Ultra running as a professional career

Another one of these threads.

ISHYGDDT

Why not try a few ultra and mountain runs and see how it goes?

Come back when you've run further than 6.2 miles and let us know how you did.

Max King, Sage Cannady

Look up those names and reassess your position.

Bill Haverchuck wrote:

Why not try a few ultra and mountain runs and see how it goes?

+1

It really depends on how much pot you can smoke. You can't be a top Ultra guy unless you can handle running completely wacked. No one else could stand the monotony.

Just look at some of the quotes from Anton Krupicka--

"What do you think about when you're running?"

Anton, "...most of the time, nothing..."

It depends. Can you stomach 800 kcal/hr while listening to NPR podcasts on your iPod?

Nietzsche wrote:

Max King, Sage Cannady

Look up those names and reassess your position.

I would say look up those names (and perhaps Dakota Jones) and seek their advice. Indeed the sport could use more pure running talent to progress, yet at the same time, pure running talent is only one of the many success factors required to do well in an ultra. It looks so easy on paper, but the races aren't run on paper, that much is for sure.

Uli Steidl is a top ultra guy. He has a 2:13 marathon PR and ran 2:22ish to win the masters in Boston in the heat this year. He has been a dominant ultra runner. He is also a high school teacher.

Could you be dominant? Maybe. Some people take well to ultra running, some do not. Could you have a career and earn a living? Probably not, unless you are very good at marketing and sell your soul a la Dean K/Dane R and spend as much time selling books at marathon expos as you do training and racing.

Seems like a troll kind of post but I'll give you some "Sage" advice:

Run high mileage for another couple of years and then do a marathon on the road and see where you stand. Are you much better at xc compared to track? Cross country running ability is closer to these trail races but then it depends on the course (and there is some huge variation in that with these ultra or mountain races).

As far as the career/living off running goes - you got me there! Crap, I'm the one who needs advice on that. I think some guys like Anton Krupicka are sponsored at a level where they can just travel around and run (check out his blog "Riding the Wind" all he does is drive round and hit up '14ers) I've got to work at least part time to make ends meet...going into the office pretty soon now actually - And I don't have a footwear or apparel sponsor yet (Not expecting anything close to the support I had at Hansons-Brooks but then again I was a very average marathon runner at the trials). So that is even after some shameless self promotion across multiple social media outlets. It's not all about speed and how many YouTube videos you upload. So plan to work at least part-time and don't think things like race entry fees, travel and lodging will be covered.

Good luck!

there is no money in ultra running. If there was, kenyans would do it.

Start off with Western States 100 and the Leadville Trail 100, then move on to ultras that pay prize money.

Precious Roy wrote:

Uli Steidl is a top ultra guy. He has a 2:13 marathon PR and ran 2:22ish to win the masters in Boston in the heat this year.

He also crushed me in a 10,000m earlier this year

Thanks Sage. Not a troll. I have more than a few years left in college so I have time to develop. I already hold up well with high mileage at a quick pace (6:30 or faster).

I don't much mind working a little bit but I would like to continue running once my days in college are over and if I'm not talented or fast enough to make the 2016 trials in something then I want to be a serious competitor in some form of running. I like the idea of one day being an ultra bada$$.

asdfadsf wrote:

there is no money in ultra running. If there was, kenyans would do it.

This. Why is the OP looking to ultras (where there's hardly any money) and not at year-round marathoning (where there is money)? Not sure why American elites (2:16-2:22 guys) aren't catching on to this.

One reason why ultras are better than marathons: ultras don't get cancelled when the temp is > 80F.

fdsafsda wrote:

One reason why ultras are better than marathons: ultras don't get cancelled when the temp is > 80F.

true

Do ultra runners get sponsors at all???!??

I'm kinda decent at running wrote:

... I don't much mind working a little bit ...

Wow. Wake up call coming in two years, grasshopper.