"Top" Colorado Runner....

If it works for an Olympic shotputter....

Seriously, most of your local businessmen have NO IDEA what a 39:00 10k means. In fact, a 39:00 10k will still get you an age group award in most races so from a business aspect it's good. "...and in the 30-35 age group we have Bob Builder in 39:00...Bob walks up in his John Deere sponsored uniform".

I was considering a sponsorship from Subway for a while when I was working there through college. Most small local businesses will kill to get decent exposure. Read RWTB, didn't a couple of the guys get a little sponsorship from that cafe they frequented?

Alan

Don't do it! It's a front for a teenage gigolo!

"Hello Everyone,

I am glad that you all think that my attempt to make some money is so amusing. If you all think that I am so pathetic I would like you all to come out for a run with me sometime. You might be faster than me, you might not, I run because it is what I love to do, so I hope that you all had some fun at my half serious attempt to market myself to the world.

thanks,

Ben

P.S. I am serious about running with you guys, anytime anywhere. Unless this is a website populated by former champions and the four or five hundred people in the area that know for sure they can beat me I doubt that you could all earn the right to call me pathetic."

Hmm...

Seeing that I race around here about once every two weeks, including the Evergreen Town race where my pace for 10K was faster than yours for 5K, and have never heard of you winning anything, I'd venture to guess that you might want to tone down the challenges a bit...

Runningart2004 wrote:

I was considering a sponsorship from Subway for a while when I was working there through college. Most small local businesses will kill to get decent exposure.

Subway is a "small local business"?

I'm pretty sure they are franchised so yes his local subway probably is a "small local business"

Somebody already pointed this out, but the listing now says, "The seller ended this listing early because the item was lost or broken."

So, either Ben (aka the Item) is lost -- a distinct possibility -- or got a stress fracture and will not be racing for a while.

it is really too bad he did not get a sponsorship deal from a feminine hygiene company.

The only time I have ever run 39:00 for a 10k was when I was suffering at the end of a marathon.

I have had various sponsorship deals, nothing lucrative except for Full Sail who hooked me up with some beer and a bunch of gear.

Easy_Money wrote:

Oh brother!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-year-sponsorship-for-top-Colorado-Runner_W0QQitemZ5620741564QQcategoryZ102333QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Look up his results from the race on the picture. He ran a 2:02 half.

Are you sure it's not his friend's f-ing with him. Sounds like the kind of pranks my college buddies would pull...haha

Nobody sucks that bad AND advertises it. I did note that the chick next to him looked like my Oprathoner wife.

Time to find a new "competetive" sport my friend.

This dude is gonna be rich! When Nike gets word that they can sponsor this guy they are going to jump all over it! Nike probably thought he was already tied up in a long term contract with somebody else.

Hey kid, stay by the phone! Its going to be blowing up! You better get an agent too!

My problem with it is that there are tons of more deserving runners, starting with many of the women who finished well ahead of this clown when he scored that sub40 10k.

anyone know if this kid has jumped off a bridge yet?

Maybe Balco will pick him up, they are still looking for a few more athletes.

2:02?!?!?!? wrote:

Nobody sucks that bad AND advertises it. I did note that the chick next to him looked like my Oprathoner wife.

Time to find a new "competetive" sport my friend.

I love it.. 'Oprathoner'

Hello All,

I do not understand why all of the general nonsense toward me continues. To the point that some of you are faster than me, yes, I am sure that some of you are much faster than me. To those of you who have said that any business would be crazy to sponsor me, you are wrong seeing as how I have already had two sponsorships, one crappy one with active.com five years ago when I got out of high school and my slow PR did not get me anywhere close to running in college na donce a year and a half ago for the smoothie store I was working at before I graduated from College. If you look at my situation from the point of view of you all, runner types who have been doing this whole running thing for years I am not anything special. I am a run of the mill runner. If you llok at it from the standpoint of a local business, I am someone whose name is going to get read when he wins his age group because all the good 22 year-olds are too hung over or too busy being a real elite runner to go race.

Also, for those of you who say that I am dragging down the sport you are wrong. When only the best of the best of the best get sponsorships, that means that the sport is struggling, if average (compared to you "elite") runners get sponsored that means that the sport is popular enough that there is a lot of money to be passed around.

For Now,

Ben (the guy your all hating n)

-and yes, I am lost and broken

-p.s. It is my wife who is the Mary Kay lady

This space for rent:

$1000 or best offer

If you buy this space, I will mention you company name here everytime I post something. How does "This post brought to you by " sound to you

Reach thousands of Let's Run readers through me...a proven user of the English language. I got an -A in my freshman comp class in college and have a masters degree. Go with me a proven winner!

You're probably new around here, so here is the deal with the letsrun.com message board:

There are a few posters on this board who are indeed elite or who at one time were elite. The vast majority of posters on this board, however, are 16 - 18 minute 5K types who are envious of the elite runners. These runners spend their free time dispensing advice as if they are authorities on running. They also enjoy insulting elite runners whose performances fall short of the expectations set by the public.

Deep down inside, these runners know they suck. It hurts. I mean, imagine that you're a 17:30 5K runner who puts a tremendous amount of energy into insulting Alan Webb because he can't finish in the top 5 at the World Track and Field Championships. These runners must feel like such hypocrites.

Now, you come along. You are someone--who has become something of a temporary public figure because of your ebay posting--who is actually slower than these 16 - 18 minute 5K runners. As you can imagine, these insecure runners are now beside themselves with glee. After years of having to insult runners who are several minutes faster than them, they can now insult a runner who is slower than them. It's like a gift from heaven.

I am not an American Record holder, but I'm faster than 99% of the people who post here. I say: "more power to you." You should be proud of what you've accomplished. If you get some some sponsorship money, then good for you.

nice post and so true.

god i love letsrun.com