How do pro runners survive?

Im not a pro but I live like one, i train full time 2x a day and put in a lot of miles and all the extras.

I work 20 hours a week in retail making $14 an hour

I sell weed and pills which adds $200 - $300 a week to that.

I support myself pretty well in my honest opinion. 20 hours a week doesn't

Take from my training and weed sells itself.

The secret is living inexpensively. (spending very little).

Sharing a house or apartment with others, hopefully other runners.

Having a part time job on the side.

Buying inexpensive clothing and basic food.

Not spending a lot on entertainment, relationships, etc.

Sleeping with friends, on floors/couches in a car when traveling to race. Driving old cheap cars.

There are very few true successful pro runners who actually live well and make enough real money in the sport to live a semi "normal" lifestyle.

There are some pros who get most of their income from running but have other jobs to support themselves.

There are some semi-pro runners who make a little here and there. But most of their income comes from non-running sources.

There are many more pro want-a-be types who are making the commitment, living the lifestyle, training hard and hoping to improve enough to get a real contract, win significant prize money and become a real pro. They might win a little money or obtain enough free gear every once in a while to continue to fuel their dream.

There were some years when race winnings and sponsorships formed the majority of my (meager) income. So I could claim to be a pro runner, but would never do so. I survived and was reasonably happy living very frugally, simply and chasing the dream. Some of those years I ran more miles than I made in dollars. Do the math...(this is harder to do now with inflation).

THIS.

Why do people think you need so much money to survive? You can live easily off 20K a year if you're very frugal with your money and don't blow it on stupid stuff you don't need.

As far as the lower tier pros who aren't making a lot of money from the sport, I don't feel too bad for them. Relative to other sports, running does not take a ton of your time. You can easily work 20-40 hours a week to pay the bills and still have time to train full time. As a high school or college student you were successful going to class full time, so is 30 hours a week at a job any different?

Now if you're in a very competitive field like a lawyer or engineer with long 60 (or more) hour work weeks, then your job is probably going to prevent you from training at your best.

When I was running I made 12 to 20k per year. Some years I supplemented this with 20 to 30 hours a week at a running store and $400 a month for a assistant coaching position. I lived in a rented basement room. Grew up poor so the lifestyle was if anything easier just because I only had to worry about me and I knew if the going got real tough I could go get a real job. In retrospect I wish I had gone into nursing as there are a ton of well paying part time jobs and it would have been amazing to make $30 or more an hour instead of the $10 I was making at the store for the same 20 to 30 a week. The biggest issue with the USA second tier training like this isn't the day to day but what happens when something goes wrong. A small injury that would be a bump in the road for an insured higher up the totem poll runner is a career ender. Injury ended my career but honestly I wasn't going to win an Olympic Medal. That said I personally ran with and met more than one athlete who I believe was on the road to being at least world class, sub 13' sub 27' sub 1:01, sub 2:07 who never broke through because injuries they couldn't afford to fix got in the way. If USATF or someone could come up with an insurance for say everyone ranked in the top 25 or top 30 in the USA it would be a game changer, imho. It would be expensive but if you set it up like the AARP where regular members can buy in and than get the insurance for the athletes more as a sponsorship it could work. This would be HUGE. Not just in distance running but in the non-glam events where there are medals to be won but no money to be made. Think throws, jumps, heck even the walks.

If you have to do a day job at all, then you are NOT a professional.

Otherwise Joe Bloggs who works a 9-5 in IT, and has won £100 at a race once, is also a "professional"

GROW UP

GROW UP

GROW UP

You're shaming yourself and your parents who likely provided an education for you by chasing some pipe dream. The incredible narcissism shown by these "athletes" in their 20-30s is preposterous. The worst is when these marginal talents have a blog talking about their "dreams" as if they're going to some how make it to the Olympic Final. You think you're gonna compete with the Africans, who are superior to you in every way? Puhlease.

The bleak and unmentioned reality is the second-third tier "professionals" are scared of doing anything else, because it's all they gave a sh!t about in college. They justify it after the fact by saying it's "what they love to do" and that "it's not about the money."

BS. Grow up, put your big boy and girl pants on, and become a productive member of society.

Peter Budaj wrote:

GROW UP

GROW UP

GROW UP

...

You've got to be kidding. Not to sound cliche, but You only Live Once, and it's all about experiencing life and getting the most out of your talents while you have them. Nothing can replace the joy and excitement of traveling the country and world and running through the streets/mountains, all the people you meet, and the lives you impact. Even the low points, sweat and tears, and frustrations make it all worth it. I'm sorry you never got to experience this, but don't be envious and demeaning of those who have the ability (even if modest) and are enjoying life to the fullest.

Peter Budaj wrote:

GROW UP

GROW UP

GROW UP

You're shaming yourself and your parents who likely provided an education for you by chasing some pipe dream. The incredible narcissism shown by these "athletes" in their 20-30s is preposterous. The worst is when these marginal talents have a blog talking about their "dreams" as if they're going to some how make it to the Olympic Final. You think you're gonna compete with the Africans, who are superior to you in every way? Puhlease.

The bleak and unmentioned reality is the second-third tier "professionals" are scared of doing anything else, because it's all they gave a sh!t about in college. They justify it after the fact by saying it's "what they love to do" and that "it's not about the money."

BS. Grow up, put your big boy and girl pants on, and become a productive member of society.

someone's bitter

Peter Budaj wrote:

GROW UP

GROW UP

GROW UP

You're shaming yourself and your parents who likely provided an education for you by chasing some pipe dream. The incredible narcissism shown by these "athletes" in their 20-30s is preposterous. The worst is when these marginal talents have a blog talking about their "dreams" as if they're going to some how make it to the Olympic Final. You think you're gonna compete with the Africans, who are superior to you in every way? Puhlease.

The bleak and unmentioned reality is the second-third tier "professionals" are scared of doing anything else, because it's all they gave a sh!t about in college. They justify it after the fact by saying it's "what they love to do" and that "it's not about the money."

BS. Grow up, put your big boy and girl pants on, and become a productive member of society.

Geez man, you must be fun at parties. I think it is refreshing to see these kids chasing their dreams and not conforming. It is easy to give in to societies pressures and settle for a desk job and mediocrity. These kids want more, they are fighting a good fight and following their passion. Good on em'.

Tike wrote:

Selling drugs

I'm impressed you pulled in 32k as a 28 mid guy. How did you do that?Was most of it from the shoe store? If you work 25 hours a week at $15 an hour, that's basically 20k. I guess I could see a few k in winnings and a grant?How does it work.I made around 32,000 USD last year after grants.

Gojall out wrote:

I can't have a full-time coach because I can't afford it.

We'll coach you for free. JK's got too much free time on his hands now that I"m not at Cornell.

Ask Frank and Bill.

douglas burke wrote:

top stars the level of .... Meseret Defar, Tirunesh Dibaba etc.can get 10-50k for appearance money,

so they do okay.

Is there any justifiable reason why a 14-XX 5k runner should be paid 10-50k in appearance money??

performance related pay wrote:

douglas burke wrote:

top stars the level of .... Meseret Defar, Tirunesh Dibaba etc.can get 10-50k for appearance money,

so they do okay.

Is there any justifiable reason why a 14-XX 5k runner should be paid 10-50k in appearance money??

that's a pretty impressive time...if you're a girl

I wonder if USATF ever tried to set a group insurance plan for members, at least to help cover costs of running-related injuries.

parents' dime wrote:

many of them also have rich parents. i think that's key.

I know Hasays parents are in the dough.

DedicatedRunner wrote:

nj wrote:

If USATF or someone could come up with an insurance for say everyone ranked in the top 25 or top 30 in the USA it would be a game changer, imho. It would be expensive but if you set it up like the AARP where regular members can buy in and than get the insurance for the athletes more as a sponsorship it could work. This would be HUGE. Not just in distance running but in the non-glam events where there are medals to be won but no money to be made. Think throws, jumps, heck even the walks.

I wonder if USATF ever tried to set a group insurance plan for members, at least to help cover costs of running-related injuries.

USATF's insurance for members:

If you're basically an Olympian/top 2 in your event (who probably don't need it cause they can afford it outright), USATF covers insurance:

I recall Amy

"Pro" runners live very cheaply.

Anyone remember this:

http://www.letsrun.com/2002/survivor.php

5 guys in a one bedroom apartment.

Those were the days.

Steve Prefontaine lived on food stamps. While I don't condone that for a young, super-healthy man, it really is hard to work and make decent living while running, even today without the AAU controlling everything.