Why do races suck > prize money

Non competetive runners bring in the money and the numbers. Why cater to a few good runners, when they are mostly irrelevant in the big picture?

That vanished some 20 years ago.

It was great watching all the road whores going for it week in, week out. Even better being part of it.

Probably because they don't see much of a correlation between prize money offered and however they define "success" for their event. Which is likely at least strongly correlated to number of participants.

The fact is there are very few runners that would draw other participants to an event. Prize money is only going to attract people who think they can win. Very few people start a race thinking they can win.

I think prestige from having a competitive race helps. Slow people like seeing fast people. Fast people like racing fast people - except mo farah. I alluded to this. A good race can steal faster runners from other races in the area.

Race Director in Training wrote:

Is there some aversion to only catering to non-competitive runners?

Based on the rest of your post, no there does not seem to be some aversion to only catering to non-competitive runners.

Why should anyone pay you to do your hobby?

NameStoIenAgain wrote:

That vanished some 20 years ago.

It was great watching all the road whores going for it week in, week out. Even better being part of it.

30 years ago, the "road whores" were locally born and raised up and comers chasing the dream. Then a bunch of 3rd tier East Africans that ran at local colleges started scooping up the prize money. Gardena Auto Parts in the L.A. area, a training group in Covington, KY, some NYC area coaching groups come to mind and that shut local kids out of the money and many just quit racing. After a few years, the token prize money checks started disappearing as race placings started looking like this:

1st - Gideon Kiplagat 14:12 $250

2nd - Thomas Chemeli 14:15 $150

3rd - Julius Kenyatta 14:16 $100

4th - Steve Johnson 17:50

5th - Bill Smith 18:14

6th - David Moore 18: 23 (Masters 40+)

About 20 years ago, races became all about the pre-race fitness/hype festival and the post-race feed. 15 years back, "social cause" and adventure races were the new hotness. In the last decade, events like themed costume and color runs have became all the rage. It's all about being a fun event for the masses and maximizing profits for the RD now.

Race Director in Training wrote:

I think prestige from having a competitive race helps. Slow people like seeing fast people. Fast people like racing fast people - except mo farah. I alluded to this. A good race can steal faster runners from other races in the area.

Maybe for the few top events it matters, but otherwise I'm skeptical of your hypothesis. When I was fast (and broke by the way) things like prize money and running "against" top runners might have mattered. Now it would mean nothing. I'm more likely to run a race based on location and what my friends are doing. And although I know something about running, I would guess that 99% or more of participants can't tell you who won the race or is the favorite to win the race or even who the world record holder is in any distance event. The masses aren't drawn by top end running talent. Pick any large event you want. Look at the finishing times. How many people were even within 1 mile of the winner when they finished? You'd be surprised how little depth there is at any event. People aren't there because they want top competition.

So the kids from the local college shut out the local kids? Why would that be a bad thing?

These are all good responses except no one has rationalized why a race would award first place and shut out all other places. $500 for first place and nothing for a close second or third? I don’t think “fair” is the word, but it’s lame! Maybe $300 for first and you know how the rest goes.

I think $$$ does change it up. A local road race here gives out nominal prize money for age groups and fantastic prizes. The race sells out its 1500 or so spots within a few weeks. The course is boring. Parking is awful. It’s not a convenient location. The entry fee is a little steep. But everyone talks about the prizes. Everyone wants to do it.

The point being that local RDs and sponsors stopped paying out prize money because it was not going to locals. Post collegiate Africans were snagging all of the cash and the sponsor's largesse no longer created feel good press and public relations value.

Were the Africans raising the bar and outcompeting the locals? Yes. Did the local chamber of commerce, auto dealer, or running shop see any value in that? No.

im the op wrote:

These are all good responses except no one has rationalized why a race would award first place and shut out all other places. $500 for first place and nothing for a close second or third? I don’t think “fair” is the word, but it’s lame! Maybe $300 for first and you know how the rest goes.

I think $$$ does change it up. A local road race here gives out nominal prize money for age groups and fantastic prizes. The race sells out its 1500 or so spots within a few weeks. The course is boring. Parking is awful. It’s not a convenient location. The entry fee is a little steep. But everyone talks about the prizes. Everyone wants to do it.

I venture that it is simplicity or a sponsor fronting the cash wants it to go to the winner only. One prize, one winner. I also guess that if you paid three places deep for both men and women, then a bunch of old farts will start whining about the lack of master's money. Then the really old farts will start lobbying for super master's money. Then someone will chime in seeking push chair money. Then the RD says, "No." or "We cannot afford that." and the offended start a boycott campaign and Facebook cancel group.

I think winner only prizes are for publicity as they can put the $500 figure on all of their publicity but if it was 200 150 150 then it wouldn't sound as good to most people.

I agree they should bring prizes back. I have won some really random shii over the years.

Sounds like someone is upset that they're not winning.