An Amateur Calls out Elite runners

Wow, "Victory > Love," you REALLY need to read this book. How old are you, like 12? When you're in your 50s or older, like some of us, maybe you'll get a clearer picture.

http://www.amazon.com/Wannabe-Distance-God-Passion-Running/dp/1479118834/ref%3Dsr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406650629&sr=8-1&keywords=wannabe+distance+god

Tell that to Geb.

victory > love wrote:

Elite athletes run to WIN. When they can't WIN they quit running. Only pathetic losers "love to run". Champions love just one thing, and that's to WIN.

Of course, a winner's mindset is incomprehensible to a loser like you.

So Bill Rodgers is a pathetic loser hobby jogger? How many Bostons and NYCs have you won, Mr. Big Shot?

"per say" ughhh

hulohoop wrote:

Disgruntled much?

http://okathletes.com/2014/07/28/an-open-message-to-elite-runners/

Wtf is this guy rambling about? "As I watch 9/10 of elites bicker [...] having no religious affiliation or true faith in anything." Is this idiot living in a cave? Everybody and their grandmother exploits Christian jargon and drivel for all it's worth. Runners, track and field athletes and athletes in general love to broadcast all their pseudo-inspirational bullsh-t. So "or even the slightest desire to broaden themselves, I can see their life is at a dead end" is not true at all.

Sounds like Rojo

This is kind of a weird letter. A couple things stood out to me.

1. There is a strong religious theme to the whole thing. It comes off a bit preachy and annoying.

2. He makes a ton of claims about the supposed attitude of elite athletes. Just from my experience personally being around elites and watching interviews, he is way off base.

3. He strikes me as a guy who was pretty good in high school, but went to college and discovered he wasn't God's gift to running, and he still has some lingering disappointment. Now, because he can't be elite himself, he's criticizing the elite lifestyle and talking about how he's a better person than them because he has broader interests.

4. He wants elites to start giving back to the community. Well, it's pretty hard to give a ton of time/money to other people when you have very little yourself. Ryan Hall can afford to create his own charity because he's one of the highest earning runners on the planet. 99% of elites are not making anywhere near his income. Many professional track clubs do community service, and work with local running camps and/or youth.

5. Is there a more obnoxious way to refer to yourself than Clay "Kicker" Mayes III?

So here's my open advice to Clay: Dude, I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. Really. But it's time to get off the soap box, you're just lashing out at others who had the talent to achieve your goal.

Sincerely,

Bonkers "Kicker" McGee IV

Don't bother reading it. Here's a quick synopsis:

"Jesus loves me better than you."

Captain Oblivious wrote:

victory > love wrote:

That's complete BS from a hobby jogger. Elite athletes run to WIN. When they can't WIN they quit running. Only pathetic losers "love to run". Champions love just one thing, and that's to WIN.

Of course, a winner's mindset is incomprehensible to a loser like you.

Tell that to Geb.

Whitlock runs to set age graded world records. He has even said he doesn't even enjoy shuffling around that graveyard three hours every day. Hell, who would?

And do you idiots really think Lagat runs to place second?

How many Kenyans run for the "love" of running when they've finished their careers?

And yes, what about Geb? Watch the video with Geb before the half marathon against Mo and Bekele. The stupid reporter asks him if he thinks he's got any chance against these two. Geb, the old man, answers that he runs to WIN. He ran to beat the crap out of the world's two best runners.

That, pathetic losers, is how champions think.

Dude seems like he had some mental issues that allowed him so think running was life.

victory > love wrote:

Whitlock runs to set age graded world records. He has even said he doesn't even enjoy shuffling around that graveyard three hours every day. Hell, who would?

And do you idiots really think Lagat runs to place second?

How many Kenyans run for the "love" of running when they've finished their careers?

And yes, what about Geb? Watch the video with Geb before the half marathon against Mo and Bekele. The stupid reporter asks him if he thinks he's got any chance against these two. Geb, the old man, answers that he runs to WIN. He ran to beat the crap out of the world's two best runners.

That, pathetic losers, is how champions think.

You can't selectively pick and choose what Geb says. Right now he STILL has the talent to compete against the best in the world, at least in road races. But he says he's going to run for running's sake and his enjoyment of it as long as he lives. I can't name any former great ones who don't still enjoy getting out there and "hobby jogging" as you call it, but if they DO quit completely, it's usually due to a serious injury or because, like all of us, they have some other love in addition to running. And besides, how many "champions" are there? Most of them are "also-rans" at a very high level. It's all relative, whether you're a perpetual also-ran at a world-class level or simply in high school. Seriously, dude, read the book I linked to. You'll get a clearer picture so you don't sound like an immature wannabe know-it-all.

All I did was google his name and valid results:

http://www.athlinks.com/race/event?raceid=30811&courseid=45937

30.34 10000m, he beat some legitimate runners.

http://cardinalinvite.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=95&year=2010&do=info

his 14.16, Payton Jordan 3rd heat.

When Clay came to run at OSU, he was possibly our slowest guy or our slowest guy. Even by the 2nd year not much changed in regards to that. I don't know his exact high school times, but he ran 9.40's for 3200m. He was kind of written off. Then he ran well at the Jamboree out of nowhere in 2008 after doing a training stunt at altitude in Colorado. And ran something under 25 minutes at Jamboree, which ain't bad there. Then, scored at Big 12's, when all the schools were still in Big 12's. He's not stud, but again, he wasn't too bad.

For the people overreacting to his writings, you've been trolled by him. He's always purposely enticed people to get points across. The one thing I haven't always agreed with. Alas, It's obviously caught your alls attention. I'll never understand the kid, however, he really does have an odd ability to motivate people with his works and actions. Considering he run for OSU, a 3 time national NCAA xc team and ran at OU, who was 5-7 the for a couple years, he's came across several pros and does know his share.

His underlying point was to unsettle people, and the proceed to tell them how to be successful in the elite running world. Whether they we're mean it or not, it still gains the publics approval in doing so. Getting a sponsorship is about having a name that is sellable. Hence why Nike dropped Lance. He could no longer sell after being busted, and was dropped.

Or Matthew Elliot, who had 1 measly good race, but got credibility for being a kindergarten teach. Part of being sellable is being desirable to the public. Clay gives his opinion in doing so.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

(Can I hate the player AND the game? Just wondering since I've always been told to hate the game. What if I like the game, but despise the player ... as in this instance.)

The problem and joy of distance running is the massive improvements one can make. Not sure everyone was telling the truth on the prep 2-mile PR/eventual 5K PR thread, but some guys who ran over 11:00 for 2-mile eventually ran low to mid 14's in the 5K. That's excellent improvement. A lot of people who show improvement think they're going to be someone in running, as in this "I coulda been a contender" blog.

Two sports I've played and still play, basketball and tennis, you figure out the gene pool early in life and whether your height and quickness will work in hoops, or whether your quickness and hand-eye coordination is good enough in tennis. Genetics take over fast.

Distance running? There are a lot of guys like the blog poster, who improved rather well and then blame either injuries, coaches, or others for their inevitable downfall.

+2

He's not a total moron "per say", he's a total moron per se.

I'm sorry but this is just utterly confused stuff with no clear message or target.

In that case, you should go back to 5th grade and retake your reading and compressing class.

Comprehension*

Damn you, autocorrect!

victory > love wrote:

Captain Oblivious wrote:

Tell that to Geb.

Whitlock runs to set age graded world records. He has even said he doesn't even enjoy shuffling around that graveyard three hours every day. Hell, who would?

And do you idiots really think Lagat runs to place second?

How many Kenyans run for the "love" of running when they've finished their careers?

And yes, what about Geb? Watch the video with Geb before the half marathon against Mo and Bekele. The stupid reporter asks him if he thinks he's got any chance against these two. Geb, the old man, answers that he runs to WIN. He ran to beat the crap out of the world's two best runners.

That, pathetic losers, is how champions think.

was that a note to self?