Brooks CEO: “Running’s not really a sport....Nobody remembers who won the Olympic marathon and what shoe they were wearing”

Dingler wrote:

As a CEO I would never make comments like those, but he's not wrong. Playing flag football three times a week does not make you a football player......

I would disagree with that statement. Playing football 3 times a week does make you a football player. What it does not make you is a PROFESSIONAL football player or an NFL player. This thinking seems to be more common with team sports. As others have pointed out in this thread people that play golf or tennis recreationally are often referred to as golfers or tennis players.

" I talked to a lot of fellow hobby joggers at work after the New York City marathon, most of whom were female, and they were pretty enthused about Shalane Flanagan"

Would they have known who won or been enthused if it was a Kenyan?

Actually they will. The lifestyle market is not going to be impacted by brooks. That's Nike and adidas where you can get lifestyle shoes for sixty bucks. What brooks had cornered was the actual running market, people who run 15 plus miles a week and need quality running shoes that don't break down in a month like cheap Nike/Adidas. That's why catering to running specialty worked for brooks. The "3%"promoted brooks to the non competitive masses who needed shoes that could handle their 30+ pounds overweight for 13.1

In the interest of the sport, all running store employees should de-emphasize Brooks shoes in order to influence Brooks' strategy.

"cured"

Yeah, as a "businessman" (first and foremost), you think he would be more careful....then again, I think he's as bright as your average HS freshman student.

Nick is a cancer wrote:

running4dahigh wrote:

nick symmnonds seems to disagree with his former sponsors CEO's opinion...

Of course he does. Nick makes himself unwanted wherever he goes. Ask Nike if he is welcome back? Same with Brooks.

caller of movements wrote:

In the interest of the sport, all running store employees should de-emphasize Brooks shoes in order to influence Brooks' strategy.

Somebody please get a quote from Kevin Hanson.

lol. Is this serious? "has cured" your injuries

txtrojan wrote:

The Hoka One One Gaviota has cured my shin splints, plantar faciitis, and multiple calf problems that come with running 10 miles everyday competitively. Hoka's are not designed for SPRINTING and they are noticeably superior than Brooks and Nike when it comes to trail/ ultrarunning.

@janitor wrote:

" I talked to a lot of fellow hobby joggers at work after the New York City marathon, most of whom were female, and they were pretty enthused about Shalane Flanagan"

Would they have known who won or been enthused if it was a Kenyan?

I'm sure you're right, they would not have been. The fact that she's an attractive white American who was well marketed before was key.

On the other hand, as another totally anecdotal example to show how "serious" participation does mean some interest in the sport, many knew of Nike's sub-2:00 marathon effort, even if they couldn't identify who was making it!

Again, I'm not arguing that the average hobby jogger who does 5ks or half-marathons is a huge fan of professional running, just that they think of themselves as participants in a sport.

Nick is a selfish idiot.

Wow. In response to this Deadspin piece dated today (1/5):

https://deadspin.com/high-end-running-shoe-company-apparently-on-quest-to-de-1821804621?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

Hip o Crit wrote:

Nick is a selfish idiot.

Brooks employee #1 I see you've joined us.

Yeah, but those Hokas generally last forever, do Brooks? My wife runs about 800 miles on a pair of Hokas, she does about 2,500 miles a year, so that is only three pairs of shoes a year. I doubt the Brooks hold up like that.

Nick is a cancer wrote:

running4dahigh wrote:

nick symmnonds seems to disagree with his former sponsors CEO's opinion...

Of course he does. Nick makes himself unwanted wherever he goes. Ask Nike if he is welcome back? Same with Brooks.

I don't know Nick personally, but trust me, he's after $$$$.

You pay him and he's happy and will say almost everything good about said company.

Look up RunGum.

weird wrote:

hes factually wrong lots of people know who won the olympic marathon and what he wore i assume hes saying that because an athlete wearing brooks has never won olympic gold

Actually he's right, you're wrong. In the big scheme of things there are more people who run / jog, than guys like you who are on this site. I don't say guys like me, as my running career is long over, and with an artificial knee I can only ride.

Compared to the number of people in the world who go from one place to another by foot, he's exactly right.

When you realize that in North Korea they think they cleaned up at the Olympics, winning the 100m mens and also the the World Cup soccer title, its all about who reads about your stuff. Its only impressive on an intellectual level.

I knew a lady many years ago who was fairly well off and connected. She visited the US and had dinner in high places. On return She talked about being at dinner with this real tall black Dr one night. Chatted away all evening. Thought he was great. Everyone called him Dr J.

She never knew any different.

why do marathons pay so much money in appearance fees to the top guys if no one cares

I used to love the Brooks Pureflows but they're so different now. I run in the Saucony Kinvaras these days. After reading about Brooks casting shade at the very people who keep them in business, it puts a bad taste out there for future business. Clearly their marketing is to mostly just sell shoes, not sell shoes to runners. No wonder why their shoes suck so bad these days. They could care less, as long as they look cool, this should go hand in hand with the quality of their shoes.

weird wrote:

hes factually wrong lots of people know who won the olympic marathon and what he wore i assume hes saying that because an athlete wearing brooks has never won olympic gold

Lots of serious runners do, but non-runners? I just asked half a dozen people at work. No one knew. I then asked them to name a distance runner. Any distance runner. Two of them came up with Usain Bolt and then rest came up empty.