Money in Running vs Money in Triathlon

Can triathletes wear sponsor logos while they compete?

A good friend of mine ranks among the top 3 triathletes each year in the U.S. and makes around 280-300k a year in sponserships, appearance fees, prize money, etc. I would say that's better than most elite runners. Am I wrong?

I've won more money in one race hobby jogging than my local "pro triathlete" has made all year.

Yes. Except the Olympics, obviously.

How much do the top American distance runners make each year? I have often wondered/speculated about this, but really I have no idea.

Hope to get some insight! On triathletes too, I guess.

Wejo makes a good point that you are only competing against rich people, which both makes it much easier for an American to be good internationally, and also guarantees to advertisers that rich spectators can identify with the winners. It kind of reminds me of tennis, where so many of the ads are for BMWs and Rolexes and stuff.

luv2run wrote:

Can triathletes wear sponsor logos while they compete?

yep. and lots of 'em.

julmust wrote:

A good friend of mine ranks among the top 3 triathletes each year in the U.S. and makes around 280-300k a year in sponserships, appearance fees, prize money, etc. I would say that's better than most elite runners. Am I wrong?

The top 3 American distance runners for sure make more than that.

Meb has no sponsor.

I think its important to note the seperation that exists in triathlon. You have olympic distance athletes who race for the Olympic dream. These athletes are in a seperate catagory than the other catagory I will call "Ironman". I call it this because anyone in the sport that knows anything about tri knows that the sponsors and the fans follow what happens in Kona each year and not what happens in the World Championship Tri Series as a whole. Anyone that would disagree to that should try and find a bike brand count for the Beijing World Series final from 2011. Kona is the superbowl. People get tattoos of the M-Dot. Kind of a big deal. Not that the olympics are not a cool tat but its only a very, very, very, very select few people who can get that tattoo in Tri (9 males in the past 11 years can do that).

Noting that difference I think Lukas is in a unique situation where he actually could make some decent money persuing the olympic distance stuff and the Olympic dream. Lest we forget a medal in any sport is pretty spectacular, money aside. Another factor is that to be successful in Ironman you need to have a long build up to that distance and Lukas is a long ways from that (10+years). That being said Lukas will do fine but the real money is in Ironman racing. Example, Matt Reed. Kiwi born moved to US to get Olympic Tattoo. Once accomplished switched to half and full distance Ironman to make some money. Lukas will do fine because he stands a decent chance at both making money and getting the tattoo. Kind of cool.

But back to Wejo's question on money. Just like running its really only the top 10% of the professional athletes in triathlon that can "make a living" much less a comfortable one. The reference above to 300K is probably to one of the top 10%. Possible....yes. Likely....no. Ironman that percentage is a bit larger than the top of the olympic class.

I will also mention one other thing maybe worth considering before we throw Lukas into tha fire about leaving one of the most legendary cross programs in history. That is, who didn't change their mind a few times back and forth their first two years out of your parents house (AKA college for some of us)? I know I did. Yeah he waffled and is kind of back and forth right now, but lets make sure we remember he just finished high school last summer. Maybe some slack in his decision making process is in order. One other note...he left Oregon to join the program his father coaches. A lot better than jumping ship to Wisconsin or some other powerhouse. Being with family is big and something our country may be needing more of.

I'm guessing the top 5 or so distance runners make a little bit more than the top triathletes. However, if you at at the top 6-20 I'm sure the distance runners do much better. I know a top-10 triathlete (female) and she basically pulled in what a grad assistant would in a year. Pro triathletes get more in gear, but they need it, and they can't eat it so it really doesn't matter.

The iron distance pros can make decent coin (some races pay out in the 50k range, but they can only do 1 or 2 a year, so winning is tough. Unlike marathoners, there aren't enough shorter races for them to get prize money (they can't compete with the olympic distance athletes very well).

I think the main difference might be appearance fees. There are essentially none in triathlon, and many of the top road racers can make enough to live on just from appearance fees if they race a lot.

So, top 5 in each are probably a wash (slight edge to road runners). After 5 or so, not even close. Distance runners make a lot more.

Well there's a huge depth issue here too. Lukas Verzbicas is worried about not being at the elite level in distance running, but do you really think he's so much better a triathlete?

It's possible that it's easier to make some money in triathlon than distance running because it isn't quite as competitive at the elite level.

Bumknocker makes another good point here. Triathlon does lack depth in their payout of any substance. Good points. I would add what Bumknocker says to my previous comment.

Meb is sponsored by Skechers, probably just had a big payday at the NYCM, supposedly wanted too much money from Nike, and is 36 years old. [quote]

From what I have read over the years, I believe there was a lot of outside pressure for LV to pursue running because of his great high school times. I don't believe he really wanted to do that and finally came to that conclusion.

To call him a "quitter" says more about those who are doing that than LV. If he did anything wrong, it was not realizing what he really wanted to do before he finished high school and that is something most of us didn't do either.

Either way, LV is gonna suck at both on the world stage. So it doesn't really matter which has more money.

I doubt the sponsors will be lining up to sponsor the biggest pussie in Oregon history.

If he has a better chance at being a top level triathlete than a runner, he will make more. I don't know how much either make, but the triathlon is more marketable.

You wouldn't call him a quitter? What else do you call someone who "leaves" his team right before regionals??

If he would have waited till after the season, till semesters break - then I would say he has just made up his mind. No big deal, no judgement on my part...but he didn't.The kid is young, I'm not going to be too harsh, but calling him a quitter seems pretty just in this situation.

I agree with you though - the idea that he's always wanted to do tri's. Hard to get over that first love...

I have never gotten definitive info on how much the top American track pros get. Its just vague stuff that they can live comfortably. But a couple of threads have been dedicated to it and the guesses of what they athletes made were wildly far apart.

Also, its highly annoying to say distance runners on the track don't make much money and yet have it be a self fulfilling prophecy by not even letting track fans watch half the race of a major competition.