Because she was a full time vet school student while running pro. Most pro runners do nothing else besides their training. Besides taking social media photos of their cappuccinos and hanging out. Laura is an anomaly.
Most pro runners are done in their mid to late twenties.
It’s like asking what Starbucks barista’s do after they quit.
I’m guessing they do all kinds of things for the remaining 60 - 70 years of their lives.
On average now Americans will have three "careers" over their working lives. Lots of people are doing something different in their late thirties and early forties than they were doing in their twenties and early thirties. Most of those people did not have careers as professional runners in their twenties or thirties but those who did are not facing a situation that's very different from that of a public school teacher who decides at 29 that he just cannot imagine doing that for another twenty plus years.
Most pro runners are done in their mid to late twenties.
It’s like asking what Starbucks barista’s do after they quit.
I’m guessing they do all kinds of things for the remaining 60 - 70 years of their lives.
Most put all their (growing up) eggs in that one basked. They focused all of their education and efforts on their sport, but their sport (T&F) didn't have the big payoff like the Big 4 sports. They didn't plan on a Plan B. Mid to late twenties is one hell of a time to start thinking about 'what do I do now?'
Most pro runners are done in their mid to late twenties.
It’s like asking what Starbucks barista’s do after they quit.
I’m guessing they do all kinds of things for the remaining 60 - 70 years of their lives.
On average now Americans will have three "careers" over their working lives. Lots of people are doing something different in their late thirties and early forties than they were doing in their twenties and early thirties. Most of those people did not have careers as professional runners in their twenties or thirties but those who did are not facing a situation that's very different from that of a public school teacher who decides at 29 that he just cannot imagine doing that for another twenty plus years.
This was me. Quit teaching at 29. Became a lawyer. Now have own consulting business. Each change was an improvement.
Life’s too long to do the same thing the whole time.
probably not the level of pro you're directing this question at, but i did many of the things suggested in the replies, except for hookers and blow (though i could have been easily tempted if i'd run into a certain wisconsin alumnus in vegas). i am occasionally a lame high school coach (but also occasionally a decent one too), and have taught for the last 28 years.
also in that time i've: crushed the souls of hobby joggers in local road races; periodically dominated masters races; watched my speed devolve into barely elite junior varsity level; maintained sub-5 mile speed and i've run faster than eddie lee on a semi-regular basis; pondered, but never committed to, s#!tting in a compression sock; and posted on letsrun when time permits and/or the spirit moves me...
kyle merber- corporate partnerships/sales before citius mag
sam parsons - track smith/some entrepreneurial efforts
These were some that came to mind that did things outside of coaching/commentating. some type of role where their status/competitive edge is advantageous. Entrepreneurial efforts and sales seems to be common
Now this is an interesting question, and one I have enjoyed reading the answers too. So, I figure I might give a little perspective from the “good-old-days”.
When I got out of school, of course professional running as we understand it now meant something different, and the concept was still in its infancy. I kept running for the track club named after the school, a lot of guys did that, and then moved around a few of the Mass clubs. I was never a “pro” but I was on the scene, was given a lot of shoes and t shirts, and had the chance to race all over without a lot of burden on my finances.
I worked odd jobs while sticking with the game. Another thing you have to understand is the job opportunities just weren’t there during the first running boom, which left so many of us kids wayward. Some of us found purpose in running, others, well, think of a film like “The Warriors” (go pats!)
I was competitive until about the age of 37, but I still registered a few 51 or 52 minute 10 milers into my mid forties, and surprised myself with a late career 30:15. All this to say, we didn’t ever really hit a hard stop, the same goes for guys a lot faster than me, like Bill, who was still racing in the 90s.
But, by the time I was “done”, my wife and I were ready for kids, I was ready for more stability and a feeling of comfort. So in “retirement” I really started my career. And at first it wasn’t all that, I did retail odds and ends, worked at the old pig factory in Waltham, even went back to the gas station I worked at in high school. All in all happy to raise a family, watch Cheers, and go out near Falmouth in the summers.
Finally I decided to try my hand at putting my old degree to use (I hadn’t previously because of confidence issues), but I digress. Thank the good lord I did because now I am winding down that career, and looking at retirement — for real…
Pro or not, keep trying a few years after college.
Now this is an interesting question, and one I have enjoyed reading the answers too. So, I figure I might give a little perspective from the “good-old-days”.
When I got out of school, of course professional running as we understand it now meant something different, and the concept was still in its infancy. I kept running for the track club named after the school, a lot of guys did that, and then moved around a few of the Mass clubs. I was never a “pro” but I was on the scene, was given a lot of shoes and t shirts, and had the chance to race all over without a lot of burden on my finances.
I worked odd jobs while sticking with the game. Another thing you have to understand is the job opportunities just weren’t there during the first running boom, which left so many of us kids wayward. Some of us found purpose in running, others, well, think of a film like “The Warriors” (go pats!)
I was competitive until about the age of 37, but I still registered a few 51 or 52 minute 10 milers into my mid forties, and surprised myself with a late career 30:15. All this to say, we didn’t ever really hit a hard stop, the same goes for guys a lot faster than me, like Bill, who was still racing in the 90s.
But, by the time I was “done”, my wife and I were ready for kids, I was ready for more stability and a feeling of comfort. So in “retirement” I really started my career. And at first it wasn’t all that, I did retail odds and ends, worked at the old pig factory in Waltham, even went back to the gas station I worked at in high school. All in all happy to raise a family, watch Cheers, and go out near Falmouth in the summers.
Finally I decided to try my hand at putting my old degree to use (I hadn’t previously because of confidence issues), but I digress. Thank the good lord I did because now I am winding down that career, and looking at retirement — for real…
Pro or not, keep trying a few years after college.
All the best,
John
Great post and I'm going to make what may be a stupid guess but from your name and some of what you wrote here we may have lived almost next to each other in the very early 80s. I was right next to the Fens then.