Ultra Wake-Up Call

Runners have to be more like NASCAR drivers. This isn't a team sport where you get some sweet contract and cruise on with life. You are being paid by a number of sponsors, so you might have to say "Really glad to win this race, the (insert shoe brand/model here) really held up well today.... Now I need to recover with (sports drink)."

Companies don't sponsor runners out of charity. They expect a return.

get used to it. wrote:

Your posts would be excellent on here if you just shut the hell up. WTF would you criticize his youtube videos? If you hate them that much why are you watching them at all?

Sage having sponsors allows him to make his videos and train without having to worry about the daily grind of a regular job. He is more likely to keep those sponsors and get new ones if he promotes them. Just because you are jealous that you don't make a living running doesn't entitle you to be a dick.

I'm not jealous I don't make a living running, I suck at running! I'm jealous I'm not a pilot, being a pilot would be pretty cool.

Why do I watch his videos if I hate them? I have a friend on Facebook who just posts stupid pictures of him and his wife and they're both ugly and they use dumb hashtags like #butterisgooey and I still keep them as friends, why? Cause I like getting worked up and getting mad at them, and then commenting "gross" to the pictures of their kids. I can do what I want, I'm the future!

EZ10Miler wrote:

Runners have to be more like NASCAR drivers. This isn't a team sport where you get some sweet contract and cruise on with life. You are being paid by a number of sponsors, so you might have to say "Really glad to win this race, the (insert shoe brand/model here) really held up well today.... Now I need to recover with (sports drink)."

Companies don't sponsor runners out of charity. They expect a return.

Nascar is a team sport, what are you a foreigner?

[quote]Moby Dick wrote:

Not a team sport like fball, basketball, or baseball. OK is that more clear to you? One person's performance isn't predicated on the performance of their "team mate". jeeze some people...

"Get Used To It"... Guess we'll just agree to disagree on this one. I was not calling out Sage (Great runner, resume, etc.), but just ultra runners in general who go over the top with social media, and seem to think they are better than what they are. As far as pimping products, those who pimp the sunglasses, visors, and bulky water bottle vests are the best.

Some do..

I don't think Sage does.. A few ultra runners have had abuse on here..

So what they step up (or down) from road races.. They don't make good money off it. We all know it easier to be a top ultra runner than a top road runner.

So people step down, thats always been the case, just in the past they have stepped to steeplechase, mountain running.. even hurdling..

Sage is a class runner, so are most of the top guys now, its the 2:35+ runners who aren't.. but even worse is those who we've seen outed on here who are 3+ 5+ 6+ yet still sponsored..

Can you really blame a 2:15-2:20 marathoner making nothing for just running longer and making a comfortable living.. and why does it annoy you? just switch it off.. don't follow them...

Who are some of the other annoying ultrarunners that are overrated and have sponsors? We keep talking about Sage but who else is out there?

Anton K.

Oh man, couldn't agree more about Anton. He's not a name dropper like Sage, but he's treated like the Messiah by the wannabe hipster ultras, as if he's the first dude to show a love for the mountains. Cut his hair, put a shirt on, add an inch to his shorts inseam and he's just another injured runner who can't put together back to back races. But hey, let's keep preaching your minimalist "vibe" bro, how about not DNF'ing for once.

I hope the guys that are promoting products are really benefiting monetarily from doing so. Constant name drops and promotions via social media does get old and seems pretty desperate in many cases.

Another thing I don't get is the runner, ultra or otherwise, who posts on facebook or twitter, "Just finished ____ miles at _____ pace! What a way to start the day!, Boy I"m feeling great!, Weather was muggy but got it in, etc. I wish these drama queens would just shut-up and run!!!!!

Patriot Games wrote:

The reason ultra runners don't get the love on letsrun is because so many (not all) are self-indulgence. Even the fast ultra guys would not win most marathons so they increase the distance raced and find far less competition, have self-promoting websites, boast about the high mileage they run, provide over-the-top race reports, etc. Since the internet and social media is obviously hear to stay, it will likely get worse before it gets better.

Not really. Letsrun prefers hating on people more than loving them. Triathletes and decathletes (to an extent) get a lot of hate on this site because they are not considered elite by people on this board. Ultrarunners do no more attempt to self promotion than other runners of their own sports and there is not necessarily anything wrong with that.

As far as them not being able to win at other distances, a lot of the top marathoners couldn't win 5 and 10k races and there is a lot less competition there. Do you criticize them for that?

I could care less either way about ultrarunners but I have seen more hating than self-promotions of ultrarunners on this site.

you are an ass hat