Just a thought for all those "this is a race, so people who aren't racing shouldn't be allowed..."
This is the prize breakdown for Chicago:
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Prize Purse Breakdown
Total: $579,000
Open Men/Women:
1st $125,000
2nd $65,000
3rd $40,000
4th $25,000
5th $15,000
American Development Bonuses Men/Women
1st $3,500
2nd $2,500
3rd $2,000
4th $1,500
5th $750
Wheelchair Division Men/Women
1st $1,500
2nd $1,000
3rd $750
4th $500
5th $350
Masters Division Men/Women
1st $1,500
2nd $1,000
3rd $750
Illinois Open Division Men/Women
1st $1,000
2nd $750
3rd $500
Illinois Masters Men/Women
1st $500
2nd $250
3rd $150
2007 Open Time Bonuses Men (non-cumulative)
sub 2:12:00 $3,500
sub 2:11:00 $4,500
sub 2:10:00 $5,000
sub 2:09:00 $10,000
sub 2:08:00 $15,000
sub 2:07:00 $40,000
sub 2:06:30 $45,000
sub 2:06:00 $75,000
sub 2:05:42 (CR) $125,000
sub 2:04:55 (WR) $200,000
2007 Open Time Bonuses Women (non-cumulative)
sub 2:28:00 $3,500
sub 2:27:00 $4,500
sub 2:26:00 $5,000
sub 2:24:45 $10,000
sub 2:23:30 $15,000
sub 2:22:15 $40,000
sub 2:21:00 $45,000
sub 2:20:00 $75,000
sub 2:17:18 (CR) $125,000
sub 2:15:25 (WR) $200,000
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That means there are approximately 29 money prize positions, excluding time bonus awards. If I do my math, 29/45,000 means you have a .0064444% chance of winning any prize money...even lower if factor out the wheelchair division.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that none of you c@ckbags on this board have any legimate shot at winning anything. My point? Your 2:40 means about as much as the guy running 5:00. Are you a faster runner? Yeah, but BFD. Enjoy your finishers medal, because it's the same as the dude who crossed last.