Why don't US elite marathoners take WC marathon seriously?

Very few counties do.

Most countries force their athletes to go which is why there are so many DNf's.

Because for six months of work you earn zero dollars.

Blue Hen wrote:

Because for six months of work you earn zero dollars.

They have Prize Money, and winning, winning any medal or even having a good race, increases your future marketability. There is value in going, but you have to perform. ALSO it sounds kind of nice to say you are the World Champion in anything.

douglas burke wrote:

Blue Hen wrote:

Because for six months of work you earn zero dollars.

They have Prize Money, and winning, winning any medal or even having a good race, increases your future marketability. There is value in going, but you have to perform. ALSO it sounds kind of nice to say you are the World Champion in anything.

Are you really that thick? NO MONEY. No appearance fees. Generally bad conditions. There's no reason to run WC in the marathon.

Americans won't get anything except a sweatsuit at the WCs, whereas they at least get an appearance check at a major.

Follow the money.

Also, no matter what the meet calls itself, the Olympics is the real world championship.

ask and ask and ask... wrote:

Why don't US elite marathoners take WC marathon seriously?

Because there aren't any US elite marathoners, other than maybe Galen Rupp.

Same with the World Cross Country Championships. Why doesn't Galen Rupp run them? So all you whiny little WHOR ES will stop complaining why the American team looks "kenyan."

Worlds and Olympic races aren't nearly as important as they used to be, essentially meaningless in terms of world rankings. Absolutely no incentive to run for the US team.

Greg Meyer once told me that the problem with guys entering elite marathons that want to be good is that they chase money too early. Better off winning a second rate marathon and gaining experience than taking a payday to run a major. Learn the event first.

Dougie wrote:

douglas burke wrote:

They have Prize Money, and winning, winning any medal or even having a good race, increases your future marketability. There is value in going, but you have to perform. ALSO it sounds kind of nice to say you are the World Champion in anything.

Are you really that thick? NO MONEY. No appearance fees. Generally bad conditions. There's no reason to run WC in the marathon.

Track is a professional sport now. The IAAF offers prize money.

$1.26M at the World Relays:

$310,000 at World Cross Country:

Prize money for 2017 World Championships hasn't been announced yet but it was more than $7M for the last World Championships:

What prize money, spread over how many athletes, do you think all of these USA athletes are missing out on..? In other words, do you really think many USA runners are capable of actually cashing in on any really good money ..? Then in other words considering that are so few USA half talents that have any chance of earning the real deal prize money, might as well try to earn a medal in a watered down WC marathon because all the real pros are either just not there or will drop out near to 15km and go home to train to win the money that you're so very worried about.

Blue Hen wrote:

Because for six months of work you earn zero dollars.

Les wrote:

Track is a professional sport now. The IAAF offers prize money.

Clueless. Galen Rupp probably got hundreds of thousands just to show up to Boston and won a lot more prize money on top of it. Worlds does not compare.

HardLoper wrote:

Les wrote:

Track is a professional sport now. The IAAF offers prize money.

Clueless. Galen Rupp probably got hundreds of thousands just to show up to Boston and won a lot more prize money on top of it. Worlds does not compare.

I never said the majors didn't offer MORE money. I was just responding to posters who said World Championships offered none. Obviously, the top guys will go to the majors where the appearance/prize money is a lot more. However, the competition is a lot greater as well.

ask and ask and ask... wrote:

Why don't US elite marathoners take WC marathon seriously?

Well we have won 3 World Championships medals at the marathon. They all date from the '80s and early '90s, though. The more money that flows into the marathon majors, the less reason to run the World Championships, other than national prestige. In countries where there is government support for athletics, a medal could mean a cash bonus. In the US, with no government support, there's not much reason to run a summer championships marathon. Running one would probably also mean compromising preparation for a fall (paying) marathon.

Greg is a nice guy, but that's simply not true. If money is there or not, you're trying to get from point a to b as fast as you can. Yes, it is that simple.

Aqua Man wrote:

Greg Meyer once told me that the problem with guys entering elite marathons that want to be good is that they chase money too early. Better off winning a second rate marathon and gaining experience than taking a payday to run a major. Learn the event first.

Because US marathoning sucks.

Our fastest guy right now, or "best US distance runner ever" is barely a sub-2:10 guy. And that's good enough for us any more.

Our guys don't race. Our guys don't race enough. Our near-great guy don't just fail to race any more, they don't exist. This is an everybody wins world now, and Rupp is good enough. Hobby joggers, all.