A lot of these performances are really not "pathetic" in the absolute sense, but we should qualify things instead by saying that running an 18:00 5K ( which is not a BAD performance if someone has trained hard and raced hard for that result) and receiving well over $100 for such a run is mildly shocking.
I won a 27" TV for a 32:56. (Worthy about $250)
I got $25 million for laying an egg in the playoffs against Anaheim last week.
I won a 1 year gym membership at a very nice gym for running a 18:10 5k. I won by almost 2 minutes.
$500 for a 36:08 10k
$500 for a 60:30 15k *masters
didn't stop me from spending it.
$250 for a 43:02 10K.
$25 for 18:30.
I won $50 at this year's Knoxville Marathon (3:01:05) as the 5th place Master. In reality, I was 6th Master but the guy who was 5th overall was also 1st Master, which pushed me back to 6th. But the race officials didn't catch it until after the awards. I offered to return the $$$ and the plaque but they declined my offer.
I still feel funky about the placing thing but NOT the scratch!
Fat Old Man wrote:
$1500 for 2;39 at last year's T.O. marathon. $1000 for masters, $500 for 2nd Canuck. Joseph Kamau, who ran about 20 minutes faster than me, made something like $700. Didn't seem fair. I kept my money, though. Incidentally, the winner, a Mexican runner, made $25,000 for barely breaking 2:17. He hated the course and the weather, and indicated that he wouldn't come back, although where can you run 2:17 and make $25,000?
You could be a multi-millionare if you were a woman.
Last weekend a 10K offered $200 to men's and women's winners. About 25 people showed up. I ran 39:21, a minute behind the winner. The girl ran 51:??. So a 38:21 and 51:?? each took home $200.
Good lord, where are these races? I've run 33:13 for 10K and 15:48 for 5K and I've never come close to winning any money.
Hedgehog wrote:
Last weekend a 10K offered $200 to men's and women's winners. About 25 people showed up. I ran 39:21, a minute behind the winner. The girl ran 51:??. So a 38:21 and 51:?? each took home $200.
100 for a 29:30 8k when I was in about 26:30 shape. I felt like a theif taking their money.
Later about 50 in gift certificates for a 17:00 5k.
Having sex with fat black chic. 150.
I like the rivalry gals!
I recently won a trip for two to Mexico for a 23:30 7K (yes 7K). Its the only thing I've ever won in a road race, other than six pairs of socks and a fruit basket. I was pretty stoked.
$250 for a 2:46:23 Marathon...and I got second..:) First place and $500 went to a 2:39. Of course it was in June, hot and humid in South Bend, IN, but still...2 freaking 46.
Alan
$50 for a 35:50 10K. I almost felt bad taking the money.
$500+ gold watch for a 17:25 which was second overall to the women's winner of 17:01. Embarrassed, I tried to leave not knowing the unadvertised award, but my wife made me stay to avoid being rude to the organizers.
$300 for a 5:25 mile (placing 2nd). I'm a guy.
* the first guy took home $500 for his 5:17