The announcers said Molly Seidel works as a barista. Her life is going to change like crazy

Kvothe wrote:

How much do Olympians make? A shoe contract for them has to be at least low 6 figs, yes?

Are you serious?

You do realize that "pro" distance runners barely make any $$$ and basically have to live like ski bums to get by.

.... Actually, ski bums make more $$$ and get to ski every day, so bad analogy.

Maybe curling's a better comparison but I've been told that's a rich person's sport.

Homelessness is not actually a sport but it's probably closest to being a "pro" distance runner.

I don’t think just qualifying for the Olympic team is worth all that much by itself.

I remember thinking manzano was going to cash in after his Olympic MEDAL, but he got dropped by Nike and was unsponsored for like 18 months before he was picked up by HOKA.

For her life to change significantly, she needs to get ~top 15th at Olympics and become a fixture in WMMs in order to become a marketable name like shalane, desi, or even kara goucher. Otherwise she’ll be a forgotten name by most people a year from now.

tothemax wrote:

still here? wrote:

Crazy how a degree from Norte Dame gets you a job as a barista.

Crazy how a degree from (likely inferior University) gets you to incorrectly spell words as simple as Notre Dame.

+1

"I'm about to be an a-hole - let me check my spelling."

- No one, ever

Grenio wrote:

tothemax wrote:

Crazy how a degree from (likely inferior University) gets you to incorrectly spell words as simple as Notre Dame.

+1

"I'm about to be an a-hole - let me check my spelling."

- No one, ever

Actually I always to check my spelling before making a-hole comments. No excuses.

Didn't Des make 7 figures after winning Boston?

It's funny when people are amazed and impressed when they find out elite runners do actual paid work outside running. I mean, good for them I guess, but it's not that big of a deal. I think that for a lot of elites, having a not-too-demanding side-gig would be far preferable to sitting around all day with nothing to think about except running.

yeah I'm trying to be a douche wrote:

Grenio wrote:

+1

"I'm about to be an a-hole - let me check my spelling."

- No one, ever

Actually I always to check my spelling before making a-hole comments. No excuses.

I always to check? huh.

Yes and it likely adds more structure to their day. If they know they have to work at 10AM then that motivates them to get their run in early. If not they could sleep till noon.

Listening to her on the Running with Om pod, even if she gets a bigger contract, it seems that she is seeking a different perspective and fulfillment to her life. At this age I think she can work and train. It does not appear to be affecting her performance. Who wants to live like a monk simply running?

If you follow some other profesh runners, they either play video games or watch TV when they're not running. Good on her for at least trying to stay engaged in other ways.

nahjjjjj wrote:

Our sport is a joke. There’s no money in it.

That's because the U.S. treats it like a joke.

If she were an Olympian from any country that appreciates distance running, she'd be paid much better.

Osako has so far won $2 million for his two NRs alone, and he appears in Japanese TV commercials every day. So you know he's doing well financially.

That's because distance running -- and T&F in general -- is still revered in Japan because interest in the sport hasn't been annihilated by the cash cow sports -- baseball, basketball, and football -- as it has in the U.S.

So I guess the lesson to be learned is, if you have the talent to be a professional runner, don't be an American.

Rachel1 wrote:

She makes enough money to travel to Ethiopia to train about a month ago according to her Instagram.

That seems like a nice vacation.

That might have been a business trip for her work in coffee. Kenya and Ethiopia are two of the most esteemed coffee origins, and the farms are located at elevation, generally the same conditions that are good for training. I wonder why there aren't much prominent distance runners from Colombia which is Latin American counterpart of Kenya and Ethiopia when it comes to coffee.

I worked as a barista while I was in college. Miss that job.... it's lots of fun. Also I f*ckin love coffee

She'll get better appearance fees now that she's an Olympian. And living in Boston isn't cheap.

ND roster said-Enrolled in the College of Arts & Letters and is double majoring in anthropology and environmental sciences. Those are a lot of words to say barista.

Westside wrote:

Don’t be naive. $65k for second place. Plus I’m sure a huge bonus from saucony. She’ll make more money in 2020 running than she could with her ND degree.

nahjjjjj wrote:

Won’t change much. There’s no money in our sport. Period.

This is a very naive post. Why do people insist on being disillusion about the earning potential of US distance runners? Money wise, it is a dead end sport. We have sub-2:10 caliber runners without ANY contract, that should tell you something about their worth to the sponsors. Unless you come from a country that will support your lifestyle or where you can live off a couple of dollars per day, you better be doing this for the glory. Even then, you are still likely to get robbed by dopers.

lcl2006 wrote:

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

Right, that should say it all... Rupp is basically the ceiling for distance runners globally. Kipchoge is probably better paid but don't be surprised if not by much. Why? Because they don't have to pay them much. Distance runners are mostly price takers, not makers. Rupp is white and connected, so he has more value than foreign-born distance runners. Why would anyone think that distance runners, with the exception of a few, can command big bucks?

Trollminator wrote:

Westside wrote:

Don’t be naive. $65k for second place. Plus I’m sure a huge bonus from saucony. She’ll make more money in 2020 running than she could with her ND degree.

This is a very naive post. Why do people insist on being disillusion about the earning potential of US distance runners? Money wise, it is a dead end sport. We have sub-2:10 caliber runners without ANY contract, that should tell you something about their worth to the sponsors. Unless you come from a country that will support your lifestyle or where you can live off a couple of dollars per day, you better be doing this for the glory. Even then, you are still likely to get robbed by dopers.

My rough estimate is that a 2:09 today is a 2:16 in the early-80s, which was a ho-hum time that might have won a few small town marathons. I didn't know a single 2:16 guy in 1981 that was a running "pro," everyone had full time jobs.

No difference today.

Someone mentioned Osako. Until we have a FEW guys running 2:05, and a FEW women running under 2:18, we're Pop Warner level at best. Since the forecasts are for a "boom" of guys running 2:08 or 2:09 any day now, nothing is really going to change.