When can you call yourself a professional distance runner?

I'd say "someone whom primarily earns their living from running"

In the amateur era, you lost eligibility and became a professional if you accepted ANY money at all. Making a living had nothing to do with it. Using that standard, winning any amount of money even once does it.

Making money from sponsors and race winnings

Jimmy21 wrote:

I'd say "someone whom primarily earns their living from running"

There are some exceptions, but having a contract is what defines you as a professional athlete.

I don't like the idea of shoe company's determining who's valuable. But they basically determine who is of worth, and then seek to brand them with a contract. If you're good enough to be a professional athlete, you're good enough to be offered a deal.

There are exceptions like when Leo Manzano got shafted after his Olympic silver, that show the politics behind contracts and why professionalism isn't limited to a deal.

But honestly I feel if you aren't paid to train. Then day to day, you aren't a professional athlete.

Jimmy21 wrote:

I'd say "someone whom primarily earns their living from running"

I'd agree with this, rather than go for race times or contracts. There's a group of B-level Kenyans that live, train and race in my city, and they aren't very fast (winning 5k's in 14:30, although I suspect they would run faster if needed to win). They don't have contracts and aren't on any team. They do have managers, in some instances. I'm sure I'm describing the situation in many cities. I would consider these people "professional runners", as they certainly earn their living from running. It's all they do.

When ever I want.

when you make money to support yourself, and get free shoes on a consistent basis. I get about 8 shoes a year from my team whom is sponsored by a shoe company. I tell people I'm "semi professional" my times are sub elite right above OLYtrials standards. I'm no PRO

The first time someone pays you money to run in a specific race.

Winning money in a race just males you a prize winner

When your biggest sponsor is NOT yourself.

When running pays your mortgage, utilities, and grocery bill. Regardless of times.

Billie Joe Armstrong isn't a good guitar player but he is a millionaire and a "professional." Meanwhile, the manager at guitar center has chops like malmsteen but lives in his parents' basement.

I'm sure this guy's reading Letsrun. I'm sure if you're this much into running, you'll be visiting this site. There's only so many places you can surf about running and be entertained everyday like here. Maybe the other place is runningwarehouse.com for some deals.

So, the guy who describes himself as Professional Distance Runner, are you doing this as a joke from winning prize money, or do you really consider yourself a professional runner?

HRE wrote:

In the amateur era, you lost eligibility and became a professional if you accepted ANY money at all. Making a living had nothing to do with it. Using that standard, winning any amount of money even once does it.

If you win even a modest amount of money, you need to declare yourself as a professional runner so you can deduct expenses and not have to pay tax on your winnings.

Finishing in the prize money at a major road race, such as Peachtree or any of the top marathons

getting invited to race on the European track circuit

HRE wrote:

In the amateur era, you lost eligibility and became a professional if you accepted ANY money at all. Making a living had nothing to do with it. Using that standard, winning any amount of money even once does it.

The NCAA calls you a professional runner if you accept a $50 prize so why not

Jimmy21 wrote:

I'd say "someone whom primarily earns their living from running"

WHO, not whom

I always define it as making the majority of your income from running. This doesn't discriminate as to whether you have a contract or not, as this can be done with prize money.

I'm a half decent regional-type guy. I get invited status at some big races from time to time, and pick up some prize money at races throughout the year. But it's a far cry from making a living wage, so I work a job at the same time. To put things in simple terms when people inquire about it, I just say that I'm "semi-pro" and liken it to being a prizefighter rather than a title contender.