Counter argument to this......................I know several people who are 4-5 hour marathoners. They train, buy shoes, gear, etc just like a 2:30 guy. But the 4-5 hour guys have NO idea who is winning Boston, NY, the Olympics - they don't follow the sport. Your typical hobbyjogger that's running the local 5K does not follow "professional" running. I'd argue most don't even know that it's a thing.
Why would you sponsor a 2:10 guy when 99% of your target market has no idea who Kipchoge is? Or Rupp is? They have no idea - and don't care - what shoes the 2:10 guy, or even Kipchoge is wearing.
They don't train "just like a 2:30 guy"
Knock that crap off
Found the hobby jogging 2:30 guy.................trust me bro, these 4 hour thoners train, and most importantly - BUY ALOT of shoes and gear
I know how many walkers buy running shoes and I know that they care 0% about elite runners.
Does your store have plated racing flats? Which ones? Why?
If so, are you sure the elite runners that run in those shoes have 0% effect on why they are in your store? Did those runners help the product developers make those shoes better? Jarred Ward has certainly played a role in testing Saucony’s shoes. It’s well documented.
And if not your store. What about the 600 other stores?
it really doesn’t take much to pay for Jarred Ward’s contract. If Jarred pushed the needle for 20 or so stores around the world to carry a size run of his shoes and then fill in as they sell. It goes a long way to pay for his work. And Jarred gets paid quite a bit more than most pros.
Good time to re-up this thread. I saw Merber with a short article on Citius that 68% of athletes going to USA's are not sponsored. He made the same point I made when I started this thread that sponsoring an athlete is not charity! It's about selling products and making money.
Again, I find it astonishing when I see people complaining that so and so is not sponsored yet..."how dare they not sponsor this person".
I love this sport and wish everyone could make millions. However, you don't get sponsored just for being good in a sport. You get sponsored for being good and creating brand awareness by the millions of people that follow you. Track and Field is not football. If you want to be sponsored, you need to create popularity around yourself! Hell, I run a 4:30 mile at my old age...and if I could get a Youtube channel going with thousands of followers on my old man running abilities/training tactics, these shoes companies would have more intrigue in sponsoring me vs. most of the professionals.