Research mathematician. Think about proving theorems during long runs.
Research mathematician. Think about proving theorems during long runs.
Software developer, dentist, PA, engineer, physician, lawyer, vet, financial advisor, etc.
It turns out that the best jobs for sub-elite runners are exactly the same as the best jobs for any person.
Sinecure.
Any admin job in higher ed. I actually worked in purchasing/accounting for a NESCAC school for about a year. Super flexible. Got my work done in 20 hours, and spent the other 20 just goofing around. I also had access to the training facilities (including an indoor track). The work environment was super chill. I could go for a run mid-day and nobody cared. It was actually encouraged.
I actually left because I was bored. It was a dead end position and too slow for me. But I was able to fit in a lot of miles and still have a ton of time at home. 5 weeks vacation. OK salary. Great benefits.
Now I do sales (went back to it after doing finance for a while) and it's much more fulfilling, but more hours. To each their own. But if you want something easy and not stressful, go to higher ed.
Assistant coach in either high school-college if possible.
Cashier at supermarket where you have an adjustable chair: you can also stand up when you need to.
Deliver/mail man
Post office
Salesman
Middle- high school PE teacher
Large retail call centers (Walmart, sams club etc)
Large retail return service center
Get a real job before your college degree becomes worthless. If you are passionate about running, you will maintain it. Don't waste your chance to make a good living in life for optimal running. I know plenty of dudes whom have worked real jobs and done really well on the running scene. I've known doctors with their own practices with many kids that still managed to pull sub 2:20 marathons. If you want the running to be a part of your life it will, but you may have to sacrifice some other leisure activities to make both running and work work.
anything that is remote is good... or any local gov job that has leave and holidays off for your travel, not too stressful, and good benefits
what do you even mean by subelite runner?
folks just to clarify I am not interested in postponing my career/"real life" to pursue sub-elite running, nor am I suggesting that anybody do that.
in my opinion, some examples of sub-elite would be marathon OTQ but not a real contender to make the team or maybe like a 15:00/31:00ish local road racer, but we can go back and forth all day on those semantics and tbh I am not even at that level.
basically I seem to be more tired than usual as a result of standing for 6-8 hours at a time, and found myself wondering "would the same person train better or worse working as an accountant vs a bartender vs a lumberjack etc," and I also was curious if certain full-time jobs happen to be more common among the OTQ types described above
If you're a "sub elite," I assume you're not making much (if any!) money running. Your career should be your priority and focus on that - it'll pay off long term when you're "competitive days" are over. If you're young, just out of school, and have very few family/social obligations, you should be able to fit in plenty of time to train around your work. Plenty of runners have full time, focused careers and are national class/Olympic Trials qualifiers. There is no reason you can't manage your time, too. Also, if you're a dude, women won't care about your road 5k time if you're being a running bum and working part time so you can train to win your local turkey trot or to get 70th at the Chicago Marathon or CIM. Time to grow up!!
Many, have full time jobs and qualify for Olympics and other major Games. If you have the desire - you’ll make it happen working full time
A real job.
I have worked in jobs where I both sat almost 100% of the time and where I’ve been on my feet 100% of the time. In my experience it is actually better for training to be up and moving most of the day, as long as you only do moderate labor/lifting. Hours of sitting and being sedentary all day are bad for circulation.
Running is the least time consuming sport at the top level. You are lookin at a max of 2 hours a day, maybe longer on the weekend.
I was never that good but ran a 2:32 marathon, routinely hit a max of 120-140 miles a week, working 40-50 hours a week.
Alan
Joe Lemay was always my blue collar hero. Dude put in some miles...
https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20841682/working-stiff/
Alan
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Door dash
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1:49.84 - 800m Freshmen National Record - Cooper Lutkenhaus (check this kick out!!)
Men who run twice a day and the women who love/put up with them
Jakob on Oly 1500- “Walk in the park if I don’t get injured or sick”
VALBY has graduated (w/ honors) from Florida, will she go to grad school??
Emma Coburn to miss Olympic Trials after breaking ankle in Suzhou