Is it really worth being a professional distance runner in the USA??

Most of these are notable runners.

8/10. Everyone is taking you seriously. Who goes on letsrun.com that doesn't think there is some value in running professionally?

anybody who believes there is any value in the power of the human brain to influence society. i would hope the majority.

Pewow wrote:

8/10. Everyone is taking you seriously. Who goes on letsrun.com that doesn't think there is some value in running professionally?

Trex123 wrote:

I mean even for the top runners what can you hope to make annually after you retire??

Most distance runners peak-out before 35, so what could you hope to make for the next 35 years of your life?

I mean for runners like Jorge Torres or Adam Goucher what could these guys be except shoe sales men? Maybe move up to assistant manager of a shoe store?? Work at the Boy's and Girl's club? I know these guys went to college, but when you've spent the better part of your life running and not building up a skill that's useful in the real world, what could you hope to do?

What are you, like 20? Very few professional runners that I know have been dumb enough NOT to dabble in the business side of the sport. Do the race circuit for a few years, meet all of the sales, regional, and national reps of the brand that sponsors you, and you will find a niche where they can use you after your career as a runner.

If you don't pan out with a big contract, you have plenty of connections to land yourself a position with some future upside. If you don't do the research or networking to make this situation happen for yourself, then you deserve to be unemployed or in a crappy job scenario after you hang up the spikes.

I'm not an elite and never was. I have a full time job, but the bottom line is that I'd rather be running full time if I could (knowing full well that it's not a long term career). That doesn't matter to me because I'd get to do what I love most. My All America certificate from college is the most meaningful thing to me because it represents the satisfaction and joy that running brings me. I envy the guys who are good enough to get to keep focusing on their training, hanging out with training partners/team, traveling, and racing the best because I know that I'd enjoy every second of it.

Something that I think was overlooked on this thread too: runners are SMART people, achieve solid grades, and have better work ethic than most people.

Also want to add Steve Holman to the list of guys who have a good career after running. I work in the investment industry and last I heard (I think there was a thread on it) he was a higher up at Vanguard.

I do kind of wonder about everyone who says you can't run at a high level and work full time... of course you can, plenty of people do/have done. Look at Kawauchi's racing schedule, dude works full time and runs more high level races than the pros.

Well - there's always the $600 an hour escort job.

No...most semi-pro runners worked at home depot from what I remember or for that one shoe store all the Hansons worked for.

Nick Arciniaga is one guy I feel is in for a rude awakening. Oh and Mo Trafeh (spelling?).