I have often wondered this. I know I am not ready YET, just curious if anyone knows what the going rate is? What does everyone think your times would have to be to get a deal with Nike, Adidas, etc.? Anyone with experience in this area?
I have often wondered this. I know I am not ready YET, just curious if anyone knows what the going rate is? What does everyone think your times would have to be to get a deal with Nike, Adidas, etc.? Anyone with experience in this area?
OK I am just going to start doing backflips when I cross the finish line, see if that gets me a contract, ha.
Or maybe I will pull a Sharpie out of my sock and sign autographs while running down the final stretch of my next marathon.
Learn self promotion. Madonna taught it to Dennis Rodman. I'm not suggesting his antics, but it sure worked for him. Sort of like having a gimmick.
Good luck at CIM! I'll be checking for you in the results
Well, I'm a 2:49 marathoner and I'm still waiting for that call from Nike. Hope this helps.
Miles and Miles wrote:
What does everyone think your times would have to be to get a deal with Nike, Adidas, etc.?
Like they say, if you have to ask, you're not fast enough.
Nowadays you have to get crafty. Sponsorship doesn't always mean Nike handing you a check for $50K and saying
"sign here". Do a little research and you'll find things like Powerbars Team Elite that gives free gear and performance incentive perks to not only elites but locals as well. Nothing wrong with being that local guy who may be getting more gear than his 14:00 5k training partner.
Join a club thats sponsored, they often get drastically discounted or free gear altogether and many offer free travel and entry fees given to their top performers. I can be a top club performer and reap those benefits, I'm not however anywhere near fast enough to even bother penning a letter to Nike. Take a look at alternative sponsor sources. I know a guy who was backed by a local pizza shop. He runs 34 minutes for 10k and gets free pizza while theres guys running 29 minutes who get absolutely nothing;
not even pizza. Wear testing: As I like to say, now that I suck I get free shoes. Sure you have to send them back (they pay the postage) but I always have new shoes, I'm up on the latest technology and in the tiniest sense give a little somnething back to my sport while at the same time getting some benefit. Think people, think.
Thanks Joe, weather is looking like it is going to be good, so no excuses this time.
Oh and for the cowardly person that posted as sponsor, I think in my original post I said I know I am not ready YET.
I do have a team that pays for my USATF races, just looking for that bigger deal, eventually. Hopefully if I get my OT I can start shopping, ha.
Kramer wrote:
Miles
It\'s not the times that you run, it\'s the marketability that you have. Alan Webb for example was not even world ranked, but is better paid than most runners ahead of him. He has a recognized and marketable name, so that is why he got his contract sum. I know of a 13:27 5K guy who gets almost 50 a year from his shoe company, and another 13:31 guy who never has made more than 12 grand a year from his. Oh ya, and to top it off, the 13:27 guy has never beaten the 13:31 guy head to head in over 10 races against each other.
But, Fila pays a 2:36 womens marathoner almost 80 per year to run for them, while they also only give equipment for another athlete who is only 2 minutes slower. So Miles, it\'s not the times that you run, but what can you do to appeal to potential consumers on behalf of the shoe company to get people in thier products.
Kramer
This guy doesz not know what he is talking about. No 2:36 marathoner gets 80k a year from Fila. I guarantee this. A 13:31 guy is only going to get 50k a year if he\'s an NCAA champion or an Olympian and is young or maybe one of Vin\'s boys.