There are TONS of kids similar to GF. Burned bright, faded out too soon. What was his pro contract worth? Running isn't a real pro sport for the vast majority of guys and gals tinkering away at it. At some point you have to get a real job with that degree in Exercise Science or some random BA in home ec.
Alan
He was offered $500k/yr to run professionally. How much did you make running?
About $850.85 plus some shoes! No idea. Good for him! I am sure he invested a lot of that money? What is is making now?
I mention this because $500k, while life changing in the moment, is not life changing long term.
My assumption is that people becoming GAs, assistance coaches, running store salesmen, personal running trainers, etc to try an profit off who they are...which is fine. I am nobody. Ain't no fool gonna pay me to train them in any discipline based on who I am!
There are TONS of kids similar to GF. Burned bright, faded out too soon. What was his pro contract worth? Running isn't a real pro sport for the vast majority of guys and gals tinkering away at it. At some point you have to get a real job with that degree in Exercise Science or some random BA in home ec.
He was offered $500k/yr to run professionally. How much did you make running?
About $850.85 plus some shoes! No idea. Good for him! I am sure he invested a lot of that money? What is is making now?
I mention this because $500k, while life changing in the moment, is not life changing long term.
My assumption is that people becoming GAs, assistance coaches, running store salesmen, personal running trainers, etc to try an profit off who they are...which is fine. I am nobody. Ain't no fool gonna pay me to train them in any discipline based on who I am!
Alan
I’m not going to tell you what he does now but he makes over $100k in his early 30s. How much do you make?
Additionally, he’s a legend and you’re a nobody who can’t break 20:00 5k commenting on a message board.
He was offered $500k/yr to run professionally. How much did you make running?
About $850.85 plus some shoes! No idea. Good for him! I am sure he invested a lot of that money? What is is making now?
I mention this because $500k, while life changing in the moment, is not life changing long term.
My assumption is that people becoming GAs, assistance coaches, running store salesmen, personal running trainers, etc to try an profit off who they are...which is fine. I am nobody. Ain't no fool gonna pay me to train them in any discipline based on who I am!
Make sure to subscribe to Lex & Leo's YouTube Channel!Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@LLexandleovloggsThanks to HDRunners for helping with so much incred...
Where did they find that vintage footage of German's 2007 race?
I do remember seeing him collapse to the ground immediately after the race, then pick himself up and walk off a few seconds later.n
Wonderful memories.
When an independent 3rd party Youtube channel -- mostly devoted to pro and college running -- makes a video about the history of a single xc race run by a high schooler 15 years ago -- then you understand just what an impact this one race -- and this one runner -- has had on the US distance running community.
About $850.85 plus some shoes! No idea. Good for him! I am sure he invested a lot of that money? What is is making now?
I mention this because $500k, while life changing in the moment, is not life changing long term.
My assumption is that people becoming GAs, assistance coaches, running store salesmen, personal running trainers, etc to try an profit off who they are...which is fine. I am nobody. Ain't no fool gonna pay me to train them in any discipline based on who I am!
Alan
I’m not going to tell you what he does now but he makes over $100k in his early 30s. How much do you make?
Additionally, he’s a legend and you’re a nobody who can’t break 20:00 5k commenting on a message board.
There are TONS of kids similar to GF. Burned bright, faded out too soon. What was his pro contract worth? Running isn't a real pro sport for the vast majority of guys and gals tinkering away at it. At some point you have to get a real job with that degree in Exercise Science or some random BA in home ec.
Alan
There are tons of kids that burn bright and fade out too soon, that is correct, but there are very very VERY few with as much talent as German Fernandez. He is literally the top two or three most talented US high school distance Runners of all time.
Newbury Park became the first program in California prep history to not only win four consecutive boys team titles but also produce four individual winners in a row by sweeping both crowns in the Division 2 final at the CIF S...
There are TONS of kids similar to GF. Burned bright, faded out too soon. What was his pro contract worth? Running isn't a real pro sport for the vast majority of guys and gals tinkering away at it. At some point you have to get a real job with that degree in Exercise Science or some random BA in home ec.
Alan
Alan, love your stuff, but there were NOT ever tons of kids like German Fernandez. Trust me, saw his two mile record in person at Greensboro, could gave run anything. 3:55.0 at 18 Indoor and 7:47 and 13:25...all I believe at 18+? There are NOT a ton of folks who ran that at that age..ceratinly not from there backwards in time.
About $850.85 plus some shoes! No idea. Good for him! I am sure he invested a lot of that money? What is is making now?
I mention this because $500k, while life changing in the moment, is not life changing long term.
My assumption is that people becoming GAs, assistance coaches, running store salesmen, personal running trainers, etc to try an profit off who they are...which is fine. I am nobody. Ain't no fool gonna pay me to train them in any discipline based on who I am!
Alan
So you don’t think $2m is life changing?
You must be quite poor with money.
So, you are telling me German got $500K/4years? $2.0M? ,I would have to see that , that would surprise me, for sure, as great as he was.Not in 2012, I don't think.
The record lives on. 14:24 at woodward park looks better and better with each all time great who fails to match or surpass it.
German was good in HS and he did have some success in college but overall he peaked in HS.
As an 18 year old freshman, Fernandez ran a 3:55.0 indoor mile and a 13:25 5000m.
Ryun was 18 years, 2 months when he ran 3:55.3 in HS. Webb was 18 years, 4 1/2 months when he ran his 3:53 mile. Fernandez was 18 years, 2 1/2 months when he ran his 3:55.0 indoor mile.
The record lives on. 14:24 at woodward park looks better and better with each all time great who fails to match or surpass it.
German was good in HS and he did have some success in college but overall he peaked in HS.
No he didn't. He peaked freshman year setting a world Jr record in the mile, winning NCAA, and getting an AR jr record in the 5000m. He ran a better 1500m later but that was peak GF were we were all wondering what the next couple of years would bring. Unfortunately the answer was injuries...
The record lives on. 14:24 at woodward park looks better and better with each all time great who fails to match or surpass it.
I was in high school the same time as German in the Sacramento area. It was widely suspected he was doping his senior year of high school. He was also one of the more arrogant runners I've met. Undoubtedly very talented, but that insane improvement his senior year drew all kinds of red flags.
Funny that you say that, because I was also an SJ runner a few years later and all of the things I heard about him were about the exact opposite of what you just said. Are you perhaps a slow 4:15/9:20 type who can’t accept the fact that talent exists?
I think everyone here can agree that GF is easily one of the best US HS runners of all time, that his freshman year at OSU was utterly phenomenal even with the injuries and missed races, and at the same time acknowledge his career was also one of the most disappointing. It's not his fault by any means. I mixed it up with guys in high school who went on to win NCAAs and even compete in the Olympics, yet some of my PRs are still from high school due to the injuries and health issues I had. Crap happens. GF's high school xc record, his solo 3:55, 7:47, and 13:25 are all AWESOME performances and achievements, not to mention he won NCAAs as a true freshman in the outdoor 1500m. For whatever reasons, his body just didn't hold up, and he never became the sub 3:50/13:00 runner he could have become otherwise. But there's a lot more to life than running. Hope he's doing well now.
German was good in HS and he did have some success in college but overall he peaked in HS.
No he didn't. He peaked freshman year setting a world Jr record in the mile, winning NCAA, and getting an AR jr record in the 5000m. He ran a better 1500m later but that was peak GF were we were all wondering what the next couple of years would bring. Unfortunately the answer was injuries...
German peaked in HS. Everyone knows German ran faster in college than HS. German peaked in HS. His collegiate career was a letdown overall. He was a bust.
No he didn't. He peaked freshman year setting a world Jr record in the mile, winning NCAA, and getting an AR jr record in the 5000m. He ran a better 1500m later but that was peak GF were we were all wondering what the next couple of years would bring. Unfortunately the answer was injuries...
German peaked in HS. Everyone knows German ran faster in college than HS. German peaked in HS. His collegiate career was a letdown overall. He was a bust.
German peaked in HS. Everyone knows German ran faster in college than HS. German peaked in HS. His collegiate career was a letdown overall. He was a bust.
You mentioned he peaked in hs
and that he was faster in college
makes no sense
If you are intelligent it makes sense. Matt Withrow ran faster after HS. Matt peaked in HS.