Whoa, whoa. They were not three women who were entered. From what I saw and know, it was three men. One was a top level runner Steve Ariga who won easily in 15:09. The other Kenyan men have run times in the mid-15s. There is a local Kenyan group that has moved here for a temporary stay but that shouldn't have been confusing.
BTW The womens race went to Melissa Cook who ran a fast 16:37 or so on a rolling course.
This was actually a good race in only its 3rd or 4th year.
How is this different from second tier American basketball players to go overseas to play in the Greek or Filipino pro leagues?
They make 1/100th the money of the hotshots, but I bet they love the game more.
No. But $300 is worth rouglhy ~$3,000 Kenyan shillings.... which is enough money to feed a family in Kenya for over half a year. So, yeah, a $300 prize is totally worth it for some of these athletes.
Don't know, did anyone ask the 4 Kenyans in Dallas?
"I've been amazed at how many American runners -- not just the top ones, but also 30-minute 10K runners and worse -- will decide on which races to run based on the prospect of winning a few hundred bucks or less."
Why would this surprise you? If someone is planning on racing a 5k for the weekend, and there are several to choose from, why not take the one where a good run might get some money, a gift certificate, or something else? Usually those races also attract the better fields, so you get good competition as well. Do you want people to avoid any races with prize money, to demonstrate their love of the sport? Seems a bit perverse.
dd wrote:
"I've been amazed at how many American runners -- not just the top ones, but also 30-minute 10K runners and worse -- will decide on which races to run based on the prospect of winning a few hundred bucks or less."
Why would this surprise you? If someone is planning on racing a 5k for the weekend, and there are several to choose from, why not take the one where a good run might get some money, a gift certificate, or something else? Usually those races also attract the better fields, so you get good competition as well. Do you want people to avoid any races with prize money, to demonstrate their love of the sport? Seems a bit perverse.
ZING!
How do the Africans afford to get here? Also, are they overstaying their 6 month visa?
Hayduke wrote:
When I lived in ABQ I lost the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot to a kenyan.
First prize a turkey, I got the cornish hen.
Sounds like he did that race mostly for fun.
Stinking Kenyans!
In the DC are we don't get too many Kenyans but we have a HUGE Ethiopian and Eritrean contingent ( one of the largest populations of Ethiopians outside of Addis Ababba I believe ) and they will definitely come out for any road race with more than about a $100 prize for first place. And they will most certainly do two a weekend if need be. I have no idea what they do for work but I would imagine something fairly stereotypical and not worth mentioning.
I'm nowhere near 14:30 for 5K or 29:30 or 10k which is what these guys run on average but there are a bunch of locals that can compete for the most part.
As for whether they should be getting prize money I don't personally have any problems with it but keep in mind with the Ethiopians these guys aren't even the 3rd tier guys and they clearly weren't talented enough for the track. The kenyans dominate road racing all over the globe so it's no surprise to me to see some loser running a local 5K in 15:30 just to get a couple hundred bucks.. Money is money.
We just had a Kenyan show up for a local 5k race, no pize money, paid his entry ran/won it. He was just visiting in the area and lives about 300 miles away... By the way he was a 22:50 runner at Crazy 8's.... So It does happen. Don't be so negative.
"some loser running a local 5K in 15:30 just to get a couple hundred bucks"
Yeah, what an ass. He runs a race and wins a prize. The nerve of some people. Why doesn't he start watching WWE and work on getting fat, and try to fit in as an American? Stupid people exercising and making a little money off of it...
Jcray,
You could not have written that any more clear. Thanks for the beauty of that statement. Yes, they are human.
Nate
dukerdog wrote:
Hayduke wrote:
When I lived in ABQ I lost the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot to a kenyan.
First prize a turkey, I got the cornish hen.
Sounds like he did that race mostly for fun.
gimmie my god damn turkey!!!!
Hayduke wrote:
dukerdog wrote:Hayduke wrote:
When I lived in ABQ I lost the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot to a kenyan.
First prize a turkey, I got the cornish hen.
Sounds like he did that race mostly for fun.
gimmie my god damn turkey!!!!
Just remember that a US turkey is the equivalent of about 10 turkeys to a Kenyan.
The work in transportation, I'd guess.
Digital wrote:
In the DC are we don't get too many Kenyans but we have a HUGE Ethiopian and Eritrean contingent ( one of the largest populations of Ethiopians outside of Addis Ababba I believe ) and they will definitely come out for any road race with more than about a $100 prize for first place. And they will most certainly do two a weekend if need be. I have no idea what they do for work but I would imagine something fairly stereotypical and not worth mentioning.
I'm nowhere near 14:30 for 5K or 29:30 or 10k which is what these guys run on average but there are a bunch of locals that can compete for the most part.
As for whether they should be getting prize money I don't personally have any problems with it but keep in mind with the Ethiopians these guys aren't even the 3rd tier guys and they clearly weren't talented enough for the track. The kenyans dominate road racing all over the globe so it's no surprise to me to see some loser running a local 5K in 15:30 just to get a couple hundred bucks.. Money is money.
The greatest thing about Abq. While working as a busboy at Shoney's cleaned up Morceli's table(he eats just like us). Raced Joseph Thugwine over 8k(i finished about 7k behind him), meet Aouita at blockbuster video...he seems as sleazy in person as he does on video, drove a group of kenyans in my vw van to the thrift store, did repeat 1k's with pat porter, and long runs with carol zajac. It was an odd few years. oh yea, gimmie my god damn turkey!
You must mean Josiah Thugwane.
Many of these african runners have been banned from international competition because of drugs and so they have to run road races, often under fake names to collect some money. Often these guys are very fast and you can't understand why they're racing for such little $$$. Mainly because they aren't getting tested.
Charlie Murphy wrote:
You must mean Josiah Thugwane.
no no this one was definitely drinking wine.