5K Road time to get a brand's attention?

sub 14 oughta be a good start

For hoka, 14:30 for track or road

https://www.aggiesrunning.com/s/OLYMPIC_DEVELOPMENT_19.pdf

That is interesting. Maybe I'll reach out to hoka. I've had no luck getting a response from Skechers. I ran 14:26 on the road solo two weeks ago. I know I'm not an elite, but I feel like I can get myself a gear contract if I talk to the right people.

Road times aren’t going to get you a gear contract. Especially in the months leading up to an Olympic year.

You will have better luck joining a club with some level of brand sponsorship. The person that posted the Hoka Aggies PDF didn’t mention the fact that it’s a team based in CA that requires specific race obligations. There is not a single athlete in the history of the Aggies that has gone from club member to truly sponsored.

See if there are similar teams or groups where you are based and start there. Good luck.

Straight shot wrote:

Road times aren’t going to get you a gear contract. Especially in the months leading up to an Olympic year.

You will have better luck joining a club with some level of brand sponsorship. The person that posted the Hoka Aggies PDF didn’t mention the fact that it’s a team based in CA that requires specific race obligations. There is not a single athlete in the history of the Aggies that has gone from club member to truly sponsored.

See if there are similar teams or groups where you are based and start there. Good luck.

True, but race obligations will always be there.

I guess the better answer is to check the regional usatf clubs in your area and see if any have a gear sponsor or any travel sponsorship you can earn. The requirements will be on par of best in your region or barely able to qualify for a national meet. So 14:30 is about the slowest to be considered and being around 14:00 is more likely what's needed. But they're gonna require you to rep the club and run those regional races, but then also support you running nationals. If you are still developing then as you become a national class runner and network with people, you'll be aware of further opportunities. If not still developing, then enjoy doing your hobby for free.

Looking at the results of yesterday's National 5K Road Championships gives me hope. I would have been right in the mix for top 20. I ran 14:37 yesterday at a local USATF Championship race, and have gone as low as 14:26 in the past month. I'll reach out to anyone I can.

Haven't heard you comment on this important factor yet. Also how many IG followers/how is your YT channel?

How relaxed did you look tho wrote:

Haven't heard you comment on this important factor yet. Also how many IG followers/how is your YT channel?

A little over 1000 followers on IG. No youtube channel, not really my scene as I'm not a reviewer/media guy.

I've got the USATF State 10K Road Championships this weekend. Maybe a win combined with a fast time at that distance can help me out. I have tried to reach out to Skechers (my preferred brand) but haven't heard anything back. I know this is a long shot, but I'll keep getting after it to hopefully get their attention at some point.

A little over 1000 followers on IG. No youtube channel, not really my scene as I'm not a reviewer/media guy.

I've got the USATF State 10K Road Championships this weekend. Maybe a win combined with a fast time at that distance can help me out. I have tried to reach out to Skechers (my preferred brand) but haven't heard anything back. I know this is a long shot, but I'll keep getting after it to hopefully get their attention at some point.[/quote]

The question that a company making an investment in you is going to ask themselves: is this runner going to make me any money? Wins and fast times make you moderately more investible, but that's the tip of the iceberg.

Here is another thought:

https://www.tfrrs.org/lists/2776.html?limit=%3C%3D500&event_type=62&year=&gender=m#event62

Just from this past winter season. Should the 200th ranked NCAA kid from indoor get a sponsorship? No. How about the 100th? Still no. As the above posters have said, you need to give the brands something back. You're just giving them road races that you cherry pick with very little competition. Using USATF road racing results and sticking your best time in there as if you ran the race is a poor example. Think 2016 men's 1500m. C'mon man, aren't you a coach?

16:00 for a woman with a good social media following.

Yeah, I think you already found your answer -- 14:00-14:30. Get into the top-20, top-10 at the US 5k road champs.

You should check out sub-elite type training groups. A lot of them have standards to run for the team. If you live in Chicago, for example, you could run for Fleet Feet & get all your gear + race entries for free. The Boston area has a ton of clubs that do this. Take a look & see what's out there.

I don't think that your goal to get free shoes and gear is directly related to running.

Your goal could potential be indirectly related to running: If you run a very fast time, then people will notice you and they will notice what brand you are wearing.

Alternatively, you could be a slow but popular runner that many people notice.

All that the brand cares about is how many people notice you and buy their stuff as a result of you promoting it. The majority of the people who achieved your goal have done it just by using social media effectively to promote themselves and products.

Sounds like a lot of work to get $200-$400 worth of shoes/gear per year (that costs the brand $100-$200). Are you sure you want that? And if it's not Skechers, you'd even have to wear your non-preferred shoes for that ego stoke.

dude...what? wrote:

Here is another thought:

https://www.tfrrs.org/lists/2776.html?limit=%3C%3D500&event_type=62&year=&gender=m#event62

Just from this past winter season. Should the 200th ranked NCAA kid from indoor get a sponsorship? No. How about the 100th? Still no. As the above posters have said, you need to give the brands something back. You're just giving them road races that you cherry pick with very little competition. Using USATF road racing results and sticking your best time in there as if you ran the race is a poor example. Think 2016 men's 1500m. C'mon man, aren't you a coach?

Yes. Why can there be thousands of nfl football players, but a couple hundred in a sport that many orders of magnitude more people participate in post college can't have a couple hundred.

dude...what? wrote:

Here is another thought:

https://www.tfrrs.org/lists/2776.html?limit=%3C%3D500&event_type=62&year=&gender=m#event62

Just from this past winter season. Should the 200th ranked NCAA kid from indoor get a sponsorship? No. How about the 100th? Still no. As the above posters have said, you need to give the brands something back. You're just giving them road races that you cherry pick with very little competition. Using USATF road racing results and sticking your best time in there as if you ran the race is a poor example. Think 2016 men's 1500m. C'mon man, aren't you a coach?

Your point is about just as fair (pulling indoor track results and comparing them to road times) as plugging in certified road times into top races to get an idea (just an idea) of how you stack up. No need to attack the races I choose to compete in or my coaching credentials. Thank you.

Anyway, not sure why you chose to bump this post now...I have given up on this based on how my body responded after that racing season concluded; I was curious at the time if it was something worth pursuing. Nothing more.