Wheeler Farm Loops

Always better to listen to your body and be smart. You are good example of that to me. Travel safely Jake.

My respect for Ryan Hall just increased x 10. I like to make fun of him because he's a goofball, but he did a standup thing yesterday (and he's obviously a great runner).

I bet his little strategy worked better and different than expected. Seeing all the Americans talking together probably phyched the Africans out and they were expecting a late surge, instead just the opposite happened.

Regardless of the strategy (or the "fix" as some are calling it) an (almost) 40 year old guy still had to run 2:08! It probably worked out for all of the American guys to slow up a bit... none of them were going to run 2:09, so if they went any quicker, it could have been a disaster for them.

Who knows what the Africans were thinking! Pretty poor racing strategy for a lot of those guys. Non-rabbitted races are so much more interesting.

I agree, 2:08 is very impressive for a 38 year old (or anyone). But there were at least 8 guys that can run 2:04 so strategy was obviously at play. Seth could have easily run sub 2:00 without the soccer injury.

I think that the only way Ryan could have been the guy is if he had a 2:05 or so in him, since there was no way the Africans would have let him go.

Rob - I hesitate to even keep the conversation going on Seth's stunt, but that was embarrassing. In the past I've actually referred some people to Altra in certain situations, but never again. The term "class act" gets tossed around on this blog... his decision was the opposite of that.

Re: Ryan Hall - he got the B standard! :-)

Yeah, probably not cool. But everyone has thought about doing it.

The actual running up front part is no big deal. People have been doing that at big events ever since cameras and television were invented :-)

It's the post-race running of the mouth that is poor form. Honestly I'm surprised (and somewhat disappointed, even though in the grand scheme of things I don't really care about their business) that Altra didn't put a lid on him. Doesn't really say a lot about how seriously they want to be taken as a company.

How else is a trail running shoe going to get on the cover of NY Times? I was really mad durning the Olympics when Sketchers had a bull dog in all the commercials and never said anything about Meb. Maybe Altra should spend the money to sponser Meb instead of doing shameless stunts. I really like Seth though, hopefully it was just a laps in judgement and he'll apologize.

The average consumer still relates more to a pudgy dog than Meb :-)

I think the next two Americans taking 7th and 8th was about the best potential outcome anyway. Those two guys are good runners, but aren't top-5 Boston caliber anyway. So if anything, "holding back" might have helped them place higher.

Got any links to the Altra stuff?

Totally agree... those guys running under 2:12 was a really good outcome. I mean, they still ran ~2 minute positive splits (essentially even for Boston), so it's not like they were holding back THAT much.

I still can't wrap my head around what the Africans were doing / thinking.

If you search on KSL/Des News you'll find a few of the articles. On Altra's facebook page.

Meh. I don't understand why that would even go viral. I guess I saw it on Seth's facebook page, but didn't pay much attention. If I'm offended, it's that he would use the Boston Marathon as a workout. Or any marathon.

great article Jake. I have a book recommendation for you. I will post it in my next run report. I am making my way through last one you recommended.

One thing I think have learned is that a lot of the time even if you disagree with someone you just have to shrug and let people be people.

Not always successful at this approach but in most cases it saves me time and energy.

I think I was supposed to stop this conversation, so I won't enter the debate but I will make two observations. Two African runners are laughing at one point and I am pretty sure it's at him (nothing says comfortable at ~4:55 pace like laughing with your buddies) and from the Altra screen shot he is checking his watch @ 2:55 into the race (I'm a guilty watch watcher but did he expect his ~5k pace to feel easier?)

But I am as well trying to figure out why the other runners didn't cover the move. It isn't as if they were worried about Hall. When are they ever?

In Seth's defense years ago he told me he wanted to do Boston just " for fun ". I can't speak to the post race running of the mouth though; but Seth is just a generally nice, non malicious guy.

I remember the first time I decided I wanted to start running. I walked into Salt Lake Running Company probably wearing a pair of New Balance shoes and Seth came and helped me. I had no idea who he was at the time but he was so non-judgemental and seriously the nicest person I had met in a long time. I really owe my excitement to running to him, really great guy from what little experience I have with him. I actually still have that pair first pair of shoes he sold me sitting on my shelf.

Oh, I should mention, they were Saucony

I'm not really debating whether he is a good person or not. I'm sure he is. Actions define integrity, and you don't get a free pass because of the past. Everyone does stupid things, says stupid things, etc. I do all the time. In the Utah bubble this is obviously seen as a heroic feat, in the rest of the running world it is viewed a little differently. I sent a message to Altra expressing my opinion on the matter.

Saucony makes fantastic shoes, Rob. Totally agree with you on that. Great decision that day! You should bronze them!