re: the comments about the definition of 'distance runner' being a self-serving circular argument: I heard a fairly good tongue-in-cheek comeback from a deep-thinking shot putter, considering the distinction between an 800m race and longer races as to which of them qualifies as a "distance" race- "You want a circular argument? How's this one- 'Which came first, the chicken or the distance runner?' " ...I guess you have to be a shot putter to fully appreciate the logic... :-) RT