An unknown American triathlete just ran 2:14 in Ireland

He’s Icelandic. Look it up.

Didn't know 13:51 5k was that bad. Everyone on these boards is acting like he came out of nowhere lol. There have been slower 5k runners that have run faster that 2:14 for a marathon.

His 13:51 is the national record for Territorial New Guinea, where he holds dual citizenship.

Ackley wrote:

Not that it matters, but appears to be an evangelical Christian.

The guy just said that God intervened in the Dublin Marathon and helped him. When Christians do this, hoping to sound humble by attributing their performance to God, they’re actually being massively arrogant - God chose to help me and not the other guy.

The guy is a fvcking idiot

Actually does matter wrote:

Ackley wrote:

Not that it matters, but appears to be an evangelical Christian.

The guy just said that God intervened in the Dublin Marathon and helped him. When Christians do this, hoping to sound humble by attributing their performance to God, they’re actually being massively arrogant - God chose to help me and not the other guy.

The guy is a fvcking idiot

That’s not what he said. Saying “I felt the Lord’s presence” is not the same as saying “God intervened and helped me beat my opponents because he chose to help me and not anybody else.” I’d be willing to bet Totten (like most Christians) wished everyone in the race desired to feel/ felt God’s presence. (Btw, Feeling God’s presence is independent of performance...God can be with you whether you’re blowing up or having the race of your life).

Even if you have different religious (or political) views, it “should” make you the one that sounds like an “idiot” when you blatantly misquote/misinterpret people or talk about things you don’t fully understand. Unfortunately, you sound reasonable because it’s so commonplace now to find a way to bend the truth or blow it out of porportion just to argue and bash people. Especially online- it’s almost impossible to have respectable discussions with people who you don’t 100% agree with-let alone give them any credit.

You guys are fools. Seth is a humble, hungry athlete. He's worked his tail off while working a job and trying to live his dream. Give him a follow on social media as he tends to post a lot about his journey. Yes he's a Christian and there is nothing wrong with that. He's the son of a preacher man. Fantastic family and it's cool to see a kid that struggled to figure out how to stay healthy doing it a high level when it mattered most for him.

Fascinating. In the posted pic, he looks like a swimmer: long, goofy torso, legs splayed like a duck, knees inward.

Props to this guy, but also shame on US marathoning that 2:14 is notable.

It's because the economy is booming. Think back to the previous period of shameful US marathons-the 1990s-- rod dehaven being like our sole oly qualifier. When the economy is good, Americans just have too many options to pursue thons.

Great to see someone from HHH posting on here (SLH member here). Alex is a great runner but I don't think that he has a future in ITU. He isn't a front pack swimmer. I also wonder about this ability to push on from here as a runner too as I undersantd his mileage was already was pretty high while in school. For example, my son finished 2nd to him at one of the Surrey League XC and never troubled Alex. In fact in the next race I believe that Alex did a long bike ride the morning of the race and won by the same/bigger margin.

Good luck to him and I hope it does well but he is clearly a runner and not a triathlete but the standards are lower in triathlon and the rewards are greater.

chrono judger wrote:

Just Guessing wrote:

I know that triathletes are sometimes looked down here as mediocre runners, but there is some really good talent rising through the ranks. One guy to keep your eye on is Alex Yee. He's only 20 and ran 27:51 this year so it will be cool to see how he does in the ITU.

I hate to admit it but triathletes today likely have a much better understanding of how to train for endurance sports including distance running than most runners. It seems that triathlon has advanced a lot over the last 15 years in terms of the coaching and training approaches used whereas distance running has not developed so much.

What do you mean when you say some advancements that triathlon/other endurance sports have made that running hasn't? Do you have any examples? I'm legitimately curious.

Totten time wrote:

Seth Totten just ran 2:14.28 in the Dublin marathon and slashed 5 minutes off his PR from CIM. He hit halfway in 1:06.50 which is his fastest ever half. Course is far from flat but conditions were perfect.

....Run...Gum....

Far Out West wrote:

This should be the takeaway, any 29 low guy should be able to run 2:14.

40 US guys ran 29:08 or better this year, we should have 40 at 2:14 or better.

Good job to this guy.

He was apparently a 29-low guy in college and is married to the former Lauren Jimison.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpeoZCBhAf1/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=nr5iadpslie2

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^This. Americans are such ridiculous underperformers in the marathon. Swedish marathoner Anders Szalkai ran 2,12 off a 29,59 PB. If you run 28-low you should be doing sub-2,10 in your sleep.

Its still only 2:14 for goodness sakes.

He's 2 miles behind the best guys. He's a jogger

and he was still 4 miles ahead of you

I tallied well North of 300 feet of climbing in that race. I would not be surprised to see a 2:10-11 from him on a fast course.

I'm far from Christian but his comments don' t bother me in the least. Seems like a genuine, humble kid regardless of his beliefs.

Oh and during my 14 month stint in Antarctica, it seemed that every other family was named Totten. Definitely got that " 'Tarctican toughness gene".

Ayana has been known to call on God, too, from time to time - although we might know Him by another name. Good for explaining miracles, though. So Abebe Bikila is only as good as a thriathlete from nowhere.