Tara Erdmann- No longer in NOP

been there before wrote:

Being a professional runner is probably the most difficult thing to do in all of professional athletics. First, there is no money. Period! Second, they structure your contract so that if you don't produce (even after a year), they cut your salary (if your lucky to get a salary in the first place). Third, if you don't produce after that second year......unfortunately you are history. Finally, these runners are drug tested like no other athletes in USA professional sports. A double standard indeed. The athletes need to form an union.

The bottom line is....... the USATF is inept and incompetent in making this a real profession for some of our finest athletes in the world. It's a total shame.

A total shame.

Wny do you think someone should get paid for not performing? If I didn't produce at my job for 2 years I would get fired as well.

mellow seeds wrote:

Wny do you think someone should get paid for not performing? If I didn't produce at my job for 2 years I would get fired as well.

I think what he was getting at is that plenty of us on this board thought she WAS performing quite well. She had one major injury that set her back but she bounced back and has made a couple great performances the last 6 months or so.

She wouldn't have to change her profile pic, am I right? It's still her photo even if she is wearing Nike gear.

I think Kara used a lot of pics that had her wearing Nike gear while she was on the market for a new sponsor. Nike probably doesn't mind a runner sporting the swoosh when not under contract.

Everyone, including sponsors, are so quick to blame the athlete.

What about the coach? Her injuries stem from her training and her training comes from Salazar.

We know how many athletes Salazar has succeeded with, but how many has he failed with?:

Of the top of my head:

Doriam Ulrey

Tara Erdmann

Alvina Begay

Others?

Alan Webb

AlSal's personality probably has a lot to do with his failed athletes.

It would be interesting if someone on here know the kind of performance language that is used in a runner's contract. It seems like a cut throat kind of business, produce or you are cut. There are exceptions, Rupp could be hurt for 2 years and I bet Nike would not cut his salary, Salazar would be up in arms.

mellow seeds wrote:

Wny do you think someone should get paid for not performing? If I didn't produce at my job for 2 years I would get fired as well.

Many professional athletes in team sports are on multi-year contract, and they get paid even if they miss a whole season with injury.

CPTC Runner wrote:

It would be interesting if someone on here know the kind of performance language that is used in a runner's contract. It seems like a cut throat kind of business, produce or you are cut. There are exceptions, Rupp could be hurt for 2 years and I bet Nike would not cut his salary, Salazar would be up in arms.

Without including specific language, performance requirements can include any or all of the following, for example:

- a minimum number of competitions per year (e.g. 9)

- appearance at US outdoor championships

- opt out clauses if athlete does not compete during a specified block of time (e.g. 6 months, 9 months)

- competition appearance at sponsor events (e.g. the Brand X Distance Carnival)

- media or personal appearance at sponsor events (e.g. race expo, sponsored HS meet)

Sponsor has right to invoke reduction clauses or not, as they see fit. Reductions can easily end up modifying a contract 10-50% of the total.

With Wilson, Cain, Efraimson and sooner or later, Cranny entering the pro ranks, women's standards are going up and the pressure is on for 20-somethings. 4:10/15:20/32:00 ain't gonna get you squat by next year.

a swing and a miss wrote:

Alan Webb

AlSal's personality probably has a lot to do with his failed athletes.

Because Alan Webb never had issues with good coaches. Right?

runtrack wrote:

She ran great at club cross and did pretty well in Scotland considering the conditions. Anyone know where she is headed

NOP's training and competition schedule is geared towards racing at a world class level. Tara has only managed to be at that level for a couple of months in 4 years as a pro and it has not been because of injury. Tara is a good athlete, definitely national class and world class at times, but that is not good enough for NOP. For example, there is a point in the summer when the entire NOP program is in Europe racing DL meets...everyone is expected to be there. If it was her first or second year as a pro, it is understandable; however, going into your 5th year, people stop looking at potential and want to see production.

asdfadsfasdf wrote:

a swing and a miss wrote:

Alan Webb

AlSal's personality probably has a lot to do with his failed athletes.

Because Alan Webb never had issues with good coaches. Right?

Are they that good? How many of them have coached someone to a 3:46?

TrackCoach wrote:

NOP's training and competition schedule is geared towards racing at a world class level. Tara has only managed to be at that level for a couple of months in 4 years as a pro and it has not been because of injury. Tara is a good athlete, definitely national class and world class at times, but that is not good enough for NOP. For example, there is a point in the summer when the entire NOP program is in Europe racing DL meets...everyone is expected to be there. If it was her first or second year as a pro, it is understandable; however, going into your 5th year, people stop looking at potential and want to see production.

So why is Puskedra still there?

From what I've heard, Puskedra is gone too.

No dog in this fight, but the facts are the facts. Tara moved to PDX late in the fall of 2012, so she was part of the 'Project' for two years. Track 2015 will be her third pro season.

@lukepuskedra - last tweet "Headed to the starting line for the #TCSNYCMarathon. All good, let's go!"

fickle NOP wrote:

@lukepuskedra - last tweet "Headed to the starting line for the #TCSNYCMarathon. All good, let's go!"

And how did that turnout?

and............... last tweet from Erdmann:

@TaraErdmann · Jan 24

Wine/ dinner and movie date night with my girl @emily_infeld! Recipe was delish...thanks @ShalaneFlanagan!

Sounds like Bowerman TC to me!

twinker wrote:

and............... last tweet from Erdmann:

@TaraErdmann · Jan 24

Wine/ dinner and movie date night with my girl @emily_infeld! Recipe was delish...thanks @ShalaneFlanagan!

Sounds like Bowerman TC to me!

A perfect example of how elites can make it hard to be fans. Hardcore fans have to read tea leaves just to see what's up with a B squad runner like Erdmann.

If you want people to care, let them know what's happening, in good times and bad (see above item about last Puskedra tweet). If you can't be bothered, then don't get upset that people aren't "supporting our stars" or whatever.