Why does a Profession Distance Runner not demand the same respect as other Pro athletes?

cuz they're skinny, intellectual and kind of feminine.

Sorry, sprints are definitely not better for spectators. There's no development. It's like watching a single penalty kick in football(soccer), except no subsequent kicks to determine the winner. Watch the sprints in the NCAA indoors when you don't know any of the athletes. It's just a dry experience. I didn't bother this past winter.

The running event that was best for me to follow personally in the past year was maybe Zegama, but anything in the 45 min-to 4 hour range over mountainous terrain would work. Timewise, similar to a medium to big event on TV. The race develops over time, so there is a story, you get to see skill/fitness in uphills, downhills, there's scenery, but mostly there's terrain. Look how boring cycling races on the track are versus watching stage races in the mountains like the Tour de France.

The best 'traditional' running event in the past year for me was World Cross Country in Bathurst. Those that watched and followed on the LRC board really enjoyed it. Racing for time/PRs/records just doesn't make for good spectating in general. Imagine if the clock and timing had not been invented yet. What makes a race truly interesting would be interesting before clocks were invented too.

The general public dont even know what MLB is nevermind even care about golf.
Nobody cares about MLB players or golf players ether.I saw this post earlier sitting in Midland Cafe the one in Iten city centre.The usual crowed of people were there and even after we Googled MLB and golf nobody had any clue who those so called athletes are ether.

Every one knew of almost all the current pro runners both male and female.

The general public doesn’t know what Major League Baseball is? That’s laughable lmao

What's interesting is that distance running has the highest participation rate of any sport in the US, and yet it's one of the least popular sports to follow professionals. More adults run than participate in any other sport. Part of the problem is the lack of knowledge i.e. what is/isn't a fast time/pace. Part of it is the governing body in charge of the sport. But, mostly it's that there isn't a lot of action to watch in a long distance race. So, I think that running could certainly be more popular than it is given the first two items I mentioned, but the third will always be a limiting factor. I will say, one way to get it more popular is to get the sports gambling sites involved. People care about horse racing and it isn't much more interesting to watch than humans. But people can bet on it.

So many posts read like that stupid chat robot now. I feel like I'm losing my mind.

You get $50 prize money for running a 13 minute 5K and end up with erectile dysfunction from all the mileage.

Everybody can run, or has run at some point, and thinks they'd be "a runner" if they just ran. It's so simple, anyone can do it, because everyone has. Nobody knows what a 2:03 marathon is, or 2:10, or 3 hours.

Most of the US thinks NFL players are the fastest people on the planet, and they don't pay attention to the track meets they show at, and see how they aren't.

No far more people are interested if you've ran Boston or won any other marathons than if you're some no name right fielder in the MLB.

Now in the 202X's we can view almost every major competition and related media 24/7 online. youtube, flotrack, Letsrun, and others.

Olympics, World Championships, NCAA, etc... Now the real fans can search out everything they enjoy.

Distance runners can earn fame and fortune quite simply.

1. Have a vagina

2. Write a book

3. Baselessly accuse someone with a penis of abuse.

The gold medals awarded to the champions of the race walk in London was identical to those Bolt won. I wonder if they got the same respect and adulations as Usain Bolt?

What everyone needs to understand is that if eyeballs follow, so does money and everything else that goes with it. We are not victims as runners, cyclists, ditch diggers, and laborers. We chose to do this.

Male runners in Japan are celebrities and have oodles of college aged female fans that follow them around asking for autographs. I am not sure why the U.S. does not have the same kind of culture, I am just making an observation.

In the same token, cyclists in Holland and Belgium attract hordes of fans and again, have people following them around asking for the used bottles and autographs. In the U.S., cyclists are considered annoying traffic hazards or dopers like Lance.

So maybe the issue is the U.S. not the sport?

Get real. No one cares about track. Do you know the top ping pong, or bowling pros? Same thing. How can you compare track to MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA or for that matter tennis or even soccer. And why do you even care? Everyone knows its not a thing. And all these track pros that actually think they're "somebody" on social media is a total joke and true narcissism

Because distance running is boring and does not generate much interest except for posters on letsrun who never had the genetics for speed, so settled for its poor country cousin of running the distance. Heck,I'm even bored responding to this.

You're on to something with this thought. I really despise the "rah, rah, you're amazing" attitude the majority of running clubs and races seem to have. I get that it's advertising and without the very slow, races wouldnt be as accessible.

I dont mind so much the encouragement given; anything to get people up and active is usually a good thing. However, the idea that the very slow are just as good at running as the elite runners and therefor should be treated the same is ridiculous.

Dont get me started on how some marathons now offer a walking (not race-walking) category...

The NFL exploded in popularity in the 70s. Baseball was still big at that time. NBA and NHL did lag behind.

You really need to read more if you think pro sports weren't that big until the 80s. Baseball, boxing , and horse racing were a major part of American culture. Please, read some books before you post.

"Most of those who don't ever join a team know that they could never compete, so they are jealous and ignore the sport out of spite."

Yeah, I guess that is why the NFL is so unpopular. Only people who made the team watch...