Support for Sub-elite/Unsponsored runners?

It's sad that these boards used to be the kind of place you could come for info like this... what happened to being a knowledge base and resource? now a days only the juicy, hurtful, gossipy threads get responses

Come on Lets Run, be better, help out a fellow runner!

miss the old boards wrote:

It's sad that these boards used to be the kind of place you could come for info like this... what happened to being a knowledge base and resource? now a days only the juicy, hurtful, gossipy threads get responses

Come on Lets Run, be better, help out a fellow runner!

And you added absolutely nothing of value to this as well.

Tracksmith does do athlete support that helps with some travel. You can go to runpro.com and apply to some grants there as well. Not a whole lot out there cause who wants to give money to people who don't bring money into the sport, yah feel?

Funding across the board is always cut after the Olympics. Funding for "sub-elite" is pretty much non-existent in the first place. Anyone who has info on funding is probably keeping it to themselves, as limited as things are.

subelite wrote:

Wondering if anyone has recommendations for where sub-elite/unsponsored athletes can receive support for racing and training, outside of having a good local club with money/perks? For people in that not quite in the elite/sponsored category, but who need to seek out and travel to find good competition. Along the lines of tracksmith amateur support but not specifically looking for gear - thinking more along the lines of money for traveling to races, shoes, or a small sponsorship etc. Any suggestions are much appreciated!

Sponsors give money to runners because they expect a return on their investment - sell more running shoes. If you haven't already, building up a following on Instagram & Strava might help. I've seen a few people who aren't fast at all get shoes and other gear and entry fees paid for because they have a decent social media following. But those folks sell themselves pretty hard.

Yea this is right. You will probably find plenty of "sponsored" runners slower than you but with big social media presences. Are your PBs in OTQ territory or something more like sub-2:30 for the marathon? That'll make a difference. You can find clubs to train with if you have a shot at making the Trials. I live on the east coast. The local clubs (GBTC, Battle Road, BAA, etc) all have performance standards for gear + maybe small travel stipends/race fees. If you're fast but not that fast, free entry and preferred corrals at road races is going to be about it unless you have 10k IG followers.

Depending on where you live, you might be able to train with an elite group & not be officially on the squad. Maybe there's a sub-elite group you can join. But you're going to stick with the sport because you love it -- not because it'll subsidize your income.

An obvious first world problem. There was a time not so long ago that people worked, and perhaps in their spare time recreated on their own dime.

You have to be a fat minority that excels at 6 hour thons and have a personal photographer to take pictures of you pretending you’re actually working out. Being a female helps immensely

Ask your family to support your dream. Do a gofundme. Get a nice social media following by displaying shirtless photos in cool places. Unfortunately, Nobody cares about runners, it's just a fitness hobby.

If you're subelite that means running is just a hobby to you. No one funds the rest of our hobbies and they shouldn't find yours either. Support your own personal endeavors like an adult.

sub sub elite local hobby jogger wrote:

Ask your family to support your dream. Do a gofundme.

Cringe.

Such is life when you're sub-elite and don't stand out enough to get sponsored.

Your best hope is to openly solicit and hope that your employer or some other company likes you enough to decide to do it.

Otherwise, you've got to hustle on social media and take whatever affiliate agreements are thrown your way.

Tracksmith isn't support, it's a scam. I was with tracksmith, the clothing stipend seemed generous ($1000), but when you don't get a discount and you actually purchase the goods, it amounts to about 4 pairs of shorts, 5 t-Shirts and a hoody. And the gear stands out, so look at what they get out of it. Not worth the effort.

miss the old boards wrote:

It's sad that these boards used to be the kind of place you could come for info like this... what happened to being a knowledge base and resource? now a days only the juicy, hurtful, gossipy threads get responses

Come on Lets Run, be better, help out a fellow runner!

Well, it comes from the top.

Rojo dissed a 2:15 Marathon winner that he took his price money.

BeantownBob wrote:

Tracksmith isn't support, it's a scam. I was with tracksmith, the clothing stipend seemed generous ($1000), but when you don't get a discount and you actually purchase the goods, it amounts to about 4 pairs of shorts, 5 t-Shirts and a hoody. And the gear stands out, so look at what they get out of it. Not worth the effort.

That's more than you're getting from anyone else so why exactly is that a scam? Their gear isn't anything special, nor would I buy it, but free is free bud.