I think he's fucking fabulous. As a 45 year old who only started running last year, and has only managed a half marathon, what he did just knocks me sideways. And anyone who has ever run in July and got sweaty and uncomfortable has an inkling of what running in South African heat must be like. On top of which, when I ran my measly half marathon, if anyone spoke to me past mile 10 I practically cried. I could not give jaunty updates, or even talk. Unlike Eddie, who chatted, allowed cameras to film him, gave an interesting tour around Mandela's life, and ate on the run. When I stop running, I collapse and eat a lot. When he stopped running, he gave interviews, carried on fundraising, and then ran another sodding marathon the next day. For 26 days. He has ten years on me.
If nothing else, he has inspired people to think about another country. Maybe think about running, even though they're getting on a bit.
I don't care that he might need or crave the publicity. He did more to earn it than some tossy footballer who popped up for five minutes, pulling himself away from his gazillion pound mansion and totty for a bit.
And he did it with nice nails.
Really, people who moan about him. What did YOU do to make the world a nicer place, or put a smile on someones face last week?