When did runners become some kind of cash cow?

Training Advice/Discussion General

9 years ago 07/26/2014 10:52pm EDT

Why are there still so many garbage races in 2014?

Races that exist solely to fund some company and/or their race director.

Sometimes they contribute a measly tiny tiny percentage to charity to deflect criticism too.

You know the races and there's no need to name them in these litigious times.

Why are they still around? Why are there more of them popping up. Why are runners still paying for them?

Disclaimer: This post contains no race identifying information. If you think you know what races are referenced, you are wrong. Go sue someone else.

9 years ago 07/27/2014 12:35am EDT

re: $100 singlet

Races don't need to be about charity. That's an idea out of running history.

Race directors should charge what they can and runners should pass on races that don't provide a reasonable value. This is an idea that has sustained a nation since 1776. There is no reason to change course now.

9 years ago 07/27/2014 12:53am EDT

re: Supply and Da Man

I used to do 30-40 road races a year. I've run 3 trail ultras and a small 10k this year. I just looked up times of some of the competitive races in my state and was kind of shocked at how slow they were. I don't think it's just me that got tired of the charity 5ks popping up all over the place and the price of races going up 40-50% in the last few years. There was at least 4 5ks within 45 minutes of me this weekend but I drove 45 minutes to do a 10 miler on a trail in the woods.

9 years ago 07/27/2014 10:29am EDT

re: Supply and Da Man

In the past, most races were started by runners that wanted a race.

Today you have race companies where it is someone's full time job. They may even make an extravagant living putting on races. That's all they do. Sometimes they sell their whole series of races to another company, and then create new races with a profit motive.

9 years ago 07/27/2014 10:52am EDT

re: $100 singlet

They're around because people want to run them- there's nothing wrong with that.

I remember some years back I was watching a public skating session- people paid money to barely make it around the ice rink- skating around and around.

Why?

It was social.

It was kind of healthy- there were moving.

Now, races do something like this:

I just read an article that golf is dying- Dick's Sporting Goods laid off all of their golf pros.

I was just in a 5K with over 4000 runners. There were a few of us warming up while the other "runners" watched like we were a freak show.

But they all had a good time- kind of verified the health thing they're on with a "race" and then had a good time after at the post race party.

Most of them did not look like runners- they looked like people who were giving up their sedentary lifestyle to become healthy.

I think that's a good thing.

9 years ago 07/27/2014 1:12pm EDT

re: runn

There was an article recently about how many "charity" races give virtually nothing to charity. Everything went downhill when the private equity groups got into the picture. They got into the picture because masses, many of them with significant wealth, got into the game after Oprah's marathon in 1994. This was obviously an unexploited economic domain. As runners, we are certainly a lot worse off with it being exploited now. But there are some races that you can still find where the profit motive does not rule. For instance, the DSE runners in SF hold weekly races around Lake Merced for $1, to pay the city for using the parking lot, and they often bring snacks and something to drink, plus the competition is surprisingly good.

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