At this time I can only think of 3 female distance American women over 36 years old that deserve any substantial sponsorship. D’Amato, Hall, and Herron. Everyone else is yesterday’s news. Brooks and ASICS waste money clinging to older athletes that will never win another race beyond a Turkey Trot.
I don’t know. Who spends the most money on running now a days? It is Masters runners in 40 to 70 years old, who are trying to make the Hobby Jogger Olympic marathon or the Boston Marathon. Who would masters runners relate to the most. I think that they would relate to someone like, Jenny Simpson, Kara Goucher, Sara Hall or Joan Samuelson. They may be past their prime (like all Hobby Joggers), but they are still working hard and trying to their best in what ever condition they are in. Shoe companies can use the Jenny, Kara, Sara, and Joan to get the hobby joggers to buy their latest cheater shoe and clothes. Masters runners can actually afford to pay $250 for the cheater pogo marathon racing shoes, so shoe and clothing companies should utilize assets like Jenny, not put them out to pasture.
OK I did miss that but my point still stands that her trajectory is a bit suspicious for her to be pointing fingers at others. Maybe she was clean but she is FINISHED.
Jenny Simpson the clean runner who couldn’t break 4 until she was almost 28. She ran 4:32 the year she turned 20.
Never let facts get in the way of your narrative. So many posts in this thread disgust me.
Simpson broke 4:00 in college at the age of 22.
In another post, someone said Puma's NC group wasn't doing well. I've been SUPER impressed by their results in year 1. It amazes me that people expect A+ results from B talent. The Craggs are doing a great job. Fiona O'Keeffe has been unreal.
I think this is a good outcome for all involved. Jenny was making well north of 500k per year. Is she worth that in terms of results, now? Hell no. But does she give Puma credibility? Hell yes.
Puma, do you have a Pbax trainer? Send it to me. I may wear it as I restart my career in the marathon. JG has said I'll never break 3:00. I know I will.
running shoe sponsorships in this country are nothing but charity. not enough of the public pay attention to running and really care who is wearing what shoes. the interest and numbers are not there. never were, never will be.
Jenny Simpson the clean runner who couldn’t break 4 until she was almost 28. She ran 4:32 the year she turned 20.
Never let facts get in the way of your narrative. So many posts in this thread disgust me.
Simpson broke 4:00 in college at the age of 22.
In another post, someone said Puma's NC group wasn't doing well. I've been SUPER impressed by their results in year 1. It amazes me that people expect A+ results from B talent. The Craggs are doing a great job. Fiona O'Keeffe has been unreal.
I think this is a good outcome for all involved. Jenny was making well north of 500k per year. Is she worth that in terms of results, now? Hell no. But does she give Puma credibility? Hell yes.
Puma, do you have a Pbax trainer? Send it to me. I may wear it as I restart my career in the marathon. JG has said I'll never break 3:00. I know I will.
Rojo,
Puma US promotions needs to know what size shoe you wear so you can start your comeback.
Wowsers... So many people on Let's Run proving their ignorance about the sport in one thread.
1 - Puma's range is pretty decent. The Deviate Nitro Elite is one of the most fun shoes I've ran in the last few years. OK, it's not quite a Vaporfly but it's almost as good and certainly better than Sauconys, etc... I also picked up a paid of the stand Deviates this week for everyday miles and they're perfectly good.
2 - Puma has one of the biggest runners in the world, Molly Siedel. Not many with a bigger following than her. Shoe companies sponsor runners to get eyeballs on the products, not because someone runs super fast. Who would you rather have represent your brand? Someone like Molly who posts entertaining content or someone weird dude like Galen Rupp who doesn't like to do any publicity?
3 - Let's celebrate any brand putting money into the sport and sponsoring pro athletes.