The road race scene would become competitive if every race offered $500 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place

Move to nyc

you'd get the best local runners to show up with that kind of money but you wouldn't draw elites

No shirts, no post race party, no prizes for age group winners. Winners (m and f) get 150-200 dollars. Everyone else gets a recorded time on a measured course. Five dollar entry fee.

Because it would bring carfuls of Africans and international athletes who take the money and bring nothing to the event. Total waste of money. Been glad to see more and more races dropping their prize money. Would rather see races invest in actually paying local or national athletes up front to come in, talk to schools, expo, etc..

Spot on. I've seen carloads of Africans make the trip up from Albuquerque, CO Springs, etc. to Denver for $250, $100, $50. $150 first prize in Boulder will bring out more World Champions and Olympians than an Olympic final.

do it right wrote:

Because it would bring carfuls of Africans and international athletes who take the money and bring nothing to the event. Total waste of money. Been glad to see more and more races dropping their prize money. Would rather see races invest in actually paying local or national athletes up front to come in, talk to schools, expo, etc..

I agree but would also offer same for females.

Back in the early 90's I ran 23:37 for 8k for 7th place in quality field but the winner I think was Fox who had to run 23:01 for $500. The next year they upped it to $1k and a Kenyan runs 22:07??? and there were 10 of them in the race!

In 4 years as a somewhat elite runner who chased money I refused to run any road race that didn't offer prize money. I was still a starving student and every $$$$ counted.

coahc wrote:

I agree but would also offer same for females.

Why? Aren't they racing in the same race?

I don't really understand why runners expect to get paid for their hobby. I have a few hobbies, and none of them pay me anything. That's what makes them hobbies.

I like to sail. I like to travel. I like to eat good food. I like to go on walks with my dog. Not once have I been engaged in any of these activities and suddenly thought "man, someone should really be paying me for this." Same applies to running.

Jamin...you would finally score.

Yea unfortunately your views are what makes the sport of distance running so hard. It is one of the few sports that you can show up to on a weekend and be in a race with Olympians.

Trying to make any money in sport is difficult without sponsorship or prize money or both.

As a sailor how often do you get to go in a regatta against Olympians or anyone remotely at the top of their sport?

I was a race director - all this would do is ensure the local B-team Kenyans would be substantially more busy.

By the way, I'm talking about $500/$250 overall, not per gender.

coahc wrote:

I agree but would also offer same for females.

Why are you implying there are only genders?

Bad idea, then I wouldn't be able to podium in local races anymore ?

jamin wrote:

coahc wrote:

I agree but would also offer same for females.

Why? Aren't they racing in the same race?

1) Most race organizers don’t care about making the race more competitive so your premise is garbage regardless. I mean... road races are mostly local turkey trots/4th of July/fundraisers.

2) Because women’s running should be promoted too you idiot.

Or you could just go to the races that actually offer prize money like Bloomsday... that is if you can run like 4:40 pace for 12k.

Race directors are making money now. In my area, back in the 80's/90's when I was in my best years local races had 80-150 people. A large race had 200.

I was always top 5. Awards (usually not cash but often merchandise or gift cards) were often top 3-5 overall plus top 3 in 5 or 10 year age groups. Even if they were just ribbons/medals/trophies they were handed out.

Now, the local races get 400-800 as small race is 200. Awards are usually not listed in the entry blank and they are often limited- almost always 10 year age groups and top 1-3 at most and maybe top 3 overall.

Most people don't care because they're not going to win an award anyway.

I have a basement full of awards, I really don't care, but it's the idea- now it's the tshirt or finisher's medal that matter.

Because slow people don't feel welcome in a competetive environment. So even if the prize money came from thin air they could not be sure that it would bring more profit.

If they had an extra $1000 in the budget, I'd rather that go for more porta potties. Pretty sure that would make a much bigger difference to the majority of the field, than a few hundred bucks going to some random skinny person at the front no one cares about.

hobby? wrote:

Yea unfortunately your views are what makes the sport of distance running so hard. It is one of the few sports that you can show up to on a weekend and be in a race with Olympians.

Trying to make any money in sport is difficult without sponsorship or prize money or both.

As a sailor how often do you get to go in a regatta against Olympians or anyone remotely at the top of their sport?

Are you trying to say that Galen Rupp is going to start showing up at my local 5K if they offer $500? If your goal is to race against Olympians, I don't think Jamin's proposal is really sufficient to change the status quo one way or the other.