Ultra trail goes big league in the US
There is no global slowdown in ultra and trail running right now it seems. Certainly in terms of prize money anyway, as going by this article on iRunFar the 2012 Run Rabbit Run 100 miler will aim to provide a cool $100,000 in prize money!
According to Bryon Powell:
The prize money is contingent upon entrants and sponsors. The website will feature a “Bunny Money Meter” showing where the prize money stands. The race organizers are putting up $10,000 to start the meter running and are shooting for $100,000. The depth of the prize money will depend on the total size of the prize purse.
Some purists may say that potential prize purses of this size are bad for the sport, sending out the wrong messages. Others may state that the spirit and ethos of the sport is being eroded. Those pro would argue that better prize purses brings ‘new blood’, a better quality of runner (debatable) and certainly increased exposure for the sport.
It’s an interesting situation, and Bryon goes on to pose this and some other pertinent questions. Nice article.
.jpg)
Reactions so far
The Goat Dec 9, 01:13 PM
It’s the brand’s jobs to support the pro athletes. If they feed them well, new blood will try to stand out in a physical AND smart way to integrate official teams and life off their passion.
Big bucks at the end of the race will just ruin the trail spirit, exactly the way it happened 20 years back with Road running in France. Road running was a get away from the track, felt like freedom. Now it’s multi million dollars business and has brought doping into the sport.
I may be naive to still believe that there is no doping on the trails, but suck money calls for such things, and we will eventually see our champs, inspirational trail lovers, fall behind dollar chasers, who will cross the finish line, check in, and check out.
So I humbly call out running brands to stand out and make it happen. It’s all up to you to keep that market as attractive as it currently is.
- Martin