Prize: Keg Coupon
Race: 5k
Time: 15:43
Threw an epic party a month or two later and only remember parts of it.
Prize: Keg Coupon
Race: 5k
Time: 15:43
Threw an epic party a month or two later and only remember parts of it.
Prize: $200
Race: 1 mile
Time: Too embarrassed to say (I won the Grand Master division).
I won a series held in Washington DC. Prizes were an airline ticket, $1000 at an electronics store, 1 year membership to a health club, and a bunch of restaurant coupons. Total value of everything was probably $3000. I think there were 7 races and they scored 5.
I won a TV.
Don't remember the distance or the time. I only entered because first place got a TV and I didn't have one.
I won $2000 for placing 8th (female) at the 1992 Pittsburgh Marathon in something like 2:52. Knowing how much prize money was offered, I had expected a strong field and I was astonished to finish that high.
Funny addendum: as I was coming through the last few miles, doing OK but really tired, spectators started telling me where I was in the race: "You're 8th woman!" "Number 8 female!". Then one of them yelled "and 7th is just ahead!" I looked up and indeed I could pick out another woman not too far in front of me. I knew that 8th place was worth $2K and 7th place was $3K. I thought about it for a moment and decided it wasn't worth $1K to turn myself inside out trying to catch her. I tucked in and proceeded to my 8th-place finish at a steady pace.
If there had been any doubt in my mind before that I lacked the "killer instinct" as a competitor, that race removed it.
There used to be pretty great prizes and entry fees were low. Now there are junk prizes and high entry fees.
My best prize was $10,000 a year for fifty years, a Rolex and a Jeep Cherokee at a race in Vegas, 1985. At that race, every participant was given a computer and some other swag that I don't recall.
Another good one was winning a trip for two to the NYC Marathon. Austin - about 1981.
Prize $10,000 USD. Won the North Face 50-mile ultra trail champs in CA.
oldie wrote:
There used to be pretty great prizes and entry fees were low. Now there are junk prizes and high entry fees.
My best prize was $10,000 a year for fifty years, a Rolex and a Jeep Cherokee at a race in Vegas, 1985. At that race, every participant was given a computer and some other swag that I don't recall.
The name Kaypro comes to mind? Anyhow great prize. Didn’t they take runners from each state?
Won a pound of pork chops at a 5k in the early 80s for getting 2nd in my age group. Tried to trade the 3rd place guy for his pound of bologna but he wouldn't go for it. My buddy and I could have gotten some bread and ate the bologna on the 90 minute drive home.
Probably ran around 16:30.
I won a case of Muscle Milk once.
Don’t remember the race or the time, but I remember those 24 little bottles of protein goodness.
oldie wrote: best prize was $10,000 a year for fifty years, a Rolex and a Jeep Cherokee at a race in Vegas, 1985. At that race, every participant was given a computer and some other swag that I don't recall.
10k x 50 is far higher than winning Boston today. Huge lie. Don’t believe.
Boston didn't even pay that much back then.
I tried looking it up and it is true. See page 15 of this old club newsletter from 1985. https://www.striders.net/wp-content/uploads/public-archive/newsletter/1985/Footprints_April_1985.pdf He or she is accurate about their prize. You wouldn’t forget winning this and no pros were allowed.
The Vegas race was legit. My training partner got the nod as I was not eligible. Something about being pro or competing varsity level in college recently. I inherited his POS computer few years later.
My best win with bling was a CR 5k in 16:05. Won 50 bucks to use with downtown merchants. Bought a iron and ironing board and a fan. I have won more $ in races but I had I just moved out of the house and I still have that ironing board.
$500 + 2 free southwest airline tickets. Took wife to Boulder Co. In August 1992.
Takara Cable Car Chase in SF, twice
Week long trip to Japan to run sister city 10k there
This reallt wasn't the BEST prize but the timing was awesome:
I used to eat dry toast before a race. Race morning my toaster broke!
5K, don't remember the time it was like 35 years ago, my prize? A toaster!!!
I had a choice between a toaster and a hanging plant.
Won $1500 for 5th place at a marathon in Virginia Beach. Walked three times in the last 10k (water stop had only that and nothing else the last 10k despite Gatorade the first 30k and barely beat the first woman...2:45+....swore it would be my last marathon and it was (17 years ago)
Won a trail 5k in low 16’s. Prize was an apple pie from a local bakery. My parents and sister ate it without me that evening while I did a 2nd run.
3rd place in my age group at the Arturo Barrios 10k, and picked up a small duffel bag.
I was a good runner overall, but competition is fierce in California, and the prizes for most races weren’t that good when I was competing hard.
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