Morality of Fundraising for OT Marathon

Of course a qualifier has the right to seek donations. Gofundme page is the easiest way to do it. The only ethical issue would be whether the trialist really needs the cash (i.e. trust fund kid) and if the fundraiser beats the goal, what to do with the excess (stay at the W and hit the bars with the Kardashians after the race or keep to a budget and refund the excess).

They undoubtedly have the right and I personally think that is a worthy cause. Don't know that I would donate unless I knew you but some probably would. I've seen grown ass adults start a gofundme account so they could buy a Playstation for God's sake.

So, using gofundme or some other fund raising site would probably be the best to ask for and raise funds.

Funny to see this. My father hates crowdfunding and we got into a big argument over Thanksgiving about it. He is on a few angel investor boards and sometimes they lose promising candidates to crowdfunding. He is always yelling about how the business owners don't know what they are doing by losing the opportunity to work with experienced executives, etc. I give my dad a lot of credit and respect. He was a tremendously successful businessman and is very smart, but a lot of the time these businesses will be tech-related and simply looking for a few million to hire or expand. I get why they might not want to offer shares to old guys who don't understand their business model, but my father and his VC buddies have had a lot of success.

Anyway, my dad was arguing that they ought to have a law against crowdfunding and I basically tore his anti free market argument apart and it made him so mad. That is what the Holidays are all about, thought, right?

I love my dad. He just forgets what it was like to be a guy struggling to chase a dream. I support the OP and if he/she decides to post a link, I will consider donating.

Wannabee wrote:

Hi Letsrunners. Since everyone here is brutally honest, please chime in with your opinions on whether you believe a B-standard OT Marathon qualifier has the right to seek financial support to cover airfare, hotel, and ground travel.

If you believe s/he has the right to get the trip covered, how would s/he go about doing that?

If I'm going to give someone a handout, in general I'd prefer to give it someone who is going hungry.

Why can BQ runners pay for their own trip, while am OTQ runner can't cough up a few grand to pay for a once in a lifetime experience?

Why is there such entitlement these days? Most OTQ runners don't pay for their shoes and seek comped entries. Why can't you sacrifice on a few things and pay your own way for this one race?

Put in a little money back into the sport you love.

Depends. The women's B standard is too easy so if it's a woman I say no. I'd contribute to a man. That standard is fast.

Massagonist wrote:

Depends. The women's B standard is too easy so if it's a woman I say no. I'd contribute to a man. That standard is fast.

The IAAF set their standards to be equal. I'll take their objectivity over the opinion of an anonymous poster.

southernfriedrealist wrote:

Why can BQ runners pay for their own trip, while am OTQ runner can't cough up a few grand to pay for a once in a lifetime experience?

Why is there such entitlement these days? Most OTQ runners don't pay for their shoes and seek comped entries. Why can't you sacrifice on a few things and pay your own way for this one race?

Put in a little money back into the sport you love.

I actually don't disagree with all that you say, but your example of the BQ is not necessary equal in that the percentage of "struggling athletes" pursuing the OT is much higher. Further, especially RIGHT NOW, several OT qualifiers for 2016 found out they have qualified in the past 7 days. You would have a fair point to say they could have been pinching pennies to ensure they had the necessary means to make the trip, but I for one would certainly show more sympathy this year because of the recently amended standard and added participants.

That all being said, I think most of us here would support the struggling runner pursuing his/her dreams, but this wouldn't be Letsrun without the cynical a-hole referencing entitlement and preaching in extremes.

It is fine. I wouldn't have a problem with a hobby jogger raising money to fund going to a local 5K.

not exactly. wrote:

Massagonist wrote:

Depends. The women's B standard is too easy so if it's a woman I say no. I'd contribute to a man. That standard is fast.

The IAAF set their standards to be equal. I'll take their objectivity over the opinion of an anonymous poster.

What's theB standard 2:46? Old men and soccer moms who run 70 miles a week have a 50/50 chance at running this fast

Depending on the circumstances, I would definitely consider donating

Don't see a problem with it if you can't fund it yourself. Nobody's forced to donate. One suggestion, see if local running/shoe stores would be willing to offer some support.

Wannabee wrote:

Hi Letsrunners. Since everyone here is brutally honest, please chime in with your opinions on whether you believe a B-standard OT Marathon qualifier has the right to seek financial support to cover airfare, hotel, and ground travel.

If you believe s/he has the right to get the trip covered, how would s/he go about doing that?

You can't save up ~$1000 over the course of a few months????

I was fortunate enough to qualify a few times with the "A" standard. However, one of my friends didn't. He was not going because of this. Several of us started a fund to get him there. He like the majority of runners at the "almost" great level don't get all that much support. How deep do you think the major shoe companies give support. Many will pick up a few pairs of shoes and perhaps a waived entry fee but they aren't rolling in the bucks. If you know a local runner who has a 2:18 time support or don't support him. It is quite unlikely he is going to drop to 2:10 so it will most likely be a once in a lifetime run for him. As you follow his results you will know that you are a part of his success. It make much more sense than donations to the USOC (in my opinion).

Massagonist wrote:

What's theB standard 2:46? Old men and soccer moms who run 70 miles a week have a 50/50 chance at running this fast

No. It's 2:19 for men and 2:45 for women. A minute per mile difference. If the IAAF says they're equal, that's good enough for me.

I am one of those old men that run over 80 miles a week and I can only dream of hitting a 2:46.

Whether or not they have the right, I think that it's generally pretty tacky, at least if you're just seeking handouts. (Now, if you're raising money by shoveling snow off sidewalks and driveways or providing some other useful service for a reasonable fee, that's a different story.)

Avocado's Number wrote:

Whether or not they have the right, I think that it's generally pretty tacky, at least if you're just seeking handouts. (Now, if you're raising money by shoveling snow off sidewalks and driveways or providing some other useful service for a reasonable fee, that's a different story.)

Why does he need donations? How can an adult not save up a grand or so?

doesn't the USATF provide travel stipends for qualifiers?