It is only mentioned briefly in the article, but the very first step to turning pro in Track & Field is the hardest: you have to achieve some times, marks or victories/near victories on a big enough stage that set you apart from the rest.
Most athletes never achieve real competitive success, so they do not dream of turning pro.
But, other athletes become pro runners by doing other things that set then apart from the rest, even though they are not achieving the running times or results needed to become a traditional pro runner.. These other athletes do other things that make them marketable, even though their current athletic achievements are lacking.
You know who these people are Many pure athletes, and many on these boards, are irked by these people, who seemingly make more money off the sport in other ways than their results warrant. The animosity seems to come from the fact that these people currently promote themselves as elite runners, when they are not
Who are some of these pro runners that are just not that fast now ?
Dean Karnazes
Sage Canaday
Seth Demoor
Alexi Pappas
Jamil Courey
Tony Krupicka
Kara Goucher
Who else?