Local Runner's Pre-Race Photo Clearly a Cry for Help
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Main photo via Depositphotos.com
Friends of a local runner who recently shared a photo of his race-day gear are interpreting the image as a cry for help, Dumb Runner has learned, and wondering what to do next.
Ben Sanderson, 32, took the photo last Saturday, the day before he was to participate in the Figgis (Nevada) Marathon, sharing it on Twitter and Instagram; in the photo, the clothing and gear he would use in the race is neatly arranged on the floor. Among the shoes, bib number, and energy gels, however, are two small bottles of Jack Daniels whiskey—a jarring addition that immediately sparked speculation regarding Sanderson’s well-being.
“Holy shit,” wrote a friend of Sanderson’s in a private message to a mutual acquaintance. “Is Ben OK?”
“Obviously he’s not,” the acquaintance replied. “I’m not even sure how to respond to this.”
It was unclear from his social media posts whether Sanderson intended to drink the whiskey before, during, or after his race. Regardless, his friends said, its inclusion in the photo was disturbing.
Sanderson himself betrayed no hint of distress, writing in the photo’s caption, “All set for tomorrow’s race. Ready to roll!”
Jack Daniels, the noted running coach and exercise scientist, could not be reached for comment.
