This is true about influencers vs pros. I frankly don’t know any Saucony pros except Jared Ward but I buy their shoes because influencer reviews comment on them.
On the other hand, Kiptum and Kipchoge make me want to get an Alphafly.
I think these sponsors who dropped Joey made a mistake. Joey was the epitome of a grinder who patiently worked his way down to some legitimate steeple times. He was very very consistent in 2024. An inspiration to those who paid attention to his progress. I hope he does find a way to keep running professionally, as he obviously has talent. I was looking forward to seeing him running 8:15 or faster in 2025. Damm.
What are we talking about here? The guy is no where close to the level you need to be to be a professional runner. You can’t say you’re looking to see someone go sub 8:15 and also say they should be sponsored
If you don’t know anything about marketing, hire someone who does.
Good principle, but Joey was making like 2k from his contract. That's not hiring people money. His sponsor should have found a way to market his image or racing to benefit from the contract - but they prob have so many more signed athletes that it was an afterthought.
if you get paid $2K a year (taking into account cost of living and exchange rate that's like £800) then it's hardly worth worrying about it. You can earn £800 a year working just one day as a consultant.
Also you cannot call yourself a pro runner if you're earning a few quid a year. Otherwise I'm a Pro runner for winning £50 at the Horsell Common 10k.
if you get paid $2K a year (taking into account cost of living and exchange rate that's like £800) then it's hardly worth worrying about it. You can earn £800 a year working just one day as a consultant.
Also you cannot call yourself a pro runner if you're earning a few quid a year. Otherwise I'm a Pro runner for winning £50 at the Horsell Common 10k.
These are the lies people tell themselves to justify to their families and those surrounding them why they are dicking around in that Peter Pan life. Quite common in that town, see also: triathletes, cyclists. "Sub-elite" is another one. It's funny that he spent so much verbiage on affiliate programs (we already know those are worthless) yet glosses over what people would really want to know about: why leave the training group that got you this far? The whole "mutual decision/feeling" about moving in different directions isn't transparent at all. It isn't like TME is running out of space at the track for all their membership showing up to workouts.
Kofuzi is about the only influencer who can influence the shoes his viewers buy.
Maybe for the US market, but Ben Parkes has got the UK/Australian market covered. More subscribers than Kofuzi, too.
Yeah. Kofuzi is a complete sellout. He's literally bought and paid for by sponsors. His reviews are worthless to me. Same with Believe in the Run. They are just a marketing extension from whatever brand is paying them. Their social media should be boycotted. Ben Parkes buys every pair of shoes he reviews and is worth the views.
As for Joey, if he was being paid to market product, he did a very poor job. $2400 is worth a good chunk of hours of actualwork. He created negative value for his sponsor by not pushing sales. Of course he was dropped.
I personally hate that this is the current financial model "pro" runners are saddled with. I hope Joey and others like him can find a way to keep chasing their dreams without being destitute.
Good for them for trying all these years. It bet it was a lot of fun. If they loved it, then what's the harm?
But I don't think I could name one runner from that team besides Drew Hunter. I guess I also know Parsons but I thought he left the team and moved to Germany...
That is all you need to know about Tinman. I "follow the sport" but Tinman is just not a player on the running side of things. I don't care about social media or supplements or the B-league, so it makes sense that I have never heard of any of their guys.
This webpage shocked me because it is almost like a "parody" of a pro team:
If you don’t know anything about marketing, hire someone who does.
Good principle, but Joey was making like 2k from his contract. That's not hiring people money. His sponsor should have found a way to market his image or racing to benefit from the contract - but they prob have so many more signed athletes that it was an afterthought.
Does he not have an agent? Regardless, $2000 does not make exactly mean you are a professional athlete. If he wants this to be 100% his professional career, he's going to need to either run faster or learn additional skills in branding and social media marketing. Neither of these is the responsibility of the sponsor.
This is kind of a bummer, actually. I've followed Joey on Instagram for years now and I've always enjoyed watching him race and seeing his updates, both good and bad.
I know a lot of people on here call not-quite-elite guys who spend their 20's chasing their running dreams "peter pan types" but I like seeing a guy who is willing to dream the impossible dream. Joey is a down to earth guy and an honest worker. I hope he gets a break here soon.
In the words of Amby Burfoot (and more directly, Man of La Mancha); to dream the impossible dream. to fight the impossible foe. to bear with unbearable sorrow: to run where the brave dare not go.
It's not really clear to me why any brand would give money to someone when there are 50 D1 athletes who ran faster than this person's 5k PR, at indoors, this year. The upside to your dollars spent is clearly with the younger kids.
It's not really clear to me why any brand would give money to someone when there are 50 D1 athletes who ran faster than this person's 5k PR, at indoors, this year. The upside to your dollars spent is clearly with the younger kids.