female perspective wrote:
most top level female athletes i know still have the need to work, go to school, or something else besides train. whereas many top level male athletes i know have no problem living off their girlfriends salary, eating pop tarts, and running all day.
Everything you said is right on!!! To go along with this, injuries probably play a role. Constantly in a state of stress, getting injured, and then asking themselves, "Is it worth it?" Women are afraid if they commit to 'just running' and then get injured, that it's not worth it. Cutting out all the other crap and committing to 'just running' is a step few women are willing to take! Women are very hard on themselves.
The statement about fewer road races with prize money is also true! The thing is, you have to look a little harder to find the races with money. They're there! In addition, the few races with large prize purses tend to be swept up by international athletes. Was it this way 20-30 years ago? Women back then probably thought they had a fighting chance..... now, they don't. And maybe women used to be more of the 'stay-at-home-housewife' and had the time/energy to train. Now, more women are going to college, working in the workforce, etc.. In general, I don't think a lot of post-collegiate athletes know what opportunities exists beyond college. They don't know where to go next! The other trend is to take up other sports (cycling, duathlons, triathlons, mountain biking, etc.).