tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post346801276705305191..comments2024-03-08T22:14:45.450-08:00Comments on Stop Phe: Is That Code for "Unemployed"?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125590309949033688noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-66253818639995911562014-04-24T06:42:28.999-07:002014-04-24T06:42:28.999-07:00I know what happened. It's top secret and I ca...I know what happened. It's top secret and I can't share the knowledge. Need to first excommunicate all the cheaters. Then I will let you know the secret. ;-)alphabetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11528169573599993578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-68154171740885960242014-04-14T09:49:52.552-07:002014-04-14T09:49:52.552-07:00I really enjoyed this post, Phoebe! While I alread...I really enjoyed this post, Phoebe! While I already knew that professional running is indeed a "big girl job", I'd never thought about your sponsors' goals other than their athletes running fast. It was interesting to ponder that. I appreciate your honesty in saying that you are still trying to figure it out. Take care and please keep writing! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08405083721966942472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-86483154618613984652014-04-10T09:39:55.306-07:002014-04-10T09:39:55.306-07:00Thanks, Phoebe. And, when I said that there are m...Thanks, Phoebe. And, when I said that there are many wonderful people who run, including elites (though I don't know any) I meant that I don't know any elites! Not that I don't know any nice elites! I am sure most of you are perfectly nice :-). <br /><br />All of us middle and back of packers know that you guys have a lot on your plate, what with trying to get and keep sponsorships, make teams, win medals, etc. Going as fast as you can is your job, after all. I can imagine that fan stuff outside of running can be a physical and emotional drain and time suck -- the "selfishness" that you mention is really just a form of self-preservation, I imagine. Really, we really just want to run our own little races, and be fans on the side lines cheering you on! <br /><br />Take care and good luck in your upcoming races.Heading Upstatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163137590823149362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-23660381510785991602014-04-10T08:48:13.476-07:002014-04-10T08:48:13.476-07:00I agree. Elites sometimes go into selfish private ...I agree. Elites sometimes go into selfish private land and only focus on getting faster. This is totally not encouraging or approachable to the people who love running for the sake of running. <br /><br />I try to make a point to run races with my aunt and dress up for Turkey Trots, but overall elites suck at putting away the pride and having fun with the public. You have my word, I will get better at this, and I will drag my elite buddies with me. <br />Anyways. If you are in Seattle and feel like a run, I'm always down. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125590309949033688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-72164392074513077402014-04-10T05:40:43.170-07:002014-04-10T05:40:43.170-07:00At the risk of getting slammed . . . I wonder whet...At the risk of getting slammed . . . I wonder whether part of the problem is that SOME in track appear to have contempt for fans. This is NOT directed to you, Phoebe. I don't know you, but I have enjoyed your blogs tremendously. <br /><br />SOME track people are just too cool for school -- they mock "hobby joggers," 45 year-old moms who actually buy the clothes and shoes that support the sport, etc. I can't imagine the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc. publicly doing this. They don't tell fans (at least publicly) that they are too slow, etc. to be fans. They don't tell fans that they should not play in local, pick up games because they are mere hobbyists. They don't publicly mock the "demographic" who buys tickets, gear, etc. I am not an elite, never was and never will be. I am an age group mid-packer -- I've qualified for Boston, but I am nothing to write home about as a runner. But, I am a fan. I don't need to commune with elites. I line up in the back at the start, along with other people of my speed. I train, and I set reasonable goals (placing well in my age group). I think it limits the appeal of the sport when some track people appear to have disdain for the midpack. (I am the dreaded demographic that Jon seems not to like -- a 46 year old mom).<br /><br />Not long ago, I went to a showing of a documentary about Joan Benoit called "There is no finish line." Joan was there, and on the documentary "tour," people could write in and explain how running had changed their lives to win a run with Joan. At each stop, Joan picked three people to be on stage with her to tell their stories. In my city, Joan picked a traumatic brain injury survivor, a women who lost her daughter to cancer who had raised thousands of dollars for research and a former smoker. None is close to being elite. She was generous to a fault with all of them, and honored their achievements. If Joan Benoit can manage to be welcoming and kind to runners pursuing their own, modest goals, with all of her accomplishments, well . . . I don't quite understand why others are so disdainful.<br /><br />This is NOT meant to be a rant. Truly, there are so many wonderful people who run -- elite (I am sure, though I don't know anyone) and non-elite. Just a thought, when considering why certain sports have a wider appeal. Heading Upstatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163137590823149362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-18379565843698163702014-04-09T16:12:29.194-07:002014-04-09T16:12:29.194-07:00I think you are spot on with the marketing assessm...I think you are spot on with the marketing assessment - hopefully projecting more personalities and seeing the recent controversies with the USATF ridiculousness written up in the WSJ with athletes taking strong public stands will get more people/personalities noticed and draw more fans to the sport so they can see what it is all about - I am also hoping we get to the point of that dedicated TV channel - it was cool to watch the NYC marathon live this past year and I am thrilled that many of my son's college track meets are live streamed, we are slowly getting there.....Kathy McGroddy-Goetzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14703512797026669088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-3387310631866360872014-04-08T15:16:42.826-07:002014-04-08T15:16:42.826-07:00I TOTALLY agree. How are people going to see me as...<br />I TOTALLY agree. How are people going to see me as a "professional" if my entire sport feels like it's an amateur sport? If people love Nascar and there is a channel specifically for Golf, there is no reason Track can't be mainstream with a little hype. <br />Tennis, Golf, and Snowboarding did it right. I don't know what happened to Swimming, Track, Gymnastics, and Figure Skating. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125590309949033688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-6839094241801563652014-04-08T14:52:06.942-07:002014-04-08T14:52:06.942-07:00Great Post Phoebe!!! What I thought was missing is...Great Post Phoebe!!! What I thought was missing is the comparison between profession runners and professional basketball or football players in the US. They are millionaires and looked up to by many around the nation. I think runners need to market our sport better and make people more interested in professional track and field. But maybe it's the nature of the sport that fails to attract the masses, however the masses are the key to success of any road race, so it can't be THAT boring. How do professional runners take on this role of marketing themselves and their sport to make track and field athletes similar to the level of professionals in other American sports? A nonathlete, employer or "regular" person would never question an NBA or NFL player's employment or salary because of their perceived success and fame. How can we fix this problem..?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14625115134508616659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-39427457890806644172014-04-07T22:14:42.416-07:002014-04-07T22:14:42.416-07:00What a great post. I enjoy your combination of ser...What a great post. I enjoy your combination of serious insight and humor. Here's hoping you have a great year in 2014!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05915834847318052583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-56124097141023562672014-04-07T12:18:28.491-07:002014-04-07T12:18:28.491-07:00They don't. It's hard
A common misconcept...They don't. It's hard<br /><br />A common misconception is that our job is to solely run fast. That's only a piece of the puzzle. And I am just figuring this out. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125590309949033688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-37112554241132197082014-04-07T12:12:32.945-07:002014-04-07T12:12:32.945-07:00This does make me wonder how many professional run...This does make me wonder how many professional runners understand the marketing goals of their sponsors. Do sponsors share that information with athletes? What would the athletes do with that knowledge?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10299826519226275200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-26363365942718952242014-04-07T10:44:42.686-07:002014-04-07T10:44:42.686-07:00Don't forget you are also an entertainer!Don't forget you are also an entertainer!mscherer400https://www.blogger.com/profile/17101804782297710064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5437130789127251716.post-56095596309828563792014-04-07T10:33:51.870-07:002014-04-07T10:33:51.870-07:00I would make one change: "Our target demograp...I would make one change: "Our target demographic is the running community" should be amended to "Our target demographic is 45-year-old moms."Jon Gugalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10936506787015346604noreply@blogger.com