It always has been. In the early 1900s people thought you would die if you ran too fast. Running events had the same attraction that Red Bull events do now.Then it became about the spectacle of a world record. People would flock to the stadium to see a new world record. The Olympics did help it stay a legitimate, competitive sport for a while but then people got bored and turned to other stuff. Now, the only time our sport is in the spotlight is when someone does something gimmicky. Grandma runs a hundred meters? check. Run a mile drinking beer? check. Run across the country?check. Run a marathon dressed like a caveman? check. Have an attempt for a sub-2hr marathon on a F1 race track with your new fancy shoes? check. And as ridiculous as all these things are, even the best 5k field in the world would receive less attention.