If you're a 2:11 guy shouldn't you skip trials and get PAID at Boston

It's an interesting thought. Who are the likely candidates here? All the guys that ran that time at Chicago? I do think they have a shot at qualifying for the olympics. But it's a small one.

Also, what kind of payday are we talking for relatively unknown 2:11 guys? Boston would most likely not give them the same appearance fee that Rupp, Ward, and others would get.

Why not do both if you don't get top 3?

Marathon every month wrote:

Why not do both if you don't get top 3?

This

If these guys cared about money they wouldn't be professional runners.

If they can get top three at the trials, Olympian sounds much better than top American at Boston in 2020. Olympian stays with you a lifetime.

They can always run the trials and if early on it is evident they are not going to be top three, DNF, then run Boston.

Bill Rodgers would have.

Marathon every month wrote:

Why not do both if you don't get top 3?

Confuzzled wrote:

If these guys cared about money they wouldn't be professional runners.

If they can get top three at the trials, Olympian sounds much better than top American at Boston in 2020. Olympian stays with you a lifetime.

They can always run the trials and if early on it is evident they are not going to be top three, DNF, then run Boston.

This

Better option if they cared about money, quit running and go into investment banking

It's not just a chance to get paid, it's also a chance to finish high up against a field weakened by international stars staying fresh for the Olympics and the nation's best marathoners skipping Boston for the Olympic trials. Boston typically brings in a few studs but especially for the women, the trials race may actually be deeper. For some like Linden or Huddle who could very well medal in Boston but no lock to finish top three in the trials, I imagine both the money and possible glory in Boston are very tempting.

It is bad form and will turn off sponsors.

Free_the_thigh wrote:

Confuzzled wrote:

If these guys cared about money they wouldn't be professional runners.

If they can get top three at the trials, Olympian sounds much better than top American at Boston in 2020. Olympian stays with you a lifetime.

They can always run the trials and if early on it is evident they are not going to be top three, DNF, then run Boston.

This

Better option if they cared about money, quit running and go into investment banking

Maybe they don't want to spend their careers stealing money

You roadies can't do 2 marathons 6 weeks apart???? This is why Jim Walmsley is the greatest athlete in the US running spectrum.

Jim will be back doing 30 mile runs in the canyon a week after the trials.

Total prize purse for the trials is $480k. There is also going to be some sort of revenue sharing with 40% of the revenues from the trials being distributed back to the participants. 4th at Boston is $25k and 5th is $15k. They have not announced how the prize purse will be distributed at the trials, but in 2016 4th was about $25k and 5th $20k. Boston does pay appearance fees, but for a 2:11 guy from the US, that appearance fee is not going to be a ton. So, I do not think that the finances justify passing up on a very real shot at making an Olympic team.

I don't understand why you can't do both. Marathon training includes 20+ mile long runs. So an extra 10k or less wouldn't break the body (physically). There's no reason you can't run the Trials, take a few days to recover and just maintain fitness for 6 weeks until Boston.

You'll get paid at the Trials too and there's a possibility that as a 2:11 guy you'll go faster and make the team or catch faster guys on off days and make the team or be in a tactical race and make the team. If you make the team the money you win will be good and your value at future marathons, hence your appearance money, will be more. And, as others have said, it doesn't have to be an "either/or" thing.

But if it were an "either/or" thing, then the obvious choice is Olympic trials.

The money is easily spent, but the trials are something that cannot be purchased.

Plus you could always run Boston the following year.

But hey, more people running Boston and not the trials improves my chances of placing top 3, so go ahead (please)

Shaded skim wrote:

But if it were an "either/or" thing, then the obvious choice is Olympic trials.

The money is easily spent, but the trials are something that cannot be purchased.

Plus you could always run Boston the following year.

But hey, more people running Boston and not the trials improves my chances of placing top 3, so go ahead (please)

Totally agree.

A 2:11 guy is worth no more than $3500 plus travel expenses at Boston.

What’s the point for that measly amount?

Pranuts Pranuts wrote:

A 2:11 guy is worth no more than $3500 plus travel expenses at Boston.

What’s the point for that measly amount?

If that's the case it's probably a better gig than running the olympic trials. Get paid $3500 and compete in a more competitive/prestigious race or burn yourself out to race 75 people on a loop course in Atlanta for no pay?

Racing in the olympics/or World champs is basically racing against sanctioned dopers.