Chris Derrick talks big: "I think I can run with anyone in the world."

Met Chris briefly at 7000ft in the middle of nowhere. I was measuring a tempo on a dirt road. Thought I was all alone out there. Saw a tall guy flowing toward me about 500m out. I been coaching for 34 years, I was just froze, wondering who the hell is this guy coming toward me. He got close, I said Chris Derrick? He smiled stopped said Hi! I felt bad cause I caused Chris Derrick to interrupt his run! Met him down the road later. I never thought Chris would be so great to speak with. He was joking, asking what I was measuring, asking about my runner, wishing us good luck. To watch him run, IMHO, I had this same thought, he can run with anyone! I've seen many elites up there, including NOP guys, Chris was different. I can't explain, to watch him, you just knew you were seeing a Great one. The first time I can ever recall, just wanting to stand perfectly still, and watch a distance runner flow. God's speed Chris!

What a seriously great post. You're better than the rest of us. Thank you.

I didn't mean to come on like a jerk. I apologize, it was such a joy, for me, to meet such a fine young guy and athlete. You guys ever get a chance to meet him, I think you will understand.

ghost of vinny wrote:

Good Q&A with him here:

http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/chris-derrick-on-training-10ks-and-cheating

While he admits he's not in 'great form at the moment' do to some niggles, he is talking big. I love the confidence. At last we have an American who dreams of being one of the World's best, not just the US's.

Derrick said:

My college teammate Garrett Heath just went out there and beat the world cross country champion [Japhet Korir of Kenya]. I never lost to Garrett in cross country, so if he can do that, I want to be able to do that, too. If I can be in good form and be healthy, I think I can run with anyone in the world.

Are you an F'tard? We've had many runners who dreams of being the best in the world. MANY. Dreaming however is on partially relevant. We have runners like Rupp who not only dream it, but live it out in real life. Rupp barely losing for Gold in the olympics, or going after world best times on the track. Doing something is what makes you great, not dreaming about it.

Alan Webb thought he could run with the best and be the best. While he never timed his championship fitness well, he was pretty close to being the best at certain times, and possibly unbeatable in certain stretches of his career.

Solinsky, Ritz, Teg, they all threw down with the best in XC, Track, Roads, and all thought they could compete with the best until injuries kept bringing them down to earth.

Even GaBe Jennings dreamt about being the best....and said stupid things.

7Altitude000 wrote:

I didn't mean to come on like a jerk. I apologize, it was such a joy, for me, to meet such a fine young guy and athlete. You guys ever get a chance to meet him, I think you will understand.

Not a jerk at all, loved that post too! Thanks for it

Dumbyouare.... wrote:

ghost of vinny wrote:

Good Q&A with him here:

http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/chris-derrick-on-training-10ks-and-cheating

While he admits he's not in 'great form at the moment' do to some niggles, he is talking big. I love the confidence. At last we have an American who dreams of being one of the World's best, not just the US's.

Are you an F'tard? We've had many runners who dreams of being the best in the world. MANY. Dreaming however is on partially relevant. We have runners like Rupp who not only dream it, but live it out in real life. Rupp barely losing for Gold in the olympics, or going after world best times on the track. Doing something is what makes you great, not dreaming about it.

.

You seem to forget that years before Rupp was "doing it" he was dreaming it.

You will never do it until it is rehearsed in your mind first. Chris Derrick's mindset is exactly where he needs to be.

Rupp back when he was "dreaming it".:

Dude, the guy commenting on your post wasn't being sarcastic. He liked it. And I really liked it too. It was interesting and had a much better tone than most of the posts on here.

+1

Once in a great while, I'll come across a post that is an oasis in the desert of this **itty forum. Thanks for putting that out there. I saw Derrick win with my own eyes last week, and could not have been happier.

Derrick is by far the coolest and smartest distance dude we have.

Of course, it is up to us to help him stay that way.

So...

Here's the part for you to read, Chris - Hey d-bag, you aint worth squat!

There, I've done my good deed for the day.

Keepin it real wrote:

Derrick is by far the coolest and smartest distance dude we have.

Of course, it is up to us to help him stay that way.

So...

Here's the part for you to read, Chris - Hey d-bag, you aint worth squat!

There, I've done my good deed for the day.

Jager and True are pretty cool also, but, yeah. I like that Chris is willing to speak his mind, and that there is actually something there of value to speak about.

malmo wrote:

Dumbyouare.... wrote:

Are you an F'tard? We've had many runners who dreams of being the best in the world. MANY. Dreaming however is on partially relevant. We have runners like Rupp who not only dream it, but live it out in real life. Rupp barely losing for Gold in the olympics, or going after world best times on the track. Doing something is what makes you great, not dreaming about it.

.

You seem to forget that years before Rupp was "doing it" he was dreaming it.

You will never do it until it is rehearsed in your mind first. Chris Derrick's mindset is exactly where he needs to be.

Rupp back when he was "dreaming it".:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO_wIAYDRhw

Malmö I didn't forget anything. The point was the original poster mitigated the reality of all the current greats by saying ". At last we have an American who dreams of being one of the World's best, not just the US's."

At last? Really? The point is, no it's not at last, we already have people living out those dreams and many who have had them and gone for it in the last 10ish years.

I can see where my words might have came off as sarcasm. Didn't intend for them to be at all. I genuinely meant to thank you for your post. I've had a similar thing happen to me once. I watched a high school kid do a stride - just one stride - and thought, wow, what a different species. Seemingly unlimited potential. Those things don't happen very often, and my experience was on a much, much smaller scale.

Hank Moody wrote:

I can see where my words might have came off as sarcasm. Didn't intend for them to be at all. I genuinely meant to thank you for your post. I've had a similar thing happen to me once. I watched a high school kid do a stride - just one stride - and thought, wow, what a different species. Seemingly unlimited potential. Those things don't happen very often, and my experience was on a much, much smaller scale.

Hank Moody, thank you for taking time to confirm. I understand now. Thanks, I never know when sometimes guys are serious or just stirring the poo. Thank you, and to all the others positive comment on the post. I posted cause this just occurred, one week before Footlocker, part of our talk. Want you guys to know, I was 100% accurate and truthful. I mean what elite, stops in mid-stride, to say hi to you! Such a pleasure to meet him.

Solinsky, Amy Hastings and Shannon Rowbury are like this too.

7Altitude000 wrote:

[quote]

Hank Moody, thank you for taking time to confirm. I understand now. Thanks, I never know when sometimes guys are serious or just stirring the poo. Thank you, and to all the others positive comment on the post. I posted cause this just occurred, one week before Footlocker, part of our talk. Want you guys to know, I was 100% accurate and truthful. I mean what elite, stops in mid-stride, to say hi to you! Such a pleasure to meet him.

Blah, blah, its all talk till you can show up at World Cross and walk the walk. Yes Korir is world champ, but what has he done after that, in what kind of shape is he in now? What other big names did he take down?

Cross Italica is this weekend with a top notch field..which American is running?

Not a problem, happy to have clarified. Here's to hoping Derrick pulls off a medal at World XC.

love the handle Ghost of Vinny

done listened to chris speak his mind here and there. reckon he's the most clever sheep in the herd. rare blend of mental and physical "priviledged access", that one is.

i wonder what it's like.