Your first point is so, so stupid: nobody in the world can be better than everyone else in the world by that logic.

You have proof that Eliud Kipchoge is doping? Good work! I retract everything I said.

That genetic lottery bullshit is the dumbest thing I’ve read in a long, long time. Of course he identified that one thing he was genetically good at: he’s Kalenjin, the most genetically gifted runners on earth. There are thousands of similarly gifted athletes, but none have worked as hard as effectively as Kipchoge.…

No, I’m attacking the idea that we “know” these guys are doping. We don't know that. Some of us think it, but nobody knows it.

Oh great point. All a person has to do to be the best runner is to be Kenyan, and because he is the only Kenyan in the world, he's the best. Good job.

We don't know the guys he is beating are doping.

“We know this”

I am so thankful that you included the insightful takes from track and field journalists @yuptwins and @jiggywizzle. Who could possibly form an opinion without their scorching hot takes.

Mediocre ex-collegiate mid-distance runner and amateur coach here: the best advice in your piece is RUN SLOWLY. I get so many people who say “I can’t run more than 2 miles”, but if they start off 1-2 minutes/mile slower they realize they can do 4-5.

$200 for a pair of running shoes is absolutely insane. I think you might be spending a lot more money than you need to, but if you like the gear you have go for it.

That’s much more fair, thank you. I still think it’s mediocre, but fair enough.

They are incredibly mediocre and far from fantastic.

You’d be happy with sub-4, and that’s a great goal for you, but it’s not in any way a fantastic time.

Right, a big promotion is fantastic. Finishing a marathon is fantastic, even. But a 3:45 minute marathon is not “fantastic”, it is fairly average for casual runners.

Finishing a marathon is a fantastic accomplishment. That doesn’t make 3:45 a fantastic time.

It's not great, let alone fantastic, but you're a doctor so OK.

It’s a fine time for a casual runner. It’s maybe even a good time for a casual runner. It is in no way fantastic.

What marathon did you run where a 3:44 was in the 91st percentile? That’s incredible. Fantastic, even.

It is not superb, let alone fantastic. It’s fine. It’s good. It’s not fantastic.

It’s not about “casual”, it’s about “fantastic”. 3:45 is not a fantastic time for a casual runner.