"Grounded" is a much better to phrase it.
Wallet Inspector wrote:
Two things. First is the McDougal take on faith. This may sound a little bit off but as a believer I respect Josh McDougal's approach to his faith a bit more than Ryan Hall. With that said, I disagree with Latter calling Josh's approach "more secular". I would simply say Josh is more grounded. McDougal always mentions his desire to glorify God through his running, and often mentions "the Lord" while referencing his God. McDougal is homeschooled and a product of a Christian University. Hall's over-charismatic approach is wildly atmospheric and at times detached, yet his path was public school and a worldly-academic Stanford. Certainly a pointed comparison seeing it is our secular society that labels homeschoolers as "fanatics".
Second. The one aspect of the article that I can't quite figure is where Latter mentions (while referencing Sam and Tolsma) that Josh never "toed the line". I can't see why he would bank on a decision to pursue competitive racing again unless he does toe the line. Anyone coming back from an injury knows it is about small steps, recovering and getting back to something. Josh started competing in the Junior Olympics at 10. He didn't start out with a NCAA XC Championship. If he is running 70mpw, I find it hard to believe that he won't get back into racing, even if it's less competitive. Why did he as a homeschooler enter all those track meets?
Nobody likes to read an unfinished story...which makes it all difficult to swallow.
I actually agree with Wallet Inspector completely on this one. I don't doubt the strength of McDougal's faith, I just think it's reflected more inward than Hall's. [Word choice was lacking a little in my original post, but when you're watching your 4-month-old daughter those things tend to skid by]. This is neither a sleight toward Hall nor a praising of McDougal - it just makes for a very different type of interview.
As you can imagine in a story where you're dealing with big companies (Nike), dozens of doctors, and a stable of athletes, coaches, trainers, etc., there are many perspectives and opinions that are left out by space limitations. Some of it was off the record; some of it didn't fit. Just understand that by necessity in a piece like this, the writer is always confined to what the main athlete says, even if he or she does their best to flesh it out with as many complimentary interviews and insights as possible. If I was given 20,000 words and full access to publish everything said to me, then maybe every question would be answered, particularly when you have as illusive an injury as McDougal did. But it wouldn't change the lasting impression of the article in the end.
As an aside, being called "Mr. Latter" still sounds too weird - I'm only 29. Being one who's not interested in attention and shies away from running sites, McDougal had nothing to gain from this article, whereas I (who had only online credits on ESPN Rise and DyeStat) was being given a big chance to be featured in a print publication. For that I will always be grateful. Same with Wejo/Rojo featuring this article so prominently - I hoped it would garner some attention, but it's been awesome to see how many people have responded in one way or another to the piece.