American Distance Running: Why is it so UNDER-funded?

The money is in spectator sports, like football, where money can be made.

Why should it be funded more?

All the posters here make it very clear that those of you that run "fast" have so little respect for those of us that run 3:30, or 4:00 or even 5:00 marathons.

As I see it, there are only a couple thousand "real runners" in America. If that is the case I think a very good argument could be made that distance running is far OVER funded.

European# wrote:

After reading the article in the Oregonian regarding Galen Rupp and his parent's financial struggle to support his career (even though he "technically" is still a college level athlete), it seemed to me cause to bring a few related issues to the front.

I'd wait until I saw the receipts for that $45,000. What could possibly cost $45,000? How do the rest of us do it for 1/10 the cost?

European# wrote:

Last weekend at the Stanford invite, the crowd was slight, the stands empty, the weather absolutely perfect. There could be no better conditions to watch the men's 10,000 meters, one of the best assembled 10k in a decade, a field that would be sold out in seconds in Europe.

How do you figure it is under funded based on this comment?

You seem to take the position that we need to fund more, something that no one wants to go see.

Perhaps prize money would be better spent on more and better quality t-shirts at races instead of Africans.

Only in America do people NOT want to go see these events.

You Americans are lazy and unambitious.

Sorry, it's true.

Ya, it's just a sad reality. You have 10 guys go under 28 minutes on a perfect night in Palo Alto, and people stay at home and watch Deal or No Deal.

A fairly culture-less society - and 70% fat. That Stanford meet would've been sold out months in advance. Standing room only, and deafening crowds during the race.

American culture couldn't handle something that lasts 28 minutes without commercials to go to the fridge.

Americans love sports which comprise speed, skill and strength - Football, basketball, baseball, and to a lesser extent hockey (ice variety).

Most Americans cannot relate to a bunch of skinny guys running '28:00' for 10.000 - there is little or no spectacle involved, no appreciation of what it takes to run that fast.

In Canada (where I sometimes live) it was even worse. I recall a meet at McGill Montreal a few years ago, when German Silva of Mexico ran 27:56 for 10.000 and a bunch of guys close to him, with only about 100 spectators in the stands.....and those 'spectators' were actually athletes or people related to the athletes, not real spectators. What a joke.

Even the year Weldon Johnson won the 10.000 at McGill in just over '28' there were not many more people there.

In the U.S. track will never be a mass appeal sport. Indiviuals who are elite in the U.S. have to go to Europe to realize what they are missing.

ghost

coach:

christophe_moulton@yahoo.ca

In america we are brain washed by the media. If the media says track is cool and everyone should go watch then that is what would happen. What does the media do instead? They only mention track in the context of drug scandals, and big name sprinters dodging each other in big meets.

Until that changes there will continue to be poker on espn instead of track meets.

USATF and other running organizations do a shitty job of marketing. Think about the huge number of people who ran either track or xc at some level. Probably more than any other sport. If they would market the sport in a way that would keep even 10% of all those people interested and following the sport at least somewhat closesly, there would be plenty of cash in the sport.

gotta love Reebok's new ad campaign..........run at the speed of chat

I'm sure all their "elite's" love that.

How is that promoting the sport at a higher level? It's not even a good marketing strategy for the joe-jogger.

run easy. and then when it still hurts, because running is uncomfortable. quit.

Europeans are so arrogant. Who is to say that everyone must love a good 10k? Give me a break. I like it, but most Americans don't.

what I think wrote:

In america we are brain washed by the media. If the media says track is cool and everyone should go watch then that is what would happen. What does the media do instead? They only mention track in the context of drug scandals, and big name sprinters dodging each other in big meets.

Until that changes there will continue to be poker on espn instead of track meets.

Doesn't swimming have it even worse. How often does Joe Q. Public show any interest in swimming? Again, once every four years.

I think we idolize strength/power/speed in this society much as we revere money. We are not a subtle culture. Endurance is not sexy.

USATF should promote the strength events in T&F more. We've got the greatest shot putters in the world and even though I'm a mid-distance guy I like seeing Cantwell and rivals going at it.

We've got a lot of big fat rednecks in this country who can identify with the throwers a lot easier than they an a bunch of skinny distance dudes. Sad but true.

Accountant wrote:

[

How do the rest of us do it for 1/10 the cost?

The same way you run 1/10th as fast as Rupp does.

...for the same reason that healthcare is "underfunded"

Their is an abiding belief in the US that the MARKETPLACE is the best allocator of resources. So, regardless of the externalities in which this results, the marketplace allocates the majority of resources.

There is a lot of $ in sports/healthcare in the US - more than anywhere else in the world. Its just that the marketplace determines who gets what - there is no "why".

Crocodile Dundeee wrote:

Accountant wrote:

[

How do the rest of us do it for 1/10 the cost?

The same way you run 1/10th as fast as Rupp does.

And the same reason Rupp was over 75 seconds slower for a 10k, and 50 seconds slower for a 5k as Bekele.

why is european baseball and european gridiron football so under-funded? why is it not marketed better?

why is europe so different from america? where is the money, europe?

Baseball and American football are AMERICAN sports. We don't care about American sports.

Is Track and Field a European sport? No. Yet we can appreciate it enough to show up when a top level field is assembled, like your Stanford race.

Where is our money? Go to a Golden League meet. Or 1 of a hundred other stadium packed distance races.

Why are you people defending an American culture that doesn't support the sport we love?

It's okay that the Stanford crowd was nonexistant because it's just not our culture? No, it shouldn't be. Change it. Figure out ways to promote it better.

American culture could be interested. But the defeatist attitude will never help.