-
31
-
u jelly wrote:
100% you got me. Great tune.
11 -
Take Your iPhone for The Gram wrote:
The WMM races are essentially marketing events for the cities that host them. A handful of pros running really fast upfront give them legitimacy as competitions, but the spectacle of hobby joggers coming from all over the globe to "celebrate" is what they care most about. Those folks fill up hotels, restaurants, visit museums, spend money on merch and at local retailers. etc. It's a huge win for the local chamber of commerce and tourism council. Influencers are more important than second tier athletes looking for a fast time because a happy influencer promoting fun, the beautiful fall colors, the energy of the city, etc. brings real money to town the following year. A 2:20 guy seeking an OTQ travels solo, on a tight budget and, if he publicizes his effort, reaches a handful of likeminded people or just his devoted family/friends.
I am not trying to anger anyone with this. It's just reality that the WMM care more for large crowds and spectacle than they do about records and qualifying opportunities. WMM events are basically Rock-N-Roll marathons on 'roids. Stephen Gnoza is correct that influencer meet-ups and shakeouts are just as important as race day for their brands and their followers.
Excellent take, it is obvious the revenue a big race brings to the city. I up-voted the post.
The only comment I would make is that having influencers and catering to the sub-elite trying to hit the Olympic trials standard don't have to be mutually exclusive. These big marathons have the ability to do both.
I generally love these big city marathons (most of which are non-WMMs). I know at work, it is always talked about and brings running into the conversation. The sport needs all the PR it can get.
21 -
LI-Runner wrote:
Take Your iPhone for The Gram wrote:
The WMM races are essentially marketing events for the cities that host them. A handful of pros running really fast upfront give them legitimacy as competitions, but the spectacle of hobby joggers coming from all over the globe to "celebrate" is what they care most about. Those folks fill up hotels, restaurants, visit museums, spend money on merch and at local retailers. etc. It's a huge win for the local chamber of commerce and tourism council. Influencers are more important than second tier athletes looking for a fast time because a happy influencer promoting fun, the beautiful fall colors, the energy of the city, etc. brings real money to town the following year. A 2:20 guy seeking an OTQ travels solo, on a tight budget and, if he publicizes his effort, reaches a handful of likeminded people or just his devoted family/friends.
I am not trying to anger anyone with this. It's just reality that the WMM care more for large crowds and spectacle than they do about records and qualifying opportunities. WMM events are basically Rock-N-Roll marathons on 'roids. Stephen Gnoza is correct that influencer meet-ups and shakeouts are just as important as race day for their brands and their followers.
Excellent take, it is obvious the revenue a big race brings to the city. I up-voted the post.
The only comment I would make is that having influencers and catering to the sub-elite trying to hit the Olympic trials standard don't have to be mutually exclusive. These big marathons have the ability to do both.
I generally love these big city marathons (most of which are non-WMMs). I know at work, it is always talked about and brings running into the conversation. The sport needs all the PR it can get.
But I'm still left wondering how they are getting their entries.
11 -
howaretheygettingin wrote:
1-2 marathons a year wrote:
Are online influencers ruining the World Major Marathons?
I am seeing more and more people on social medias running Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and NYC all in the same calendar year. Are these individuals ruining the aura of these major events? Some people prepare and train their entire life to participate in just one of these events, and then you see these bang average individuals completing 3 or 4 Major Marathons in one calendar year. Seems like they are trying to normalize these huge events. Just my opinion but would like to know if others are frustrated by these online influencers.
You can't just log on and register for any of these marathons like you would a little neighborhood 5K- so how are they getting in?
Also, if you've been paying any attention the past few years, the new kick is that marathons are for everyone! The common folk, non-runners, it's inclusive! Lots of people aren't really runners, they just do marathons. Look at all the coverage and this is who is highlighted. Especially New York.
They might be going through a charity, the $2k+ is just part of 'doing business'. Or maybe the race directors WANT them to run and post?
23 -
LI-Runner wrote:
howaretheygettingin wrote:
You can't just log on and register for any of these marathons like you would a little neighborhood 5K- so how are they getting in?
Also, if you've been paying any attention the past few years, the new kick is that marathons are for everyone! The common folk, non-runners, it's inclusive! Lots of people aren't really runners, they just do marathons. Look at all the coverage and this is who is highlighted. Especially New York.
They might be going through a charity, the $2k+ is just part of 'doing business'. Or maybe the race directors WANT them to run and post?
I surely hope the race directors aren't personally inviting some of these influencers.
32 -
1-2 marathons a year wrote:
I surely hope the race directors aren't personally inviting some of these influencers.
they are. free entry in return for a shared post to their thousands of braindead sheep i mean followers.
91 -
the question is what ISN'T ruined by "influencers" once they latch on to it?
60 -
NotPC wrote:
the question is what ISN'T ruined by "influencers" once they latch on to it?
Influencers are also ruining this generation of high school students. As a HS teacher, it is WILD the power these online influencers have on the youth.
90 -
1-2 marathons a year wrote:
Are online influencers ruining the World Major Marathons?
I am seeing more and more people on social medias running Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and NYC all in the same calendar year. Are these individuals ruining the aura of these major events? Some people prepare and train their entire life to participate in just one of these events, and then you see these bang average individuals completing 3 or 4 Major Marathons in one calendar year. Seems like they are trying to normalize these huge events. Just my opinion but would like to know if others are frustrated by these online influencers.
This is so dumb. Major marathons spend money on advertising to get people to sign up. Getting influencers on board gives them more advertising and more people signing up. More people signing up means more money in the budget, including for the things competitive runners like. Influencers increase the event's aura.
11 -
1-2 marathons a year wrote:
NotPC wrote:
the question is what ISN'T ruined by "influencers" once they latch on to it?
Influencers are also ruining this generation of high school students. As a HS teacher, it is WILD the power these online influencers have on the youth.
we know they ruin:
food/restaurants
races
concerts
beaches
the gym (ANY gym)
what else?
60 -
my 2c wrote:
1-2 marathons a year wrote:
Are online influencers ruining the World Major Marathons?
I am seeing more and more people on social medias running Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and NYC all in the same calendar year. Are these individuals ruining the aura of these major events? Some people prepare and train their entire life to participate in just one of these events, and then you see these bang average individuals completing 3 or 4 Major Marathons in one calendar year. Seems like they are trying to normalize these huge events. Just my opinion but would like to know if others are frustrated by these online influencers.
This is so dumb. Major marathons spend money on advertising to get people to sign up. Getting influencers on board gives them more advertising and more people signing up. More people signing up means more money in the budget, including for the things competitive runners like. Influencers increase the event's aura.
I somewhat agree but also disagree. I think when an influencer runs Boston-Chicago-NYC all in the same year, it makes these GIANT races seem less special. Like I understand training and dedicating your training to ONE WMM, but when you start lining multiple WMM's in a single year, to me, it makes them seem less special.
30 -
my 2c wrote:
This is so dumb. Major marathons spend money on advertising to get people to sign up. Getting influencers on board gives them more advertising and more people signing up. More people signing up means more money in the budget, including for the things competitive runners like. Influencers increase the event's aura.
Marathons have been selling out for many years, long before "influencers" started taking over. If every "influencer" deleted their social media today, the New York City Marathon will still sell out and Boston will still need a cut-time in 2024. They have zero impact on race numbers.
32 -
influencers suck wrote:
my 2c wrote:
This is so dumb. Major marathons spend money on advertising to get people to sign up. Getting influencers on board gives them more advertising and more people signing up. More people signing up means more money in the budget, including for the things competitive runners like. Influencers increase the event's aura.
Marathons have been selling out for many years, long before "influencers" started taking over. If every "influencer" deleted their social media today, the New York City Marathon will still sell out and Boston will still need a cut-time in 2024. They have zero impact on race numbers.
100%
12 -
All of this commentary is dumb. I just want to know when Kofuzi runs a WMM with Matthew Choi -- spreading the power of positivity through yelling and ass slaps, no doubt -- as a pacer, fueling periodically on course by drinking coffee and bobos from Big D-adorned mugs (hey-ooo).
12 -
This is only tangently related but some comments are are kind of annoying
They aren't all terrible, but some people some offended by the idea of races taking things down after the time cutoff. If the race has people who want to stay around all day or enough volunteers to rotate I guess it's cool to keep the finish open for 8 hours, but that still doesn't fix the road closure issue. That's honestly the biggest problem with the insanely slow crowd. If you're cool with the roads opening to traffic and the race organizers want to cater to you, by all means rum extremely slow, but realize that there are logistical issues to it.
That's the article. My stance is that if they're within the advertised cutoff their complaints are legitimate, if not tough crap.
This post was edited 13 minutes after it was posted. Reason provided: Added the article21 -
gidbob wrote:
This is only tangently related but some comments are are kind of annoying
They aren't all terrible, but some people some offended by the idea of races taking things down after the time cutoff. If the race has people who want to stay around all day or enough volunteers to rotate I guess it's cool to keep the finish open for 8 hours, but that still doesn't fix the road closure issue. That's honestly the biggest problem with the insanely slow crowd. If you're cool with the roads opening to traffic and the race organizers want to cater to you, by all means rum extremely slow, but realize that there are logistical issues to it.
That's the article. My stance is that if they're within the advertised cutoff their complaints are legitimate, if not tough crap.
It blows my mind that some people pay hundreds of dollars to sign up for a marathon and walk the entire thing. That is one expensive, LONG walk.
71 -
1-2 marathons a year wrote:
gidbob wrote:
This is only tangently related but some comments are are kind of annoying
They aren't all terrible, but some people some offended by the idea of races taking things down after the time cutoff. If the race has people who want to stay around all day or enough volunteers to rotate I guess it's cool to keep the finish open for 8 hours, but that still doesn't fix the road closure issue. That's honestly the biggest problem with the insanely slow crowd. If you're cool with the roads opening to traffic and the race organizers want to cater to you, by all means rum extremely slow, but realize that there are logistical issues to it.
That's the article. My stance is that if they're within the advertised cutoff their complaints are legitimate, if not tough crap.
It blows my mind that some people pay hundreds of dollars to sign up for a marathon and walk the entire thing. That is one expensive, LONG walk.
That's baffling but then, they get the finisher's medal and don't tell anyone that they walked.
I have a friend with 4 marathons "under her belt" and one was under 6 hours- very high 5 hours. But in her mind (and social media posts) she's as much a marathoner as my other female friend who run sub 2:50.
She even has video if herself walking then, breaking into a sprint at the end and people in awe- How could you have such a kick at the end of a marathon!?
32 -
runn wrote:
1-2 marathons a year wrote:
It blows my mind that some people pay hundreds of dollars to sign up for a marathon and walk the entire thing. That is one expensive, LONG walk.
That's baffling but then, they get the finisher's medal and don't tell anyone that they walked.
I have a friend with 4 marathons "under her belt" and one was under 6 hours- very high 5 hours. But in her mind (and social media posts) she's as much a marathoner as my other female friend who run sub 2:50.
She even has video if herself walking then, breaking into a sprint at the end and people in awe- How could you have such a kick at the end of a marathon!?
I could see someone doing that ONCE. Like congrats you completed a marathon. But to sign up for a 2nd marathon, knowing you will walk 95% of it and it will take you 5-6 hours, like WHO wants to endure that!? Sounds brutal. But I guess congrats, you're a marathoner now.
10 -
gfdgdffds wrote:
1-2 marathons a year wrote:
I surely hope the race directors aren't personally inviting some of these influencers.
they are. free entry in return for a shared post to their thousands of braindead sheep i mean followers.
Free entry plus $500 for flight and one night at a hotel for a bigtime influencer to make a video or two that hits 20k+ interested viewers or multiple IG post that each get 5-10k likes?? That seems like an absolute bargain.
21
What People Are Talking About On LetsRun
No top threads at the moment. Check back soon.