The same thing could be said about Elite training camps.
Shows why there is so much depth from E. Africa compared to the US. Athletes in E. Africa go away to Iten and Addis to train 24/7 with elite groups. If successful, they will be set for life financially and will be able to support their immediate family (a dollar goes a long, long way in E. Africa). The alternative to a training group is usually poverty or a very minimal lifestyle with a very difficult and dangerous job (prison guard, soldier, laborer, miner, etc.).
In the US, athletes are making sacrifices from day one compared to their peers. Everyone else gets to eat what they want, party all they want, study as hard as they need to/want to, sleep in, skip class, go on a road trip, go to concerts, chase girls, play ultimate Frisbee, touch football, soccer or whatever, whenever they want. Anyone going pro will be giving up or delaying grad school. With the exception of a handful of the best of the best, most will turn pro and live off of pennies. And the pressure is enormous given all the sacrifices made to get to the top of the sport.
(most) American road races don't help the sport in the US. I've seen marathons with as low as $500 to the winner, or no prize money at all. Sadly, many of the biggest 50 cities in the US, mid size marathons offer 3-5 deep prize money with the winner only getting $2000, instead spending thousands on bands, on course entertainment, post race concerts. To get to the Africans' level our pros need to be living the dream and subelites should be very well off.
Colin Sahlman runs 1:45 and Nico Young runs 1:47 in the 800m tonight at the Desert Heat Classic
Megan Keith (14:43) DESTROYS Parker Valby's 5000 PB in Shanghai
Molly Seidel Fails To Debut As An Ultra Runner After Running A Road Marathon The Week Before
Hallowed sub-16 barrier finally falls - 3 teams led by Villanova's 15:51.91 do it at Penn Relays!!!
Need female opinions: I’m dating a woman that is very sexual with me in public. Any tips/insight?
2024 Boston marathon - The first non-carbon assisted finisher ran..... 2:34