Olympic Series --- Sold on Sell - Brian Sell

"I don't like to be a fair-weather fan," told Brian Sell to Amby Burfoot in a 2006 Runner's World interview. He's referring to his undying loyalty to the Pittsburgh Pirates, a baseball team who has had far from a glitzy history (or present, for that matter).

If the world was full of fair-weather fans, Brian Sell would not have developed the cult following that he has. For he, too, does not have as glitzy a past as his competitors.

His plan if he would not have qualified for this Olympic marathon was to go to dentistry school. This is all it took to sell me on Sell. He's a man who's not afraid of failure, and admits (publicly) that he has plans if he doesn't get exactly what he wants.

In the face of looming failure, though, he is not afraid to dedicate himself to his goals. Logging 160 miles a week, and tackling Hanson-Brooks workouts like 2x6 miles in under 4:50 pace, it is undeniable Sell's all-in attitude.

This willingness to commit, while recognizing that he is only human, is also evident in his 2004 Olympic Trials effort. A virtual nobody before that race, he took the lead at mile seven and held it until mile 22.

Sell committed that day, but where did it land him? He finished in 12th. He was willing to take a risk, but perhaps because up until that point, he had nothing to lose but his previous obscurity.

Before the 2004 trials, he was an unknown, establishing a personal best of 10:06 in the two mile in high school. To get an idea of where that would place him in the state meet by today's standards - Well, it wouldn't . Sell went on to compete at St. Francis University, a small division one program.

Compare these credentials with the likes of Dathan Ritzenhein, Sell's fellow US qualifier, who achieved in 2000 and still holds the national record for the 3200 for high school runners (8:41).

For Sell, he sees a line drawn between those like himself and those like Ritzenhein - Those who shine only after heavy mileage, and those with a sickening amount of natural talent. In April 2006, he told Men's Racing, "I’m training as hard as I can, and it’s tough when you see what some guys can do. Guys like [Dathan] Ritzenhein, it seems like they’re injured half the year, and then they come off that and run great."

Sell accepts that some other runners may have more talent than him, but he feels that his high mileage may help level the playing field (Elite Running). This man recognizes his mortal state, as well as the slightly less mortal-state of his competitors...and deals with it gracefully.

This man exudes humility and realist-qualities, but confidence and the ability to dream big, all at the same time. I'm sold.

Sell's Stats (as provided by USA T&F):
Personal Records ~
10 km: 28:36 (2002)
Half-Marathon: 1:02:39 (2006)
Marathon: 2:10:47 (2006 - Boston Marathon)

3rd at 2008 Olympic Trials – Men’s marathon
2007 U.S. 25 km champ
2006 USA Half-Marathon champ
2005 USA 25 km champion
2-time LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle champ

http://www.mensracing.com/athletes/interviews/2006/briansell040506.htm
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-292--10577-0,00.html
http://www.eliterunning.com/features/24/
http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/sell_brian.asp