After the most recent budget cuts from COVID elite runners have certainly felt an impact. A year of most races canceled and no prize money available, now a year later and races are coming back, but a lot of the prize money and appearance fees are greatly reduced. I'm looking back at what prize money was 15 years ago in some races, and it was either more back then or the same as now. This doesn't even take into consideration inflation. One 10k race I'm familiar with has been going on for decades. About 20 years ago the prize money was $600 for the win, and it is still $600 for the win. That $600 20 years ago would have to be $930 today to be equal. Another road race in my state used to put up something like $3k for the win, now it's $600 and none of the really fast people show up anymore. Another half marathon used to have $3k for the win, now they give out a $500 gift card to a sports store. On the sponsorship side, it seems in the 2000's anyone who ran under 2:20 for a marathon could pick up a sponsorship. Now you've got sub 28 10k guys with nothing, sub 13:30 guys with nothing, sub 62:00 half marathon guys with nothing, and even some sub 2:10 marathon guys with nothing.
So my question is, when was the most lucrative time to be an elite runner? With the ability to run a road race every weekend and pick up the equivalent of your month's rent or more? $600 15-20 years ago would have paid rent most places, now it doesn't go nearly as far. Maybe this is why the top guys decades ago were racing all the time, because it was worth while to get all of this prize money that was available? Now it barely covers a hotel room and gas to get there.