What is the equivalent to being a 2:20-2:30 marathoner in other sports?

gahagand wrote:

Football (or soccer) is a much better comparison than any American sport. With no stats, just gut feelings, I'd say a 2:20 guy could probably be a low-level Premier League player. 2:30 is a bit harder, maybe MLS level? Maybe worse though, but considering there are ~50,000 pro footballers, even taking into account the relative size of the two sports, 2:30 could probably get you a low-level football contract (because there's so much more money in football relative to its size).

Folks are underestimating what outliers pro athletes are. 2:30 marathoner as a footballer doesn't make it in second division in European leagues. He plays for his town club.

The true answer is that the equivalent player in other sports is the player who makes the same amount of money as an average 2:20 or 2:30 marathoner. The money available determines how competitive of a sport it is. Lebron is way greater than Kipchoge because he makes way more money than him. Kipchoge is closer to a end of roster NFL, NBA, or MLB team while a 2:20 guy is closer to low single A in baseball or a guy who can pick up some cash in a competitive city basketball league or make some cash hustling on the blacktop.

rojo wrote:

another runner wrote:

There are 300 players in the NBA , 1200 players in the MLB, and 1696 players in the NFL.

The equivalent times according to the IAAF from 2017 would be:

2:12:21, 2:22:39, 2:26:58

.

That's not a good way to think about it at all. Imagine if there was a guaranteed salary of $450,000 (NFL minimum) for running a 2:26:58 marathon as a man. I think the number of 2:26's would go about by at least a factor of 10. Not many dudes' bother to run 2:25 as there is little to no money in it.

By 2:26:58 is only like a 15:05 5k according to McMillan. Let's call it 15:00.

The 500th D1 time last year was 14:46. Considering #400 was 14:38 there could be close to 1000 collegian men who could do it. Now not all of them will upgrade to the marathon well but whatever. There is no way that 2:26 is equivelent to being in the NFL.

Your assumption that more runners would run 2:26 if they knew money was available is fair. But you aren't taking into account that 100% of 2:26 marathoners are non-pros. They hold down jobs, they run early mornings, etc. They don't sleep like pros, eat like pros, have access to recovery practices like pros, etc. If you let today's 2:26 marathoners do running and only running, several would be quite faster.

someone is triggered wrote:

2:30 is nothing special, unless you are a woman

Only on Letsrun.

Has there been a thread that's collected all the stupid responses that affirm the "standard LRC poster has a 14min 5k, $200k salary, hot girlfriend/wife" meme?

A Baseball comparison--similar pay in this scenario at the low end. At the high end baseball pays a lot better. Also, baseball supports a large number of professionals.

World Major wins/Olympic medals-->All Star Game

IAAF Gold Label/World Major consistent top 5 to 10 performance-->MLB 25 man roster

2:09-2:16, with no World Major/Oly Credentials-->AAA

US OT Qualifier-->A to AA (2:20 is definitely A ball level; and probably very little money available)

2:30-->Not a pro, but a really good rec player

america running needs a wake up wrote:

Well right now a 2:20 marathoner is like top 15 in the USA for the year so I guess you're like a starting NFL quarterback?

Most races where people run 2:20 or better aren't USA-only. Look at how many Kenyans, Ethiopians, and Japanese have run better than 2:20 just for 2018 alone.

Exactly, unlike in other sports, US marathon is not the premiere level of the sport. As a marathon nation the US plays a similar role as Japan does in baseball. Decent Regional development, with a few guys making it big, but certainly not the premier level.

There are probably 30ish athletes around the world making good money (all the way up to big money) as road racers and that is the professional level. Most of those athletes are Kenyan, and Ethiopian. Add 3 Americans and 3 Japanese at any given time and maybe 5 or so continental Europeans. Then add occasional South Africans, Chinese and Australians and that is your professional marathon line up. The rest are minor league.

There is actually good professional money in road racing. It is just hard for Americans to come by since it is a world wide sport with other countries who do it better.

hardset nipples wrote:

america running needs a wake up wrote:

Well right now a 2:20 marathoner is like top 15 in the USA for the year so I guess you're like a starting NFL quarterback?

Most races where people run 2:20 or better aren't USA-only. Look at how many Kenyans, Ethiopians, and Japanese have run better than 2:20 just for 2018 alone.

I don't know if it helps, but an all-time Canadian 1500m race would end like this (if all time-machined at their peaks to one neutral race, all things being equal):

1. Kevin Sullivan 3:32.63

2. Graham Hood 3:34.88

3. Nathan Brannen 3:34.89

4. Charles Philibert-Thiboutot 3:35.61

5. Taylor Milne 3:36.67

6. Steve Agar 3:37.73

7. Geoffrey Martinson 3:38.88

8. Doug Consiglio 3:40.03

9. Justyn Knight 3:40.28

10. Jeremy Rae 3:41.06

11. Cam Levins 3:41.09

12. Thomas Riva 3:41.55

There are about 2000 players who have at least 1 point on the ATP Tour.

#2000 in last year's marathon list was 2:28:55. 2:30:00 was #2200.

So 2:30 is slightly worse than the worst tennis pro on the tour.

2:20 is #984. That's an average player in $15,000 Futures tournaments.

Yeah Marty was actually recruited....

big game marty wrote:

Pocius saw playing time. The guys at the end of the bench K doesn't trust on the court to dribble out the game. They are just on the team because their dad owns the celtics (or that was the case in previous years).

2:20 - 2:30 = Cleveland Browns

Won't win anything legit, unless playing against High Schoolers

Probably 4:10 for T&F