How much do professional American distance runners make?

I think Dean K makes good money as a real distance runner.

How much do you think shoe companies make off sponsoring runners? It can't be much. I figure even at the very top level of competition and exposure (the Alan Webb and Tyson Gay) 200k must be pushing it.

Why does everyone care about becoming a professional distance runner? Run to become a better runner and because you want to. Chase performance, not money, and maybe money will catch up to you. But only 1% of the top 1% will get it. And they are friggin' fast. Chances are VERY HIGH that you won't be one of them. With the state of the world economy these days, there's much bigger fish to fry than "going pro."

You should be thinking about your future or lack thereof, studying something useful so that we can remake ourselves as a country... something like engineering, rather than taking the easy route with psychology or exercise physiology so that you get your second run in and read Track and Field News all day with your head in the clouds. I'm doing you a favor, whether you realize it or not. Running will be the least of your worries in a few short years.

Geez, what a stupid remark. I could make more than 100K at a desk all day as well, but if I had the talent and the opportunity, I would love to make my living running for 100K, or a lot less.

Click wrote:

Geez, what a stupid remark. I could make more than 100K at a desk all day as well, but if I had the talent and the opportunity, I would love to make my living running for 100K, or a lot less.

What? Sounds like you do neither of those things.

Loser alert.

Not enough to make up for the PED stigma. Just not worth it.

I ask 'cause there's a lot of debate about whether German should turn pro and it would seem that the amount of money being offered would be an important factor. In order to hypothesize the kind of offers he might get, it would help to know what top level Americans in his field are making. Believe me, I'm not trying to go pro myself. I might be lazy as hell but I'm not an idiot.

Well,

Meb wins a race, gets 20k, then another gets 10k, then gets 20k for showing up,and on and on and has a sponsorship of about 25k + free clothes and shoes and even free travel.

I'll bet he makes over 150k a year for the last 3 years.

Very well stated.

BallsDeep wrote:

Man, I hope they make more than 100k. I sit at my desk all day and make more than that posting on LetsRun.

Just curious what kind of desk job pays $100K+? I want one also.

It seems that a lot of the people on this board are utterly delusional about earning money from distance running. Think about it: Who is paying all this money? Is it the sparsely attended occasional meets that attract a handful of spectators who pay $5 to get in? Is it the shoe companies and fluid/nutrition companies? They are marketing saavy, and they know full well that spending a lot for runner endorsements is like flushing money down the drain. The whole point of sponsorhip is increasing sales, but Joe and Jane Runner could not care less about whether Matt Tegencamp is wearing Nike or Adidas shoes or drinking Gator Aid or PowerAde. These retail companies know this full well. Other than for a very, very select group, they don't pay much. They give out some products and some travel/living stipends. That's it.

In terms of American distance runners, there are probably fewer than a dozen, male and female, who make over $80K per year from running and sponsorships. Frankly, that is not that much money for someone 5 years out of college. And when the running ends, the money ends. If anyone thinks that there are more than a dozen American distance runners who make more than $80K, provide specific information.

Then there a few dozen or so more American distance runners who make enough to live at or near the poverty line. For these folks, when there running career is over, they will have literally no money. None.

Ask the average reader of Runner's World to name current American distance runners. You will probably get between 0 and 5 names. Those people make $80K or more. That's it. The rest make virtually nothing because they have no marketing appeal. Now if you include triathletes and sprinters, there are more making money running. But American distance runners making over $80K? Very, very, very few.

Put it this way: The odds of making the NBA are at least twenty five times better than the odds of making $80K a year as an American distance runner.

darkness wrote:

BallsDeep wrote:

Man, I hope they make more than 100k. I sit at my desk all day and make more than that posting on LetsRun.

Just curious what kind of desk job pays $100K+? I want one also.

Hmmm. You don't know of desk jobs that pay $100k+? I would venture to say 95% of jobs that pay over $100K are desk jobs. Try these desk jobs: lawyer, accountant, engineer, consultant, financial adviser, stock broker, financial analyst, manager, executive, etc.

What non-desk jobs are you thinking about that pay over $100K: astronaut? professional athlete? bounty hunter?

It only makes sense to become pro if you are planning to buy a farm somewhere in Africa .

For developed countries the charm of money is long gone , since runners sacrifice careers , family life and spend more energy than workers making decent hourly wages .

However it is still worth it . Looking back and recalling best memories is priceless . I certainly don't regret it .

Add Rupp to that list.

Seriously though, all sources combined (sponsors, appearance, prize money) I'd be you could add:

ritz

Meb

Sell

Rhines

Fam

Abdi

bauhs might come close if he does a marathon.

That's probably it.

Im sure I've read that Webb makes 200,000. I know sprinters get way more. X Man signed a huge contract 600,000? I bet Dix is close to 7 figures. That said, thats only the very top guys. Many of the guys on OTC elite prob dont get much, though I do think they get some health insurance, which is more than most post collegiate runners

Not enuf to pass up a chance at a Stanford education that's for sure.

Truthbetold wrote:

Click wrote:

I could make more than 100K at a desk all day as well, but if I had the talent and the opportunity, I would love to make my living running for 100K, or a lot less.

What? Sounds like you do neither of those things.

Loser alert.

Are you the old lady that's been stalking me? Your post doesn't make any sense. I choose to work part-time because I'm caring for a family, so no, I don't make 100K at this time. My husband makes more than enough for us to live comfortably, so for now, I take care of our home and family and work part-time for a public non-profit. People in my profession are capable of full-time 100K desk jobs in the private sector.

Regarding working as a professional athlete, no, I don't do that either. My point was that I would perform a job I loved for 100K or even less. Do you believe that anyone who works part-time when raising kids, or isn't talented enough to be a professional athlete is a loser? I hate to imagine what this makes you??? What in the world was your point?

[quote]BallsDeep wrote:

Man, I hope they make more than 100k. I sit at my desk all day and make more than that posting on LetsRun.[quote]

In my response to BallsDeep (Why was he deleted anyway?), I was only trying to point out that most people don't look to professional running careers for the big paycheck. I think most of us would do it for the love of the sport, rather than any expectation that it would be profitable.

And while it's a distant memory for me, I think any of us who have experienced the thrill of the bell lap, or grabbing that baton as the last leg of a mile relay will tell you that getting paid any amount to be able to do what you love would be very satisfying.

darkness wrote:

Just curious what kind of desk job pays $100K+? I want one also.

Is this a joke?

And in the odd case that it was a serious question, go to a website like monster.com or salary.com and look at salary surveys. You will find tons of professions where 100K+ desk jobs are commonplace.