amy yoder begley talks about track runners contracts.

Good article, I'd like to know how much leeway is given when it comes to injury and such. Injury is a natural part of any professional athlete's life. The idea of losing your job due to a bad bout of PF would be nerve wracking.

I am sure Meb would have a lot to say about this process.

Now if she would only write a book about her experiences with Alberto.

Not until her running is over....too much to risk writing that now don't you think?

Amy says it as it is. Truth is with T & F contracts you are as good as your last injury. Its a world of you are paid to run and run well. Not just train. An athlete should fully read the details "small print" and have the plan B , just in case.

Agents are not the final answer , the athlete is their best sales person to sell themselves , like getting any job its up to you and how your employer see's your value back to the company.

The mentality of "going pro" as stated so many times here on this blog is not what it may play out to be in the real world of day to day living.

What can even be more dangerous Iv'e seen is when the spouse is fully vested in the day to day with the athlete , contract goes away and you have two people without income.

For Amy Im surprised Nike does not put a value on gym , track etc with added with equipment support as a fall back when dropping a contract. Or as a start for new athletes to develop , seems a little short sighted to me.

Words of advice to Amy , forget the track stuff , go to the roads , have some fun with running , no pressure now , your free.

All of the defenders would probably say that it is just sour grapes. We call this the "Armstrong Defense".

Who is her agent? There seems to be several people that are still marketable that are not able to find a little security.

A little bit of insider info here- you shouldn't get an agent unless you're good enough to get a salaried shoe contract, which I would say is top 5 and maybe top 10 in your event at the Olympic Trials (although I've known top 5 people who couldn't get a salaried contract and are highly visible). Even if you are good enough, having an agent isn't a necessity for negotiating with a shoe company, but they could help increase your value and perks.

I say this because I see so many people needlessly and naively signing with an agent- don't sign with an agent until you're literally 'there'. Until you get to that level, you're better off keeping all your prize/other earnings (which an agent would get 10-15%- not worth it and adds up), negotiating a shoe/gear/other contract (which you see with Brooks/Mizuno/Saucony/smaller shoe company athletes), and contacting races yourself (which they base assistance on times/ranking). Otherwise, joining a sponsored group offers more perks if you're not good enough to get an individual, salaried contract.

serious response wrote:

Now if she would only write a book about her experiences with Alberto.

It would be a boring book.

"Coach was focused on every little detail, and every little aspect of training and recovery."

You people who think the deluded ramblings and insane assumptions on this message board have any resemblance to reality, are insane.

There is no business of track athletes except for about 10 in the world.

The whole "business" is utter charity and an excuse for shoe execs, athletes, and agents to pretend like they a business.

There is no rhyme or reason on who makes what or in track case, who doesn't.

It is all about personal relationships and CHARITY.

Oriens wrote:

There is no business of track athletes except for about 10 in the world.

The whole "business" is utter charity and an excuse for shoe execs, athletes, and agents to pretend like they a business.

There is no rhyme or reason on who makes what or in track case, who doesn't.

It is all about personal relationships and CHARITY.

Pretty much this.

I'm in a local running group that has around 140 people in it. Now it's not one of the serious groups composed of former college runners, but more along the lines of people that started running later in life and do all the local races. You know, the ones that actually make any of these running companies financially viable...

That said, the vast majority, 98% at a guess, couldn't name a single professional runner, much less know or care what companies apparel they wear. They buy things because they are cute or got good reviews in runners world.

The majority of agents and shoe reps are just a bunch of drunks pretending it is a business. They negotiate deals at a bar at 3 in th morning often times for $8,000 and shoes a year to some kid.

The athletes actually feel like they're providing some sort of service as well. However, they're putting their professional lives on hold and living monh to month for most of them; in theory, chasing the dream.

Charity is right.

Oriens wrote:

There is no business of track athletes except for about 10 in the world.

The whole "business" is utter charity and an excuse for shoe execs, athletes, and agents to pretend like they a business.

There is no rhyme or reason on who makes what or in track case, who doesn't.

It is all about personal relationships and CHARITY.

You don't understand marketing or the English language very well.

Bearing in mind the concept of athetes being "billboards" upon which the company brand is viewed, how likely is it that someone like Brie Felnagle will hold a contract longer than a less attractive female distance runner? Felnagle isn't particularly competitive of late, but she certainly is easy on the eyes (not unlike Anna Kournikova or Danica Patrick).

Bubba Olaf wrote:

Bearing in mind the concept of athetes being "billboards" upon which the company brand is viewed, how likely is it that someone like Brie Felnagle will hold a contract longer than a less attractive female distance runner? Felnagle isn't particularly competitive of late, but she certainly is easy on the eyes (not unlike Anna Kournikova or Danica Patrick).

I think athletes also need to look at themselves as salesmen (or women). They get commission (bonuses) on top performances. Just like a sales person gets paid on how many sales they make. If they dont sell, they dont get paid.

Athletes, instead of cold calling or knocking doors, they have to get out and race. If another salesman (athlete) beats them to the sale (finish line) then the winner is getting the pay day.

It sucks they way it happens and it has to hurt. But you have to be able to see it coming otherwise you are just not paying attention or naive.

Bubba Olaf wrote:

Bearing in mind the concept of athetes being "billboards" upon which the company brand is viewed, how likely is it that someone like Brie Felnagle will hold a contract longer than a less attractive female distance runner? Felnagle isn't particularly competitive of late, but she certainly is easy on the eyes (not unlike Anna Kournikova or Danica Patrick).

It's clearly very important for women, and to some degree men. I've seen a lot of marketing with Kara Goucher on it, for example, but very little for a similar marathoner (who I won't name because it's kind of a dick move).

Azaleas wrote:

It's clearly very important for women, and to some degree men. I've seen a lot of marketing with Kara Goucher on it, for example, but very little for a similar marathoner (who I won't name because it's kind of a dick move).

First of all, whom. Second, what are you talking about? The two most prominent male marathoners in America, Ryan Hall and Meb, have plenty of ads. This one, all over the olympics,

, and this one,

.

This interesting article made me think about a related question I've had for some time. I hate to ask it, because it's gonna sound like I'm petty, nosy, judgmental, uncaring, etc. But here goes -- with all of the caution shoe companies take to prevent financial loss in case athletes don't perform up to expectations (reduction clauses, suspension clauses, termination clauses), how has Allyson Felix's boyfriend Kenneth Ferguson maintained a professional contract over the last 5 years when he hasn't run a competitive 400mH since 2007? I understand his girlfriend is a megastar with unquestioned integrity, he tragically lost his father years ago, seems like a super nice guy, friends always speak about how generous he is with teammates and community -- lots to say about his integrity and character. But he hasn't run faster than a high schooler since 2007, so how does he continue to pull a professional running contract?