How Much Cash Would It Take to Get a Sub 12:55 Race?

$15K for the winner if he runs 12:50 or under, $4,000 to a rabbit to bring the field through in 7:40, a bonus of $1K if it is well split (no 3:45-3:55 BS).

The reason fast distance times dont happen anymore is simple: guys like Mo Farah have ruined the sport.

He is the epitome of what's awful with T&F now. A multi gold Olympic and World Champion who has refused for years to ever attempt to run fast (save for a 1500 when he got dragged to the time by Kiprop) instead preferring to sit in kick in ALL races. This is the key here - I don't fault him for doing it in championships but he does it in every single race he runs, from DL races, to small/local meets and everything in between.

He's the definition of why the sport is dying an embarrassing death. I'm a track fan and don't even bother to watch any DL races above 1500m let alone pay to watch them at a meet. The 5K and 10k have effectively died on the pro circuit following 2009 and it will never be the same.

Many studies have shown that money is not the best motivator for achievement. Things like happiness, impact, and even proving others wrong rank higher than cash.

So maybe focusing more on the public's perception of fast times or creating more compelling "good / evil" storylines would be a more worthwhile endeavor than just upping the prize purse until we reach a breaking point.

See:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120509-is-it-all-about-the-money

habs wrote:

Many studies have shown that money is not the best motivator for achievement. Things like happiness, impact, and even proving others wrong rank higher than cash.

So maybe focusing more on the public's perception of fast times or creating more compelling "good / evil" storylines would be a more worthwhile endeavor than just upping the prize purse until we reach a breaking point.

See:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120509-is-it-all-about-the-money

Are these studies conducted on subsistence farmers from rural Africa?

In don't like the races lately either but I can't just blame Farah. The other guys should try to run away from him. They do the same thing when he is not in the race. My guess is no one thinks they can get close to 12:45 or 26:30.

Good idea. On similar note, I want to see Kiprop go for the WR in the mile and 1500. Could LRC start a kickstarter crowd fundraising for a prize to whoever breaks the mile record?

You think it's just a matter of cash?

malmo wrote:

You think it's just a matter of cash?

Yea, look at the marathon. Why don't you provide an explanation for your answer?

You'll get a fast 5000 if the prize purse is similar to a major marathon.

wejo wrote:

I'm amazed at how slow all the 5000m go these days.

How much cash do you think it would take to get a sub 12:55.

We'd need one good rabbit but also some bonus $ to encourage the runners to go with the rabbit.

It shouldn't be that hard unless the drug crackdown is why guys aren't running sub 12:55 but I don't think that's the case.

Yes, I agree. I was so disappointed to see such slow results from Oslo today. The best runners in the sport need incentive to put up fast times or PRs, not just beat others.

It's not a matter of cash to run 12:55, but it is a matter of cash to buy a guy who would run 13:02 to go give up that chance to lead hrough 4k in 10:15.

the elite women are embarrassing the men right now. ayana, genzebe, meseret, tirunesh, cheruyiot, eunice sum, and more have chased fast times and records over the past 10 years while the men are slowing.

I agree. The 5000 and 10,000 have become boring. The last really exciting 10,000 I have seen was back in 2009 when Tadese attacked Bekele in Berlin and pushed the pace early on.

Perhaps they should provide lap for lap premiums for each and every runner who hits the required cumulative lap time. The premiums then increase throughout the race. This might motivate guys to go out fast and stay fast throughout the race.

Absolutely correct. Mo Farah is to blame for the slow 5k in Oslo, and perhaps for every slow 5k that has ever been run in history! I don't watch the races over 1500m either because I've heard that Farah has told everyone to jog round even though he rarely makes a diamond league appearance, what a spoil sport!

I heard Farah jogged his last two 10ks in 27:01 and 26:53! What a loser. He is ruining this sport. He also sent word to Muktar Edris and Kamworor to sit and kick to 12:58 in Eugene. If only Bekele was still taking EPO, he wouldn't stand for this rubbish! Bekele always ran sub 12:40 even in the Olympic heats.

Drew Hunter is also to blame for Kiprop's 3:50+ mile runs this summer. He stole the thunder from Kiprop in Eugene, which upset the big man and now he is throwing 3:51 mile tantrums.

Damn English speaking fools, ruining athletics for everyone!

losing interest wrote:

I agree. The 5000 and 10,000 have become boring.

We need them, or we'd never see the javelin or high jump, unless the TV people learn about picture-in-picture technology

Did I say Farah was soley to blame for all of this? No, I did not. I said he is just the epitome of what's awful about T&F distance running now.

And the fact that you are impressed by 10k times around 27min shows just how far the sport has fallen.

Bad Wigins wrote:

losing interest wrote:

I agree. The 5000 and 10,000 have become boring.

We need them, or we'd never see the javelin or high jump, unless the TV people learn about picture-in-picture technology

Brilliant concept, that picture in picture idea. Someone should invent that. Seems simple enough.

This is similar to what's happening in tennis, the other sport I follow. The game is dominated by a couple guys with overly conservative styles of play which are boring to watch.

i doubt it would take that much. just need to have some kind of time bonus

Actually, you stated quite clearly that Mo Farah is the reason that we don't see 'fast' times in the 5k and 10k anymore:

How far the sport has fallen hey? 27:01 is slow for a championship now is it? The opening kilometer was slow then it was 2:40s from there. Exactly what I was getting at with my post, nostalgia blurs your memories. 2015 was the third fastest 10k in a major champs ever, that is the Olympics and the World Champs combined.

Be prepared for Bekele's Olympic 10k record to go in Rio by the way. I'll dig this thread up in August.

The EPO era of Bekele is gone. Get used to 26:50s.