Is the dream realistic? How many U.S. born men and women are making over $100,000/yr as professional distance runners?

10-15? That's for both men and women.

Many more at $50-$80k?

A rough guess

FelonDJT wrote:

10-15? That's for both men and women.

Many more at $50-$80k?

A rough guess

Sounds like more of a pipe dream.

FelonDJT wrote:

10-15? That's for both men and women.

Many more at $50-$80k?

A rough guess

I think you're right. Unfortunately, they won't make the money public so we'll never know.

Think how much it would help the sport if a high school kid knew that if he/she dedicated themselves they could make a little money for a while before settling down.

Seriously- a lot of kids think they're going to play in the NBA or NFL and it's totally unrealistic but it gets them in the sport.

I had a 9th grade student a couple years ago, he was CONVINCED he was going to get a full ride and eventually play in the NBA. He got cut from our school's JV team. My school SUCKS at basketball. Nonetheless, this kid's life was dedicated to playing basketball.

From some of the pro's I've talked to 30-50K seems to be a reasonable estimate.

Just wow... wrote:

How many kids who dream of running professionally in order to support themselves with a degree of comfort will make it? How many American born males in the U.S. who make over $100K/yr as pro runners? more than 20? 10? Less? How about females?

Newsflash, $100k a year isn’t comfortable when you know you have a shelf life and aren’t qualified to do anything else when you retire at 30, if you are really good.

Unless you are legitimately competing for Olympic medals, being a pro distance runner is a waste of time in America.

FelonDJT wrote:

10-15? That's for both men and women.

Many more at $50-$80k?

A rough guess

Lets guess:

Rupp

Jager

Centro

Jenkins

True

Flanagan

Cragg

Desi

Coburn

Quigley

Ferichs

Houlihan

Sisson

Huddle

I'm guessing here, anyone got anymore to add or subtract?

Are we including trustafarians?

Rowbury

Simpson

Not sure if you call the 800m distance, but how about Clayton Murphy or Ajee Wilson.

At least 50. Maybe many as 100. All of NOP guys and gals alone will make a dozen plus. Then the Bowerman babes. They are out there. Then there are those who live off prize money.

Ryan Hall

Sara Hall

Making over 100k a year just running is an unrealistic dream for all but a couple kids coming out of high school each year. Additionally, the reason it is unrealistic for almost everyone else has little to do with how hard they try or how much/well they train.

More likely to make it in another sport as a professional or as a social media content creator.

Maybe 10-20? A lot more probably make half that. 50k is enough to live on. If I were fast enough I'd trade the amount I make above that for not having to go to work.

Any Ultra dudes pull 6 figures?

I’ve heard Zach Miller and Walmsley say they get paid well by sponsors , therefore working is not necessary. Zach likes working up at Barr Camp but he doesn’t have to.

fgdffdfdf wrote:

Not sure if you call the 800m distance, but how about Clayton Murphy or Ajee Wilson.

We actually know one for sure Boris' contract with NB was for $125K/yr for three years. They got ripped off

umm, every heard of Jordan Hasay?

the fact that not a single person has mentioned her is hilarious. She's making bank, even with her recent injury, more than just about everyone short of Rupp. She also deserves every penny.

The brojos sort of did this already:

https://www.letsrun.com/news/2018/09/pro-runners-salaries-much-professional-runners-make-unveil-one-sports-biggest-secrets/

Some names in the link are missing from the list

fgdffdfdf wrote:

Not sure if you call the 800m distance, but how about Clayton Murphy or Ajee Wilson.

Donavan Brazier.

Hard cold truth wrote:

Just wow... wrote:

How many kids who dream of running professionally in order to support themselves with a degree of comfort will make it? How many American born males in the U.S. who make over $100K/yr as pro runners? more than 20? 10? Less? How about females?

Newsflash, $100k a year isn’t comfortable when you know you have a shelf life and aren’t qualified to do anything else when you retire at 30, if you are really good.

Unless you are legitimately competing for Olympic medals, being a pro distance runner is a waste of time in America.

And this is why the US has few really good distance runners.... socio economics. Relatively speaking there is no money in it.

Not sure you can still call her a professional runner but Goucher makes well over 100,000.