Will Leer Now Blurring out Swooshes

I'll add Jake Wightman to that list also

Metric Miler wrote:

conca shell wrote:

I live in the US and I know who Charlie Grice is. No excuse.

Charlie Grice was in the World 1500m final last year. I didn't see a Will Leer.

I'd be surprised if you knew of Ross Murray, Tom Lancashire, maybe even Lee Emmanuel.

Maybe someone can fill me in on Will Leer's notable performances because his PRs from the IAAF website aren't amazing compared to the other 1500 guys you have.

A. I recognized all three. Lancashire's solid run at the Edinburgh XC event two years ago was the first thing I thought of, weirdly. Watched Emmanuel not do so hot at IAAF indoor.

B. He won a couple US indoor titles in an off year, was fourth at the Olympic trials in 2008 and USAs in 2011. Perennial "just-missed-the-team" guy, but that also means he was consistently top 5 in the US.

Nike wrote:

Will is testing prototypes. That is why they are blurred out.

Well straight from "Nike." Thanks for posting and clearing that up.

I thought people on here were smart.....

How do you know that Will Leer's contract with Nike didn't end and now he doesn't have a sponsor, yet is still training in all of his Nike gear until he picks up a new one?

Just speculation, but this seems relatively straightforward to me. Nike reduced his contract, either to a lower dollar amount or just gear. He would be foolish not to wear it for training, given the amount he would go through as a professional distance runner, but he therefore does not want to market it anymore. It hasn't just been the shoes, it has been gear too. Most posts of his either obscure the swoosh or he wears something different all together, like the picture in a RunGum singlet.

This is a classic situation that we have seen before with Nike runners. Nike is running a business, and they need to decide who to pay and who not to in the all-important Olympic year. If you were running the sports marketing group at Nike, would you rather sponsor an older runner with a history of coming up just short of making the team, or a younger up-and-coming runner with unknown potential?

I post this as a huge Will Leer fan, but also one with the realization that this is a business, not a charity.

oLD 800M DUDE wrote:

He has NO Balls. He blurs out his sponsor but gladly cashes their checks. If they are such a horrible company - STOP taking their $$ and quit. Stand up for your principles and be a man. Instead he runs around like a child who says he "hates his mommy, but then sucks at her teat."

Where did you come up with this? You sound like a total dickhead. He blurs out shoes while having contract stuff and you accuse him of having no balls? Where do you get off man?

narf wrote:

oLD 800M DUDE wrote:

He has NO Balls. He blurs out his sponsor but gladly cashes their checks. If they are such a horrible company - STOP taking their $$ and quit. Stand up for your principles and be a man. Instead he runs around like a child who says he "hates his mommy, but then sucks at her teat."

Where did you come up with this? You sound like a total dickhead. He blurs out shoes while having contract stuff and you accuse him of having no balls? Where do you get off man?

Will?

Metric Miler wrote:

out of touch wrote:

This makes you look worse than him.

I live in the UK, I have never heard of Will Leer.

Looking him up he is an American middle distance runner, not well known internationally.

Well I can't name a single British distance runner so SUCK IT

Way off. In fact most of you are way off. Will Leer went to Pomona people. Hardest school in the country to get accepted into. This is a subtle but calculated move. Wouldn't surprise me if Nick Symmonds was involved in this tactic. Will and Nick are close friends. Nike's turn to respond......

its cuz GB sucks wrote:

Metric Miler wrote:

I live in the UK, I have never heard of Will Leer.

Looking him up he is an American middle distance runner, not well known internationally.

Well I can't name a single British distance runner so SUCK IT

Really?

I said I haven't heard of Will Leer not Galen Rupp.

I've been a Leer fan but this is a douche move. Sorry you couldn't hang in Nike town any longer but don't bite the hand that fed you. This comes off as an immature, bitter, and entitled hipster marketing play aka Nick Symmonds.

Metric Miler wrote:

conca shell wrote:

I live in the US and I know who Charlie Grice is. No excuse.

Charlie Grice was in the World 1500m final last year. I didn't see a Will Leer.

I'd be surprised if you knew of Ross Murray, Tom Lancashire, maybe even Lee Emmanuel.

Maybe someone can fill me in on Will Leer's notable performances because his PRs from the IAAF website aren't amazing compared to the other 1500 guys you have.

BFD. He's from a country where every 3:35 guy is basically guaranteed a spot on the team. If Will Leer had that luxury you would've seen him in world finals as well - doesn't make Grice a more internationally successful runner.

Lee Emmanuel all US fans would know from his days at New Mexico if nothing else. Lancashire I know and Murray I've heard of, though admittedly you could've told me Murray was Canadian and I would've believed you. Definitely not names that would prompt me to go on a thread about them and talk about never having heard of them.

Grice easily ran 3:35 in the Beijing semis and ran 3:36 in the final which was very tactical. He is more like a 3:32 guy. Grice is certainly more successful than Will Leer if Grice has made the world final and it doesn't seem Leer has been to anything, hence I would gather he isn't well known amongst Europeans such as myself.

Jake Wightman I mentioned has also run 3:35 and I would not expect Americans to have heard of him. He hasn't done much on the world stage so only a die hard fan would know him.

I was wondering who Will Leer is, hence I asked. I figured it may have been taken as a joke as you seem to all know who he is, so I put 'seriously'.

Seems I offended a few fans.

you don't know that for certainwhatever the case, kiprop has won the genetic lottery base don how fast he can run with that scrawny, weird body shape

Dunkin Donut wrote:

Kiprop isn't pounding donuts and chocolate milk after workouts.

Reading this thread about arrogant young and old timers infighting with themselves about petty nonsense is more evidence of the unacceptable spiritual and moral poverty in the Running community. Jocks seeking status, machismo and time who in their rigorous training never once glimpsed sublime feeling, insight, beauty and greatness.

100 people couldnt recognize will leer? I'd say the average American and typical person wouldn't recognize hardly any runners. Our runners make a mockery and abandon the virtues and art of true running, and suck the teat of pathetic, classless mass media, corporate media conglomerates, corporate team sports, conventional everything. This is not at all the mark of a great civilization, much less a great American Christian or secular society.

Those of you who are doing good things are also responsible for being aware of the errors or those around you and creating accountability in society.

There are hidden good people in the wood work but they need to do more of the dirty work too.

@Metric Miler Are you seriously doing the "my dad can beat up your dad" thing right now? Grow up. This has nothing to with what country anyone is from. Yeah, Grice is probably more successful than Leer. Leer wouldn't dispute that.Does. Not. Matter. Next time if you truly don't know just say "I don't know who Will Leer is" to yourself, Google him to find out, and go on living your life. No need to be a little bratFurther....There are a lot of pretty solid USA distance and mid-distance runners, but relatedly, Will Leer, Nick Symmonds, and probably Chris Derrick are the most well-spoken, and seemingly most intelligent runners we've got who seem interested in actually promoting and advancing Track and Field. I'm sure there are others, but none strike me as willing to go after the governing bodies or have the social tools to be compelling. Ashton Eaton would be a huge asset, but will likely not speak out against Nike, goddess of victory. I'm not sure who the British equivalents of these personalities are. forgive meIt doesn't really matter what their times are ala Grice or Emmanuel etc. They have sponsorship and a public voice and are more likely to positively influence the sport than the other runners based on past interviews and current agendas. Galen Rupp is our best runner - he certainly lacks the talents to be a change-maker currently. maybe he'll changethank you again for all of your positive contributions to this thread.

Metric Miler wrote:

conca shell wrote:

I live in the US and I know who Charlie Grice is. No excuse.

Charlie Grice was in the World 1500m final last year. I didn't see a Will Leer.

I'd be surprised if you knew of Ross Murray, Tom Lancashire, maybe even Lee Emmanuel.

Maybe someone can fill me in on Will Leer's notable performances because his PRs from the IAAF website aren't amazing compared to the other 1500 guys you have.

Theoremplas wrote:

100 people couldnt recognize will leer? I'd say the average American and typical person wouldn't recognize hardly any runners.

Pretty sure I was the only person to recognize him at Pizza Port after the Carlsbad 5000, of course the serious runners who follow the sport had been in the beer garden for about 4 hours by that point.

If he's testing prototypes, then this is legitimate.

If it's anything else, he's harming his marketability. Let's say his Nike contract was allowed to lapse or he's been downgraded. If I were an exec for, say, Adidas, I wouldn't touch the guy (a) because Nike cut him off for a reason and (b) because he's acting like a jerk.

Will probably think's he's taking a stand against the man. He's really hurting himself. I say this as someone who enjoyed watching him run. Not exactly a fan, but someone who generally thought positively about him.

Googling Will Leer does little to explain why he has so many apparent fans here on Letsrun. I was hoping someone could explain.

You have offered an insight with your post, albeit ruidely.