183: Is Athletics A Dying Sport? (And Can We Save It)
Summary
The hosts discuss professional athlete compensation, sparked by Josh Kerr’s reaction to his world record prize money. They analyze income sources like sponsorships and appearance fees, noting disparities between elite stars and mid-tier runners. The episode also covers Andy’s French holiday, a listener gift exchange, and answers a listener question about acceptable pace variance during interval training.
Topics discussed
Intro: Hoka sponsorship and Together to Race Day
Josh Kerr's world record prize money discussion
Training camps, parenting, and upcoming races
Meeting listener Fabian and receiving gifts
Analysis of athlete pay and prize money history
Income disparity among elite and lower-tier athletes
Breakdown of sponsorships, bonuses, and appearance fees
US collegiate system vs UK development paths
Athlete personalities and new championship formats
Is pro running financially worth it? Stats and debate
Running Channel Club promotion and discount code
Q&A: Setting pace bands on running watches
Outro, social media links, and final Hoka ad
Listen ad-free on Castria