Meet the latest dreamer who is living in his van while he shoots for the Olympic Marathon Trials

HRE wrote:

Thanks. I haven't watched SNL for maybe 30 years.

I've never watched SNL and I know about Matt Foley. That sketch is a cultural touchstone for people alive in the USA through the '90s-'10s. Same as the Chris Farley & Patrick Swayze Chippendale sketch.

HRE wrote:

Thanks. I haven't watched SNL for maybe 30 years.

That sketch was from the 90s. I made a slight reference to it either here or in another thread on the subject.

In this world we live in where people can make money via their social media presence he knows what he is doing.

If you’re living in a van down by the river yet everyone on social media knows about it then you’re not really doing right.

You get an article on Letsrun and people are talking about YOU...he’s doing something right. Certainly there have been sub elites like him pounding the ‘crete with full time jobs and a family and know one knows who they are.

Alan

I'm reading nothing but jealousy. Hey man, you decided to get married, have kids, bought your own debt and now you

realize that your life is meaningless. Yes, it's meaningless, no matter how you want to spin...But you wasted your best years working a 9-5 jobs, raising kids that may or may not be productive members of society. While some of us are global trotting with no debt, no kids and meeting tons of people and living life to the fullest. No need for a real job. To those why say, so and so doesn't want to grow up...Please explain to me how being stuck in the mundane rut is being an adult. There is no one best way to do life.

No, no, thank you. wrote:

HRE wrote:

Thanks. I haven't watched SNL for maybe 30 years.

I've never watched SNL and I know about Matt Foley. That sketch is a cultural touchstone for people alive in the USA through the '90s-'10s. Same as the Chris Farley & Patrick Swayze Chippendale sketch.

Don't know that one either. Aside from sports and reruns of various Star Trek series I don't watch much TV.

American in Bhutan. wrote:

I'm reading nothing but jealousy. Hey man, you decided to get married, have kids, bought your own debt and now you

realize that your life is meaningless. Yes, it's meaningless, no matter how you want to spin...But you wasted your best years working a 9-5 jobs, raising kids that may or may not be productive members of society. While some of us are global trotting with no debt, no kids and meeting tons of people and living life to the fullest. No need for a real job. To those why say, so and so doesn't want to grow up...Please explain to me how being stuck in the mundane rut is being an adult. There is no one best way to do life.

Speak for yourself and others with no purpose in life. I ran decent personal best times, worked my rear off to pay my flying career, married, had 4 great kids and 2 wonderful grand kids, flew commercially for a great airline almost all over the planet, got a second degree for which I moonlight whenever I want and now I’m retired making more money than you and most here who have to work 9-5 with. I got good retirement income, medical and flight benefits and no financial worries. So who is living life at the fullest? Learn a thing or two kid before you jump to millennial (dumb) conclusions.

S. Canaday wrote:

I respect that more than the "trust fund athletes" that come to Boulder (there are lots) and have it easy with fancy apartments and a lot of free time on their hands to hire professional videographers etc...

!

Aka Chris Mocko.. aka the Mocko show.

D3Hackfraud wrote:

This baffles me. I was a slightly worse runner in college (just over 30:00 in 10k) and have run 1:06 on the roads for half, 2:23 for marathon, while working FT and getting a graduate degree. Why does he need a van? Running - especially at the sub-elite level - is not all that time intensive.

Seems like a studio apartment would be more conducive to running fast times than living in a van. I know if I didn't have a job, I'd end up over training myself for something to fill the time, especially if I lived in a van and had no space to do anything or have people over.

Colby's the real deal. He's not only dedicated and disciplined but he's such a down-to earth dude. We talked a couple of weeks ago on my podcast. Here's the link in case you wanna check it out https://www.chaskis.us/blogs/the-dig-deep-podcast/episode-24-colby-mehmen-turning-failure-into-fuel-to-achieve-greatness-1

Wife, kids, and career are great and all. But looking back I regret not getting that VW van do I could travel the country and run in gnarly places. If you’re in your 20s why not. Go for it and have a good time. There’s plenty of time to live like Ward Cleaver.

good for him!

Mocko show no wrote:

S. Canaday wrote:

I respect that more than the "trust fund athletes" that come to Boulder (there are lots) and have it easy with fancy apartments and a lot of free time on their hands to hire professional videographers etc...

!

Aka Chris Mocko.. aka the Mocko show.

You mean Chris Mocko, who worked in Silicon Valley throughout his 20s, and then for Twitter for a year? Single guy, Stanford grad...pretty much he can swing rent just fine..

AKA...get a life bro..

Yet here you are, arguing with a bunch of anons, trying to justify the choices you've made in life.

Preach, brother!

Matt Foley SNL wrote:

It’s not that fun. Trust me.

I saw you parked down by the river, trying to lure little girls into that filthy Chevy.

Great respect for the dude. I sit shackled at my desk for 40 hours a week wondering “what if???” whilst creating pointless spreadsheets. This guy is bold enough to take the risk and do what he loves while he can.

On the other hand, it seems like there should be some happy medium. A small, shared apartment and a part time job seem to be more conducive in the long term than a van down by the river. I know I train a lot better with structure in my life and less free time.

But, to each their own. I hope to see him and his van in Atlanta next year. A true Cinderella story.

Mike Deren wrote:

Great respect for the dude. I sit shackled at my desk for 40 hours a week wondering “what if???” whilst creating pointless spreadsheets. This guy is bold enough to take the risk and do what he loves while he can.

On the other hand, it seems like there should be some happy medium. A small, shared apartment and a part time job seem to be more conducive in the long term than a van down by the river. I know I train a lot better with structure in my life and less free time.

But, to each their own. I hope to see him and his van in Atlanta next year. A true Cinderella story.

Agree with this, but just an FYI Colby does have a job.

The athletes/hobby joggers with jobs (real ones, not shoe store jokers) pay for this guy’s Medicaid, food stamps, etc.

It’s ridiculous too, bc this guy could have worked full time for a couple of years in tech, and then worked part time as a consultant to pay his FAIR SHARE. Make no mistake this is a lifestyle choice, not chasing a dream.

green goblin is green wrote:

hmmmmmmmmmm wrote:

sounds like someone doesn't want to grow up and get a big boy job. So tell me about your work experience the past 4 years....

Bro has a computer information systems degree. He is going to be just fine. How you react to him living in a van chasing a dream says way more about you than him.

He's homeless! He needs our help. Lets start a go find me page.

Ciro wrote:

Mike Deren wrote:

Great respect for the dude. I sit shackled at my desk for 40 hours a week wondering “what if???” whilst creating pointless spreadsheets. This guy is bold enough to take the risk and do what he loves while he can.

On the other hand, it seems like there should be some happy medium. A small, shared apartment and a part time job seem to be more conducive in the long term than a van down by the river. I know I train a lot better with structure in my life and less free time.

But, to each their own. I hope to see him and his van in Atlanta next year. A true Cinderella story.

Agree with this, but just an FYI Colby does have a job.

Also FYI, all OT marathon qualifiers get their travel and lodging comped to ATL, so no need for the van to make that trip.