Wittenberg article in the NY Times

Mary making 500K is not that big a deal. She's the CEO of a major brand and based on her credentials and successes could command a salary of 10x that much in a private sector. That doesn't bother me.

The article saying Mary "wooed" Meb to run in 2009 is crap. Meb was only brought in after I think it was Tergat had to drop out. Then they brought in Meb. Meb was 'finished' and not worth the appearance fee that he wanted.

Westchester Track Club's criticism is also a little bogus. The coach should be more worried about his runners (Alene Reta anyone?) having to show up at races with drug testing......

Mary took over when a running boom began to take place and in the biggest city in the country, she led it (smoothly) to even greater heights. The same people who complain about crowded races probably complain about a crowded central park and congestion because of cyclists too. More people are out there running and cycling. A lot of them need to get over it.

Mary's job has some nice perks but it is safe to say she has earned them. I do feel bad for those working beneath her though. She is a lawyer at heart ... and a perfectionist, which means a lot of decisions are made or changed last minute and she expects her decisions to be carried through no matter what the physical or economical cost. That has to be tough. (see - Steve Jobs at Apple).

I think this is a mixed report. Yes, she loves to self-promote. But, she is expected to do that in her position. Second, she confused some by snubbing the Ryan Shay family's request to do something at her race commemoratin gRyan.

Otherwise, I could take it or leave it. Remember, she/NYC Marathon can only get away with their high prices if people continue to pay it.

I've run 30 marathons, and never ran NYC. Don't care if I ever do, either.

Also, remember the first half of the article - she took about a 50% pay cut when she originally took over. Her salary has only grown after the race grew.

She doesn't need the money, she married for money.

He's rich!

Either way, let it go. Who cares what she makes.

All that matters is : " does long distance running benefit from this?"

No, running doesn't benefit. Because the prices are too high (people without extra $$ can't compete) and they try to dupe you into signing up for 9 races & becoming a member just to have a shot at running the marathon. NYRR is run too much like a business now, and there are way too many corporate types (lawyers, advertisers, wall street a-holes, whatever) who show up at these races, and not enough real runners who just don't give a s***. I've run some NYRR races and the vibe is mostly off-putting. And her salary is too much for a nonprofit, whether she could make more elsewhere or not. It should be a volunteer CEO/Director.

few observations wrote:

Meb was only brought in after I think it was Tergat had to drop out. Then they brought in Meb. Meb was 'finished' and not worth the appearance fee that he wanted.

That's not how it happened. I just checked my recruiting notes from 2009, and Meb and Paul received offers about a week apart, and signaled agreement a little later at nearly the same time. So, they were essentially recruited simultaneously. Paul pulled out of the race before bib numbers were assigned in October.

David Monti, Professional Athletes Consultant

ING New York City Marathon

Everyone knows how you really conduct business David...

Can't really get too excited about the NYC marathon being on ESPN 2 which it has the CrossFit games on every week and is home to such quality programming as....

High School Football (yay a world marathon major is now on par with East Baptist vs. Central)

Fat and Skinny in the Morning (Mike and Mike both of who could only name one marathoner...Jared from Subway)

NASCAR...practice

Women's College Volleyball

Skip Bayless.

Look, it is a good first step but let's not pretend Mary is elevating the marathon to some high level.

Mary seems to feel that increasing the race fees is a trivial thing. I'm sure if it feels that way to her and her buds. But what it does is diminish the sport at the grass roots level. I've been away from running for a long time, and am amazed by the cost to run even a run of the mill 5K. In the Chicago area, $30 is common. Sometimes more. People like Mary are to blame. Corporate sport at this point. No thanks.

I'm sure the cost of filling up your car would also shock you if you have been away from driving for a long time.

The grassroots argument is lame. Races are at capacity and significant support gets directed to youth programs in schools with diminished physical education classes. You can't get more grassroots.

the anti-mary argument collapses when you see that virtually all the races reach capacity and are enormous. 5000 people every other weekend? This is not what failure looks like.

agip wrote:

the anti-mary argument collapses when you see that virtually all the races reach capacity and are enormous. 5000 people every other weekend? This is not what failure looks like.

Have you been to these races? 95% white people in their 30-40s. Virtually no teenagers, twentysomethings or senior citizen. All prized out of those races.

Give me a break. Teenagers and seniors citizens?

The Invisible Hand wrote:

Give me a break. Teenagers and seniors citizens?

Go to Europe and run your average 10k (that typically charges around 5-7 EUR --> less than 10 $). You will see a lot of kids and older people running in these races.

That's what I've seen too. No diversity. A bunch of slow white collar types in their 30's-40's. Hardly even a sporting event anymore. Mary would be proud.

So few of them take it seriously. I don't have an issue with slower runners who actually take it seriously AND know that they are nothing special. Let's face it, at some point we all came to the realization that running is relative. There is always someone better. But the masses of people who show up to race with full sweats and their iphones is just annoying.

And the socioeconomic/diversity issue is real. Most of these races are $40. That's a lot of dough and only a certain subset of people can afford that, let a lone afford it 9x per year.

Finally, the last thing I'll say on this is that while I'm all for youth programs, I think they are out over their skis on this. There is considerable debate as to whether endurance training in younger children is healthy. Actually, in excess it really isn't healthy for anyone (sorry - hasn't stopped me). Promoting it for kids is just another manifestation of the NYRR ego. What makes them think they know what is best for children? I'm sure this will piss people off because everyone on here wants their kid to be the next Rupp, but too bad.

Yea butt wrote:

agip wrote:

the anti-mary argument collapses when you see that virtually all the races reach capacity and are enormous. 5000 people every other weekend? This is not what failure looks like.

Have you been to these races? 95% white people in their 30-40s. Virtually no teenagers, twentysomethings or senior citizen. All prized out of those races.

__

Well, while the spirit of what you are saying is sort of true, here are the actual #s for a typical NYRR weekend race:

Portgal Day, June 19, 2011:

total: 4641 people (think about that for a second - that is enormous!)

Teenagers: 68 (1%)

20 somethings: 858 (18%)

Seniors (60 and older): 294 (6%)

30s and 40s: 2,864 (61%)

So first of all, your 95% is actually 61%.

Second of all, think about getting 294 senior citizens out for a race - that is larger than most small town races all by itself.

Third, as for teenagers - I don't know much about Europe, so correct me if I am wrong, but i don't believe they have as developed a high school and college running program as in the US. Most teenagers are doing races in the school running system. For example, more than 10,000 high schoolers competed in a race in NYC last weekend. That's where they race, not the NYRR and that isn't the NYRR's fault.

What is prized out? You mean priced out? $10 gets NYRR junior and senior members into races. membership is $40. That's not too bad, is it?

Europe doesn't have the same high school and collegiate system or the same expenses passed on by government services overtime provision. That seems to be uniquely NYC. Are teenagers and senior citizens flocking to races elsewhere around the USA in big relative percentages? These segments get discounted admission by NYRR.

Kids in the USA have plenty of other things going on that cost a heckuva lot more than a road race. Do you know anyone on travel hockey?

The market bears out that NYRR delivers a product that has yet to hit its economic breaking point.

The Invisible Hand wrote:

The market bears out that NYRR delivers a product that has yet to hit its economic breaking point.

So the purpose of a running club is to "deliver a product" until it hits it's economic breaking point? How very corporate. If I lived in NY, I'd want nothing to do with this lot.

It's not a Running Club.

You become a member by paying a fee, correct?