Does anyone feel sorry for Aaron Braun?

Yes wrote:

I don't get why anyone would want to be a pro runner. A very short lifespan (in your 20s). Contracts always have clauses that can slash your pay based on poor performance. Meanwhile, you're losing out on experience and skills that could have been gained in your chosen non-running profession. This is not even taking into account the lack of 401k or other retirement monies that he should be already building upon.

It seems like you think the point of life is to make the most money possible. When you die, no one lets you take it with you.

You say he is "losing out on experience and skills" but he is also gaining the experience of a lifetime. He enjoys it. He won't look back and think, "What if."

Think of it this way. He's the 23rd best American ever at 10,000.

What other talent does he have that he is the 23rd best at in the history of this country? He's more rare than a President - there have been more than 40 of them in US history.

-Robert

PS. I wouldn't want to try to support a family doing it but kudos to him for living his dream.

PPS. Should I say to a college professor, "But they could be using their smarts to make more money on Wall Street."

Letsrun Gunner wrote:

If you ask me the guy is lucky. He gets to spend a lot more time with his family than most people do. Money isn't everything.

Great post.

I don't feel sorry for him. If he and his family are happy and have food on the table, then good for them.

There are a lot of unhappy people out earning good salaries.

My dad had a similar sort of career(not running related) when I was a kid, and I don't feel like I missed out on anything that mattered. A solid happy family is a lot more important - at least to most people - than maximizing your income at the earliest possible age.

[quote]rojo wrote:

[quote]Yes wrote:

Think of it this way. He's the 23rd best American ever at 10,000.

What other talent does he have that he is the 23rd best at in the history of this country? He's more rare than a President - there have been more than 40 of them in US history.

He could be the all-time best at ultrarunning.

Is it really that easy to join Corporate America or whatever his degree is in after spending your post-collegiate days as a professional runner? If so, I retract my statements because there's nothing wrong with chasing your dream especially if there are no kids involved yet.

Is Brian Sell a case study? Didn't he go to dental school or something like that? I guess it depends on what field you plan on going into after hanging up the spikes.

I thought Sell ended up doing dental assistant or dental hygiene. Did he actually get into dental school?

do not feel sorry for Aaron Braun

feel a bit of a twinge for Aaron Burr...

he had an off day that time in weehaken, n.j.

should he end up paying for it for all of eternity

bleu wrote:

I thought Sell ended up doing dental assistant or dental hygiene. Did he actually get into dental school?

I heard he's working for some sort of biotech company as a scientist.

bleu wrote:

I thought Sell ended up doing dental assistant or dental hygiene. Did he actually get into dental school?

Working as a scientist in the bio-safety division of Lancaster Laboratories.

Yah yah buddy wrote:

bleu wrote:

I thought Sell ended up doing dental assistant or dental hygiene. Did he actually get into dental school?

I heard he's working for some sort of biotech company as a scientist.

that's a great job

Scientist.(good work if you can get it)

Only better job might be

Poet

It must suck to be an average person, average runner, and lead an average life. I don't envy you! Good for Aaron choosing to make the most of life and his ability.

He made close to $25,000 last year on the USA Running Circuit alone. Not sure about other events or contract stipulations.

Yes wrote:

Meanwhile, you're losing out on experience and skills that could have been gained in your chosen non-running profession. This is not even taking into account the lack of 401k or other retirement monies that he should be already building upon.

What do you mean "should already be building on?" Why not enjoy running while his body is young and put a little extra in the 401k in his 40's?

Here's something to chew on: life isn't all about money.

A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the top ones is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'.

There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top, from men in particular, is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'.

I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying

I'm not surprised that the most frequent regret of dying people is having worked so much and sacrificed time with family/friends.

But guess what, there's a reason most of us fall into that trap. Not because we're ignorant lambs being led to the slaughter, but because our society, like it or not, has made it impossible for a man to provide well for his family (or nowadays even a combined income can be cutting it quite close) withot going to such exorbitant lengths unless you're born into wealth or catch a few lucky breaks along the way.

Even female mating patterns unconsciously (some overtly) select for a capable provider.

Why does everyone make fun of art history majors? Aren't they following their dreams too?

Those sorts of times were world class in 1972; no longer. If he road raced/whored more as in the old days he'd rake in much more dough. Gone are the days where 27:40/62:00/2:11 cut the mustard & demanded attention & $$$$.

Im pretty sure getting 5th in the OT last year, winning the US road circuit and finishing top 3 in countless US competitions all at the young age of 25 qualifies you as more than just some random runner. The guy is a solid elite level athlete that is extremely underrated. He makes a living running and if he didn't he would get a different job

Boddhisatva wrote:

There was a quote from an elite US runner about 27-28 a few months ago. He said he really did not want to do anything else, and did not feel like he was missing out on anything else.

That is a feeling you do not really have when you are working for the man. things could, "always be better". that feeling of contentedness is what is most valuable.

For now he can do it, so why not. there will come a point when he feels the slope starting to turn downwards. He could live in dread of that day coming, or acknowledge it will arrive someday, and therefore enjoy what he is doing now, and try to do the best he can.

This is why I don't feel sorry for Braun. I envy him. He is living a great life that he will never likely replicate. I don't envy the financial pressures as a father and husband. I never would want that in my head when I was racing 20-25 years ago but that might be a good thing and will keep him from hanging on too long in the sport like I did as a single guy that was 8-12th best in my event in the country and kept with it until I was 29. I don't regret that though. That was the best life I'll ever have.

mgm wrote:

But guess what, there's a reason most of us fall into that trap. Not because we're ignorant lambs being led to the slaughter, but because our society, like it or not, has made it impossible for a man to provide well for his family (or nowadays even a combined income can be cutting it quite close) withot going to such exorbitant lengths

BULL...

unless you're born into wealth

...****...

or catch a few lucky breaks along the way.

...!!!

If you learn to manage your money, live in an area you can afford, and get rid of the shit you don't need, you can make it perfectly fine with $40K a year, and yet everyone is chasing more. $60k earners want $80k, $80k earners want $100k. THAT is why people are overworked.