If you are an MLB player or tennis pro and you were to tell someone one the streets they would literally stop in their tracks to ask more. Not to mention you wouldn’t be able to get girls to leave your alone.
if you tell someone you are a pro runner their first response is typically “that’s a thing?”.
Why is the respect from the general public so skewed?
If you are an MLB player or tennis pro and you were to tell someone one the streets they would literally stop in their tracks to ask more. Not to mention you wouldn’t be able to get girls to leave your alone.
if you tell someone you are a pro runner their first response is typically “that’s a thing?”.
Why is the respect from the general public so skewed?
Many people don't even realize that there are runners making a living at the sport.
Often, the world class runners are in the same races at the same time as the hobby joggers and, hey!!! a mile is a mile no matter how slow and the only thing that matters is the start and finish not what happens in between!!!
People don't respect the elite because we have to make everyone feel good about their running!!!!!
They don't do this in golf or tennis (individual sports that are popular in the US0 and there are few sports as boring as golf.
Many people don't even realize that there are runners making a living at the sport.
Often, the world class runners are in the same races at the same time as the hobby joggers and, hey!!! a mile is a mile no matter how slow and the only thing that matters is the start and finish not what happens in between!!!
People don't respect the elite because we have to make everyone feel good about their running!!!!!
They don't do this in golf or tennis (individual sports that are popular in the US0 and there are few sports as boring as golf.
Your four paragraphs read like four unrelated thoughts.
If you are an MLB player or tennis pro and you were to tell someone one the streets they would literally stop in their tracks to ask more. Not to mention you wouldn’t be able to get girls to leave your alone.
if you tell someone you are a pro runner their first response is typically “that’s a thing?”.
Why is the respect from the general public so skewed?
The answer to the titular question is that demanding something neither means that you deserve it nor that you’ll get it.
Many people don't even realize that there are runners making a living at the sport.
Often, the world class runners are in the same races at the same time as the hobby joggers and, hey!!! a mile is a mile no matter how slow and the only thing that matters is the start and finish not what happens in between!!!
People don't respect the elite because we have to make everyone feel good about their running!!!!!
They don't do this in golf or tennis (individual sports that are popular in the US0 and there are few sports as boring as golf.
Your four paragraphs read like four unrelated thoughts.
They're four thoughts responding to the question. Sorry it's too advanced for your simple mind.
If you are an MLB player or tennis pro and you were to tell someone one the streets they would literally stop in their tracks to ask more. Not to mention you wouldn’t be able to get girls to leave your alone.
if you tell someone you are a pro runner their first response is typically “that’s a thing?”.
Why is the respect from the general public so skewed?
The answer to the titular question is that demanding something neither means that you deserve it nor that you’ll get it.
I think maybe command is a better word. But get would work, too.
If you are an MLB player or tennis pro and you were to tell someone one the streets they would literally stop in their tracks to ask more. Not to mention you wouldn’t be able to get girls to leave your alone.
if you tell someone you are a pro runner their first response is typically “that’s a thing?”.
Why is the respect from the general public so skewed?
Many people don't even realize that there are runners making a living at the sport.
Often, the world class runners are in the same races at the same time as the hobby joggers and, hey!!! a mile is a mile no matter how slow and the only thing that matters is the start and finish not what happens in between!!!
People don't respect the elite because we have to make everyone feel good about their running!!!!!
They don't do this in golf or tennis (individual sports that are popular in the US0 and there are few sports as boring as golf.
I think your opening sentence applies to the biggest stars. Most people wouldn't recognize the average player, especially the ones who get limited playing time.
The big stars- yes people know them and won't leave them alone.
But think about the 50th ranked tennis player. I would bet he/she could walk down the streets of most cities and noone would know them.
1. A 5’ 8” tall, 125 pound man is not considered sexy or virile in Western society. The 5’ 3” flat chested woman that weighs 102 pounds is assumed to have an ED, is hated by non-running women and not desired by men.
2. Track marketing sucks! WA places too many restrictions on logos and the kinds of sponsors that runners can have. The events are too dull for today’s viewership.
3. Corn Hole, Disc Golf, Bass Fishing, and Dock Dog Jumping have smarter and less corrupt people running their respective sports.
1. A 5’ 8” tall, 125 pound man is not considered sexy or virile in Western society. The 5’ 3” flat chested woman that weighs 102 pounds is assumed to have an ED, is hated by non-running women and not desired by men.
2. Track marketing sucks! WA places too many restrictions on logos and the kinds of sponsors that runners can have. The events are too dull for today’s viewership.
3. Corn Hole, Disc Golf, Bass Fishing, and Dock Dog Jumping have smarter and less corrupt people running their respective sports.
Many female distance athletes are quite attractive and have no such problems with men.
Sport popularity is the primary reason. I don't think that a baseball player attracts any more interest than a pro distance runner in a European city (wealth aside). A tennis player would.
if you tell someone you are a pro runner their first response is typically “that’s a thing?”
You've answered your own question here. When Sports Center and Sports Illustrated routinely cover running more people will respect professional runners. But don't hold your breath. Similarly, I once knew a guy who had been a professional lacrosse player and I had that same "That's a thing reaction?"
Many people don't even realize that there are runners making a living at the sport.
Often, the world class runners are in the same races at the same time as the hobby joggers and, hey!!! a mile is a mile no matter how slow and the only thing that matters is the start and finish not what happens in between!!!
People don't respect the elite because we have to make everyone feel good about their running!!!!!
They don't do this in golf or tennis (individual sports that are popular in the US0 and there are few sports as boring as golf.
I think your opening sentence applies to the biggest stars. Most people wouldn't recognize the average player, especially the ones who get limited playing time.
The big stars- yes people know them and won't leave them alone.
But think about the 50th ranked tennis player. I would bet he/she could walk down the streets of most cities and noone would know them.
I did not say it was about being recognized. I was asking about the reaction from the person you are informing of the pro sport you participate in
They care about it, every person in the world has tried out for the sport, from the playgrounds to gym class to other sport fields. Every human knows where they are on the speed graph, and what their best track event would be.
Most of those who don't ever join a team know that they could never compete, so they are jealous and ignore the sport out of spite. That has become the default attitude of TV and media executives, who haven't found a way to package the sport. Those executives are still the main arbiters of what the nation pays attention to.
They care about it, every person in the world has tried out for the sport, from the playgrounds to gym class to other sport fields. Every human knows where they are on the speed graph, and what their best track event would be.
Most of those who don't ever join a team know that they could never compete, so they are jealous and ignore the sport out of spite. That has become the default attitude of TV and media executives, who haven't found a way to package the sport. Those executives are still the main arbiters of what the nation pays attention to.
No executives tell me what sports to follow and it’s the same for all sports fans. There is no way distance running could be successfully marketed to the masses.