yeah i watched that around a week ago...it was pretty motivational (made me go out and run 20 miles (my longest sunday run ever)). I thought it was cool that they were doing it for a cause ( to get clean water to Africa) rather than just going out and running it solely for themselves.

Thats just insane!But impressive!

I saw the end of that. Pretty insane!!

Good stuff and great effort but what is with that Charlie dude. I understand being a little grumpy but dude was calling the asian kid a "quiter" after he ran 2,151 miles, cmon guy. Then he all but stabbed the Dr and and the logistics guy. Guy seems way to intense to actually enjoy what he just accomplished and what a expedition they just under took.

i agree with you quincyceltic...He also told his two teammates to rest at one point when his foot was "hurting" so he could walk as far up ahead as possible and after their brief rest they could run back up to him (reasonable at the time)...But his foot suddenly felt "fine" so he started running while his friends were sleeping and he gained about an hour on them and they had to run pretty hard to catch up to him

I saw about an hour of it and would like to see the rest. Interesting observations of Charlie. I would not have been able to take being with that guy for a week let alone 111 days. Amazing accomplishment. I wonder how Charlie is handling everyday life.

I think one would be more surprised if people doing this sort of thing turned out to be completely "normal" in every way.
I think [i]that[/i] would require [i]more[/i] explanation!

On another point raised above, I'm about sick to the teeth of people "running for a cause."
I have more interest and respect for someone who says she ran the West Coast Trail or whatever simply because she wanted to.
I see running to raise money for some cause, whether it be "to raise awareness of spina bifida" or to get fresh water for people in Africa" as an act of self-aggrandisement. They seem to be saying, "Look at me! See how noble I am! I'm not doing this for [i]me,[/i] I'm doing it for these poor people who had their house blown down by a hurricane!"

and the media lionizes them far more than they would if you and your buddies just ran across the desert and didn't tell anybody.

If you want to help somebody just do it and shut up about it. But of course that's not how the game is played is it? You need the publicity the media will give you when you do something out of the ordinary to get the word out to people who might open their wallets, but the exploitative aspect sickens me.

my $.02 worth,

PoC

[quote=PrinceofClydes]I think one would be more surprised if people doing this sort of thing turned out to be completely "normal" in every way.
I think [i]that[/i] would require [i]more[/i] explanation!

On another point raised above, I'm about sick to the teeth of people "running for a cause."
I have more interest and respect for someone who says she ran the West Coast Trail or whatever simply because she wanted to.
I see running to raise money for some cause, whether it be "to raise awareness of spina bifida" or to get fresh water for people in Africa" as an act of self-aggrandisement. They seem to be saying, "Look at me! See how noble I am! I'm not doing this for [i]me,[/i] I'm doing it for these poor people who had their house blown down by a hurricane!"

and the media lionizes them far more than they would if you and your buddies just ran across the desert and didn't tell anybody.

If you want to help somebody just do it and shut up about it. But of course that's not how the game is played is it? You need the publicity the media will give you when you do something out of the ordinary to get the word out to people who might open their wallets, but the exploitative aspect sickens me.

my $.02 worth,

PoC[/quote]

Ah, I agree with you. Esp. about just going out and doing something with out needing praise...It seems there are to many people in todays world that feel they need to have that pat on the back in order to do something kind.

the only way that they could get money for their cause is to get sponsors to aid their cause. The sponsors wouldn't really care about sponsoring anybody if they wouldn't get recognition. The whole point of a major company sponsoring a person/event is so that people can see oh that person is wearing nike shoes! im gonna go buy nike shoes. A person would have to be pretty wealthy to be able to fund an expedition like they went through (probably 20 pairs of shoes per person at least...maybe $2000-3000+ worth of food or even much more...the price of gas for their truck...the team medic, physical therapist, team guides. I'm sure it wouldnt be THAT expensive but i doubt the people that are going and running 4000+ miles want to have to pay to do that. Also, dont you think it would be hard to motivate yourself to keep going day after day for nearly 4 months without knowing your doing something important through doing this act?

Thats my $.03!!!!

[quote=Gsal]the only way that they could get money for their cause is to get sponsors to aid their cause. The sponsors wouldn't really care about sponsoring anybody if they wouldn't get recognition. The whole point of a major company sponsoring a person/event is so that people can see oh that person is wearing nike shoes! im gonna go buy nike shoes. A person would have to be pretty wealthy to be able to fund an expedition like they went through (probably 20 pairs of shoes per person at least...maybe $2000-3000+ worth of food or even much more...the price of gas for their truck...the team medic, physical therapist, team guides. I'm sure it wouldnt be THAT expensive but i doubt the people that are going and running 4000+ miles want to have to pay to do that. Also, dont you think it would be hard to motivate yourself to keep going day after day for nearly 4 months without knowing your doing something important through doing this act?

Thats my $.03!!!![/quote]

This!

I'm planing to do a 11,000 mile charity ride to raise money for those who can't do it for themselves. I'm using this vehicle (the ride) as way to help people in format that I can enjoy and have enough strength and willpower to finish. (this will take almost 6 months of my life 7 days a week, 8-12 hrs a day!)

So, I'm doing it to help people AND I like riding. I'm putting almost 7k of my own money into this with the bike, gear, food, and communication, but I will gladly garner any press that will get the word out. How do you help people if you're the only one who knows about it????.....

You can say whatever makes you feel better about my intentions. That I'm an attention whore, glory hog, self righteous, self aggrandizing, or that I demonstrate attention seeking behavior. It won't change the fact that I am at least trying to make a difference in someone's life, even if only through press. I don't care if they ever mention my name. I'm not putting my name on the website, or taking any money as a charity director. I get nothing but the experience.

I'm doing this because I have an ambition to circumnavigate the continental US by bicycle and if I have the opportunity to draw attention to a cause while enjoying the ride, then I have a hard time finding faults with that goal.

If had enough means to financially burden the cost of affecting a large amount of lives, then I'd pay for everything, and POC could watch the news without some bleeding heart self aggrandizing schlep dirtying up the airwaves. (not likely that I'll make the news in Canada, but you never know.)

.......on a different note, what would you prefer be on the news/TV? Rape? Crime? War? Tragedy? Hate? Intolerance? OR Hope. Kindness. Challenge. Ambition. Brotherhood?

POC, if just the 1st world would pony up $1 per person, we could help millions of struggling families and children.

To those who sacrificed body, mind, and soul, to help those who can't help themselves by running the desert, "I say way to go!" Then again, what do I know?

good man