrote:

Nice story, good information, but very poorly written. Choppily constructed and the reader gets pulled in a lot of different directions. I am glad when someone tries to become a track journalist, but one shouldn't follow in the footsteps of Letsrun and think any track writing is good writing.

Don't use phrases like "the reader" when referring to yourself, because you don't speak for others. If you had trouble following the story because it doesn't unfold in perfect chronological order, then stick to Wikipedia or stories in People.

Comparing this to anything the founders of Letsrun have come up with, or worse yet making assumption about Chris Chavez's mindset and motivation, is like criticizing a mainstream novelist for trying to sound too much like the kid you knew who wrote bad short stories for your high-school newspaper.

I thought it was well written. What specifically did you dislike? Perhaps you can send these concerns on to the professional editors at ESPN.

Good old Monmouth University. They seem to find kids regularly who just have "it". Solid mid-major program.

Glad to see this article. A lot of us who ran with him and hung out with him during college knew what he was capable of. This is only the beginning, it'll be a fun ride.

What is Palmer's height and weight?

I'm a vegan with no talent. Ford is a vegan with moderate talent. What is compelling here? Footballer turned runner?

When ESPN covers Emma, Jenny, Meb, Centro et al, I will take notice.

runner who professes wrote:

I'm a vegan with no talent. Ford is a vegan with moderate talent. What is compelling here? Footballer turned runner?

When ESPN covers Emma, Jenny, Meb, Centro et al, I will take notice.

Yeah, good point. Rather than run a story on an up-and-comer who just placed fifth in a national championship, ESPN should write only about those who are already getting whatever press distance runners get.

Who are you to decide how much talent Ford Palmer has? He's one year out of college and has run the equivalent of a 3:55 or so mile even though it appears he's barely begun to get serious.

The writer didn't mention the football or his diet because they provide "angles" and I'm quite sure he didn't hope to glorify the idiotic nutritional habits of nutritional cultists. They happen to be part of his background. I'm surprised you didn't complain about the casino job too.

Lemme guess, mention of two former Wetmore runners, academic, vegan...so in what department do you "profess" at C.U.-Boulder?

Christ, this board sucks.

He says he trying to find a place for this stuff at ESPN. He doesn't control what they publish. I'm sure if he had his way the Emma/Jenny story (for example) would have been published already.

Cronje wrote:

I think he meant all the ones he has coached, not all of them... the Danielson news is hardly recent, that came out several years ago

Are you THE Cronje??

The article is a bit misleading.

It's making it seem like he played football through college then magically ran a four minute mile the next year. He ran 1:51, 2:23, and 3:46 in college. Then got better coaching, better training partners, and more serious, so it's not a huge surprised he had a major breakout season.