Nice to see coverage in a major mainstream publication.
As athletes age, their ego becomes their biggest enemy. They can't accept the fact that their market value with 35 is less than that when they were 28.
I am sure Nike offered her a new contract at a reduced rate (just like they did with Meb btw). Kara feels she is worth more.
Maybe Skechers will sign her. Seems like a good move.
I don't really agree with the headline's emphasis. It looks to me like she and her agent are doing everything they can to explore her options. By leaving Schumacher's group before her contract negotiations, she removed some leverage from Nike, who otherwise might try to lowball her thinking she wouldn't want to lose her coach. She knows this is probably the last contract of her active career, so she's being strategic. It will be interesting to see where she ends up- I've said before that I think she could be a good asset to Nike even after she's done racing, and that obviously goes for another company too.
You are correct that she needs to explore her options and will.
Leaving Nike will not be the end of the world for her. That said I think she offers little beyond her athletic accomplishments as she has never worked outside of training. Her running persona will fade fast if she does not do something big over the course of the next year. Not much value in PRs , value comes from winning when your selling athletes to sell shoes . Showing up at expos and mommy blogging don't count.
Many young talented people out there with skills and drive to help shoe companies.
Fava beans wrote:
Not much value in PRs , value comes from winning when your selling athletes to sell shoes . Showing up at expos and mommy blogging don't count.
This is utter BS. The two most popular women distance runners in this country are Lauren Fleshman and Kara Goucher. Kara because of her book and her mommy blogging. She doesn't need to win a championship to sell shoes. At those expos, 20 and 30 something women runners will line up for an hour to get their book signed by her (and most have no idea who Joan Benoit Samuelson, or Mary Decker, or Desi or even Shalane are). Something big would certainly help her out, but it's not a need for her.
With the general running public, the folks who often get dismissed as "hobby joggers" here, Kara Goucher is the most popular American distance runner. By quite a lot.
I agree. I've never been a Kara fan, but she has a bit of 'shelf life' remaining and she will certainly get another contract because of name/face recognition. And she should be able to milk it beyond any reasonably competitive race effort.
Maybe it has shifted some, but Deena has been another very popular elite athlete with the running masses. She will continue to earn money on appearance fees at big running events. As will Kara and Lauren.
Nutella1 wrote:
As athletes age, their ego becomes their biggest enemy.
I would have thought age was their biggest enemy.
I would argue Shalane is just as popular as Kara with the hobby joggers, but a way better athlete.
Kara has the Mommy factor and beauty going for her. She's not rail thin but strong and muscular in a feminine way. Definite appeal to the 30 and over female crowd.
Adidas need more US recognition and should sign her.
Quickly! wrote:
I would argue Shalane is just as popular as Kara with the hobby joggers...
Honestly, I think that you would lose that argument. I coach/mentor/advise a lot of people who would fit within that criteria: hobby joggers, fans, enthusiasts, a wanna-be, etc. The vast majority of them love people like Kara and Lauren Fleshman, but are only moderately enthusiastic about Shalane.
Drop Goucher, Pick up Cain. Drop Fleshman Pick up Hasay..... The circle of Life.
InWyo wrote:
This is utter BS. The two most popular women distance runners in this country are Lauren Fleshman and Kara Goucher. Kara because of her book and her mommy blogging.
Hasay and Cain are as popular as Fleshman or Goucher, especially in some key demographics.
seems like she should have another few years of getting a lot of local media coverage whenever she does a US marathon
gets her sponsor a lot more than almost any other athlete would.
InWyo wrote:
Fava beans wrote:Not much value in PRs , value comes from winning when your selling athletes to sell shoes . Showing up at expos and mommy blogging don't count.
This is utter BS. The two most popular women distance runners in this country are Lauren Fleshman and Kara Goucher. Kara because of her book and her mommy blogging. She doesn't need to win a championship to sell shoes. At those expos, 20 and 30 something women runners will line up for an hour to get their book signed by her (and most have no idea who Joan Benoit Samuelson, or Mary Decker, or Desi or even Shalane are). Something big would certainly help her out, but it's not a need for her.
Joanie is still pretty darn popular...
Quickly! wrote:
I would argue Shalane is just as popular as Kara with the hobby joggers, but a way better athlete.
A bit harsh. If you look at their adult elite success they are comparable, only Kara was more of the trend setter and trailblazer for American distance running these past few years getting her global medal and significant marathon success before Shalane did.
Wossamotta wrote:
With the general running public, the folks who often get dismissed as "hobby joggers" here, Kara Goucher is the most popular American distance runner. By quite a lot.
Nah. I would say Jordan Hasay, Mary Cain, and Abby are the most popular female distance runners currently.
ah ha wrote:
Wossamotta wrote:With the general running public, the folks who often get dismissed as "hobby joggers" here, Kara Goucher is the most popular American distance runner. By quite a lot.
Nah. I would say Jordan Hasay, Mary Cain, and Abby are the most popular female distance runners currently.
Popular with whom? Not the hobbyjoggers - they barely know of Hasay and certainly can't identify with Cain. High school and College girls may know Hasay and Cain, but that's not the demographic that is being mentioned here as to why Goucher has still more "shelf-life".
KG twitter followers: just under 47000
LFleshman followers: ~22000
SF twitter followers: just over 47000
G_Rupp twitter followers: ~25000
Lolo Jones twitter followers: 370000
Mo Farah: 970000+