Nick Symmonds to retire: "I never considered myself a runner. Running was a great way for me to market products."

I saw him at TRE and got some rungum samples

That stuff tastes horrible... I mean it's rancid

Dial it up wrote:

All the running fan boys who think their heroes only do it for "love of running" need to grow up. EVERY professional runner does it for $, if they stopped getting paid they would stop running.

Nick is one of the better ones to do it for the US, will miss watching his last 100m

Exactly. All these other guys are probably like 90mpw slogger-type guys that sacrifice so many things in their life just to slog out a 16min 5k every few months. Dude does it because he could be a pro athlete, travel the world, bang girls (when younger), and make some decent cash. He's transitioned himself fairly well compared to other pro runners. Look at 90% of other pro runners, they usually have nothing after they stop. Unless they get a high up role at Nike, which is few and far between and you usually have to sell your soul during your pro career.

Guess you don't want to hear the East Africans are only in it for the money too. Like hell they'd run if they could get a 6 figure desk job.

putin our beloved KGB spy wrote:

For those of us who love the sport of running it was very disheartening to hear.

Two of my friends get rungum product. They gave me about 10 packs. One flavor tastes like pure chemical (the blue one).At work, one of my coworkers didn't have time to get coffee. I pulled out the gum, and warned her...but she said she needed something. She almost puked

Runrincerepeat wrote:

I saw him at TRE and got some rungum samples

That stuff tastes horrible... I mean it's rancid

Is there any objective evidence that he's any good at marketing? I think he's great at self-promotion, but for most of his career so far he's been the product he's marketing. And that he's done well, but what about his other products? Is Rungum the only one and how is it doing?

I'm a fan. The '08 Trials race remains a classic and he was sometimes fun to watch. Sometimes obnoxious but that's not necessarily bad for the sport. Claiming now not to have been a runner suggests that maybe he's going to have a tough go of it once he's left the sport for good. Also doesn't bode well for the summer season, trying to be competitive in a role that you're publicly claiming you never played.

Dial it up wrote:

All the running fan boys who think their heroes only do it for "love of running" need to grow up. EVERY professional runner does it for $, if they stopped getting paid they would stop running.

Nick is one of the better ones to do it for the US, will miss watching his last 100m

But making the statement that Nick made is counter to this very goal. Relatability has a big impact on how well you can sell something. Telling the runners who comprise your customer base, "No, I'm not like you" makes you a bad marketer.

The attempt to to separate his running from his "business" is silly. Regardless of what you think about his assertion that he's a "businessman," the reality is that his "business" is directly predicated on his running career and image as a runner. It's not like he went out and started a business manufacturing machine parts and is now selling out to private equity for a big pay day. He's selling a product called Run Gum that is meant to help runners.

I need to buy ice from him. He's that effing good.

He was also an owner of Sweat Mobile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oSHQv1ykZIT-mobile sponsorship: http://time.com/money/4329336/t-mobile-tattoo-nick-symmonds-olympics/

Jive Turqy wrote:

Is there any objective evidence that he's any good at marketing? I think he's great at self-promotion, but for most of his career so far he's been the product he's marketing. And that he's done well, but what about his other products? Is Rungum the only one and how is it doing?

I'm a fan. The '08 Trials race remains a classic and he was sometimes fun to watch. Sometimes obnoxious but that's not necessarily bad for the sport. Claiming now not to have been a runner suggests that maybe he's going to have a tough go of it once he's left the sport for good. Also doesn't bode well for the summer season, trying to be competitive in a role that you're publicly claiming you never played.

El Cheapo wrote:

Not to mention Brooks's sales have decreased since he has been with them.

Brooks are garbage

Perhaps but Symmonds hasn't helped Brooks sell very much product. Their sales have declined since Symmonds has been their poster boy. If he was this great marketer sales would be up.

counterproductive wrote:

Dial it up wrote:

All the running fan boys who think their heroes only do it for "love of running" need to grow up. EVERY professional runner does it for $, if they stopped getting paid they would stop running.

Nick is one of the better ones to do it for the US, will miss watching his last 100m

But making the statement that Nick made is counter to this very goal. Relatability has a big impact on how well you can sell something. Telling the runners who comprise your customer base, "No, I'm not like you" makes you a bad marketer.

He isn't like them, he's better than them. He gave an honest answer to a question. Get over it.

Dial it up wrote:

All the running fan boys who think their heroes only do it for "love of running" need to grow up. EVERY professional runner does it for $, if they stopped getting paid they would stop running.

Nick is one of the better ones to do it for the US, will miss watching his last 100m

Every pro athlete would stop playing if they stopped getting paid... It's true!

El Cheapo wrote:

Perhaps but Symmonds hasn't helped Brooks sell very much product. Their sales have declined since Symmonds has been their poster boy. If he was this great marketer sales would be up.

Their sales have declined since everyone is buying NB because they support Trump.

rojo wrote:

"I never considered myself a runner. Running was a business of mine" and "a great way for me to market products."

He could probably have marketed himself better on Instagram by being a mid-pack selfie taking #werunsocial clique runner, with only with 3 days a week of training. Marketing fail.

I bought a 12-pack of run gum to try it. Not the best tasting gum out there, but it gets the job done. If I were more of a caffeine guy, I would definitely use it regularly.

I've just gone off him.

People don't watch sport for the bs they hear at work every day.

I've never had issues with someone trying monetizing their personal brand or accomplishments. I appreciate that Nick has brought attention to serious issues with how athletes in track and field are compensated. I appreciate what Nick has accomplished on the track.

I also understand that Nick may well be trying to take a swipe at the organizations (USATF/IAAF) that serve as governing bodies for the sport of "running."

That all said, when Nick makes a statement like this he is taking his fight beyond the real enemies and giving the finger to the fans of track and field. Perhaps this was taking out of context, but at the very least it is very disrespectful to the sport. If making money and promoting your products was all he ever cared about, why spend your first 10 years out of college making money 2 laps at a time? Wall Street or Bain would have served you far better.

The next New York Times article will say: "Rojo Pissed Off At Symmonds For Being A Tool". Actually that sounds more like an Onion article.