Pro contracts dropped for 2018

Ruth Less wrote:

OTCSucks wrote:

Why is anyone surprised that Dunbar was dropped? Has he done anything since college? If you want to keep your Nike sponsorship you need to either...

1. Be fast

2. Be good looking

Dunbar isn't either of these, so he was dropped by Nike. Mac Fleet on the other hand is a good looking guy with a solid presence on social media.....so he still has a contract.

Trevor was a 13:26 guy in 2017, which is close to a top 10 US time. Additionally he was 7th at the USATF outdoor finals in 13:30. He also provided some great PR to the sport and to Nike with his Great Alaskan Mile Series in the fall. Hoka loves Kyle Merber for his efforts at giving back to the sport and providing awareness of the Hoka brand when he serves as race director of the Long Island Mile in September. Trevor is a top ten performer and a great ambassador to the sport. It's a shame Nike doesn't value such things.

Retired in 2015 wrote:

I was an athlete with a modest contract that made many mistakes during my career. Number one is getting too tied to a Coach that doesn't have a shoe deal available to you right NOW. Unsponsored training camps are useless when it comes to trying to pay the bills. I loved my coach but missed out on opportunities by not looking elsewhere.

Ritz has new life in the sport because he contacted a group that already has a shoe deal. I now wish that I would of made that same decision.

Many athlete reps will tell you that there is "nothing out there" that is agent speak for my contacts aren't doing anything right now. Make your own contacts directly with the financed groups. Get a hold of Danny Mackey or Ben Rosario or Pete Rea or Kevin Hanson or Gags. Don't contact Hoka or Brooks or Reebok directly as that was my mistake. I believed that if I ran well the sponsors would come forward. NOT TRUE.

There are homes out there for quality athletes that feel like they still have things to accomplish in this sport. Some of the names on this thread fall into that category.

I ran into a couple of those guys that have sponsored groups since I retired and they both said the same thing. "You should of called me".

Its not all money wrote:

REAL DOLLARS wrote:

I don't understand how so many people seem to survive in the sport. I know for sure several top 10 US athletes in their events who do not make money, yet they're off at altitude camps, traveling everywhere, etc. So many of these young men/women play the part of professional runner. I see how some groups help find a job and they also get a "shoe deal" which includes gear and some travel monies, but the monies don't add from the outside. And talking about Bowerman or NOP, but OTC, NYNJ, Brooks Beasts? Do their coaches get paid and they receive money to run the club and cover their athletes expenses?

Zap Fitness is the only funding model which makes any sense and they're much more focused on the roads.

There is more money in the sport than ever now. There are more financed clubs/teams than ever before.

Athletes in the 70'sand 80's never had the dollars available today but survived and ran well. You worked part time, you lived frugal, you figured it out.

Shoe money helps but it should not be the reason you run/race.

There is a reason so many of our runners today are soft, they never have had adversity in their lives.

Retired in 2015 wrote:

I was an athlete with a modest contract that made many mistakes during my career. Number one is getting too tied to a Coach that doesn't have a shoe deal available to you right NOW. Unsponsored training camps are useless when it comes to trying to pay the bills. I loved my coach but missed out on opportunities by not looking elsewhere.

Ritz has new life in the sport because he contacted a group that already has a shoe deal. I now wish that I would of made that same decision.

Many athlete reps will tell you that there is "nothing out there" that is agent speak for my contacts aren't doing anything right now. Make your own contacts directly with the financed groups. Get a hold of Danny Mackey or Ben Rosario or Pete Rea or Kevin Hanson or Gags. Don't contact Hoka or Brooks or Reebok directly as that was my mistake. I believed that if I ran well the sponsors would come forward. NOT TRUE.

There are homes out there for quality athletes that feel like they still have things to accomplish in this sport. Some of the names on this thread fall into that category.

I ran into a couple of those guys that have sponsored groups since I retired and they both said the same thing. "You should of called me".

comeonnow wrote:

Top runners in our sport survive because most come from upper-class families. Their schooling was likely funded either through large scholarships or their parent's money. The best runners are typically highly intelligent, so it would not surprise me if top runners have full rides once both athletic and academic scholarships are taken into account. They have no debt coming out of college, have a nice car (provided in full by their parents), and are usually good-looking.

Here is an easy and likely situation for a 22 year old 13:45 guys coming out of college. Let's say his college was paid for in-full except his room and board (500/month lets say). Let's say his parents paid for his room and board during college. He approaches his parents once graduation nears and asks if they would continue to pay him 500/month for the next year as he pursues his dreams. Once guy improves to 13:40 the following year, dad is totally down with another year of support. 6k/year comes in handy especially as this 13:40 guys is on a team with free room, travel, gear, shoes, free massage etc. Mr 13 40 has few expenses. Healthcare is not an issue as the average retirement age of a pro runner is 26 and you can stay on your parents insurance til then. Gas and food are only expenses and are definitely not over 500/month. Survival is not difficult if you come from the right family and are reasonably intelligent.

Run Smart;) wrote:

Retired in 2015 wrote:

I was an athlete with a modest contract that made many mistakes during my career. Number one is getting too tied to a Coach that doesn't have a shoe deal available to you right NOW. Unsponsored training camps are useless when it comes to trying to pay the bills. I loved my coach but missed out on opportunities by not looking elsewhere.

Ritz has new life in the sport because he contacted a group that already has a shoe deal. I now wish that I would of made that same decision.

Many athlete reps will tell you that there is "nothing out there" that is agent speak for my contacts aren't doing anything right now. Make your own contacts directly with the financed groups. Get a hold of Danny Mackey or Ben Rosario or Pete Rea or Kevin Hanson or Gags. Don't contact Hoka or Brooks or Reebok directly as that was my mistake. I believed that if I ran well the sponsors would come forward. NOT TRUE.

There are homes out there for quality athletes that feel like they still have things to accomplish in this sport. Some of the names on this thread fall into that category.

I ran into a couple of those guys that have sponsored groups since I retired and they both said the same thing. "You should of called me".

^^Totally agree^^

Yeah, the Hanson's Program is a really decent deal for someone coming out of College. To have a house to stay in, athletes to train with and for them to get you to and from out of state races is simply too hard to do on your own. Their shoe/gear deal with Brooks is excellent. Unless you get a super nasty Winter, it's a great place to train and I believe if it gets really bad, they fly down to Florida for several weeks (not 100% sure on that). Just an example of one of several opportunities available.

Nuts and bolts wrote:

This is best I can gather:

NOP/Bowerman

Athletes make bank and there is terrific funding for massage, travel, camps, etc. coaches paid big time.

OTC

Couple make great money, but half don’t make much money at all (12-15k) but love the swoosh. Massage, travel, and camps but hard to pay rent and eat for the non-stars. Coaches paid big time.

NYNJ

Huge spectrum of contract monies from great contract to zip. Everyone is HOKA except Gregorek who ended up only Worlds rep from club this year (Asics). Gags and some assistants get paid well. There is no support beyond contracts except for massage. Easy coast is great for travel savings indoors, some really struggle to get West outdoors.

BEASTS

Contracts between $100-60k which is pretty awesome. Seattle is expensive though. Danny paid quite well and Club seems to have enough money to be anywhere/everywhere, but his old connection left and support may not continue at this level?

NB BOSTON

Coogan paid well and club is funded. Again, huge difference in contract levels and Boston is expensive. Group was built for D’agostino but best hope is McGee who has just renetly jumped up to high level. Not sure how the bottom half of this group survives.

ZAP

Provides housing, food, travel, massage. In turn, they have to work at the Zap facility as counselors. Reebok supports with a little too. Pete Rae not paid except through the camps they run.

FURMAN ELIITE

Asics barely sponsors with gear and very small contracts. They do however pay for housing, travel, massage, and camps. Gary is paid as the coach of the University team there.