Is there such thing as a semi pro runner?

more like wannabe pro. e.g. OTC, Furman

Professionals can live off of solely their running achievements. Semi-pros can only live partly (semi) off of their running achievements. So, yes, there is such a thing.

Flinttropics wrote:

Is there such thing as a semi pro runner

I won $150 at a road race once, so I guess that makes me semi-pro!

you forget to mention Hansons Running.

jekek wrote:

Professionals can live off of solely their running achievements. Semi-pros can only live partly (semi) off of their running achievements. So, yes, there is such a thing.

There, we have the obvious answer to this inane question.

Support yourself entirely with the activity? Pro. (Same goes for sports, music, whatever.)

Work a day job or in the off-season out of financial need? Semi-pro.

Exceptions would be people who could live off of just running but want to do other things, too (e.g. lawyer Hendrick Ramaala).

Oh yeah. There are lots of semi-pro runners around here. Like in the 19:00-21:00 5K and 3:30-4:00 marathon range. They're pretty close to pro, but not quite, and usually have other jobs to support.

Well I've made about $3000 in race winnings over the last year or so, so I like to jokingly call myself a semi pro :D Sometimes I donate it back though. Also won a good amount of free sneakers and various gift certificates :)

More like the 14 min/2:20 guys or sub 17/under 2:50 women. Might pull in a few thousand a year and get their way paid for some travel.

KayMac wrote:

Well I've made about $3000 in race winnings over the last year or so, so I like to jokingly call myself a semi pro :D Sometimes I donate it back though. Also won a good amount of free sneakers and various gift certificates :)

I wouldn't joke about it. Seems pretty accurate to me.

The term "pro" has multiple meanings, due to the strict pro/amateur eligibility dichotomy in some sports, in the NCAA, and formerly in the Olympics. If you've ever won money, you're a pro as far as some organizations are concerned. But lots of "pros" are obviously not professionals in the sense that they could consider their sport a profession.

I think semipro is a fair way to describe anyone who sometimes (1) wins prize money, (2) gets comped races and travel, (3) and/or gets free gear. I wouldn't even say you need to get these things all the time, as long as you do on a somewhat regular basis.

Something to consider about the term is your audience. I think a lot of runners are very stingy about calling people elite, including themselves. But if you're talking to a civilian, it's not always easy to explain that, as a 2:30 marathoner, you're a very long ways from being a truly elite runner, but you're also a very long ways from some "competitive" guy who's trying to qualify for Boston. The term "semipro," would probably give most people a fairly accurate sense of where you stand in the running hierarchy.

Yes.

See Wardian, Michael.

I consider myself a local runner. I have a f/t job. I made $3000 in prize money in marathons over 4 years. What does that make me? (insert insults here)

straightAstudent wrote:

I won $150 at a road race once, so I guess that makes me semi-pro!

My personal opinion is that, to be considered a semi-pro runner, your race earnings should exceed the money that you spend on the sport - including things such as gear, coaching, race entry/travel... etc. People who I would consider to be semi-pro get most of their running costs covered for free and regularly win prize money.

This would take people who might occasionally win a few bucks or a pair of shoes at a weak race out of the equation.

That’s nowhere close to pro. Everyone and their mom can run a 20 minute 5k or a 4-hour marathon. Seriously, my friend’s mom who’s like 50 can do it.

A semi pro runner would be someone who makes money off running but works a part time job. In a way, any runner who has to worry about social media, ie manage it himself, is just subelite. A true elite runner, like Rupp, requires no social media presence and would only have it to make extra money, his needs being fully met just through performance.