Dedicated to the money and marketing behind running
-
Ryan Hall to Run NYC for Free
Sorta. He’ll be getting paid to run NYC and he’ll receive prize money according to his finish and then…he’ll give it all away!
Ryan and his wife Sara have announced the creation of the “STEPS Foundation”, which will fund programs to create a better life for youth living in poverty in the United States and abroad. The foundation is working with the New York Road Runners club to fund a “Young Runners” club in each of New York City’s five boroughs.
Ryan Hall has made no secret that inspiring young runners is one of the key goals of his career. As a result of the Hall's STEPS Foundation at least 200 children will be introduced to the benefits of running.
According to Runners World.com:
The foundation aims to use running's lessons to encourage people to
take “small steps” toward the goal of tackling issues like clean water, sex trafficking, and leadership development. Domestically, the foundation plans to create mentoring programs for at-risk youth to train for a race with an adult runner.
The name of the foundation is based on one of the couples favorite Mother Theresa quotes: “I can do no great things, just small things with great love.” Sarah Hall told Runners World.com.
Sarah Hall told Runner's World.com:
“Just like the marathon distance, trying to make a difference on
global poverty can seem a daunting task. But just as many small steps add up to a marathon, Ryan and I want to do our own small acts with great love - while dreaming big - and inspire others to do the same, hopefully causing a ripple effect within the running community and throughout the world.”
The announcement of the foundation was made before Sarah ran the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile. In an incredibly tight race Sarah finished third running a 4.23.9. Shannon Rowbury won the race with a 4.23.3.
Sarah will donate her winnings from the race. The six-tenths of a second separating her from the winner cost her $2500 though. As Rowbury took home $5000 for the win, second took home $3500 and Hall earned $2500.
So how much is Ryan Hall putting on the line? Here’s what the type five professional men will earn for the 2009 New York City Marathon:
1. 130,000 ($200,000 if previous champion.)
2. 65,000
3. 40,000
4. 25,000
5. 15,000
Hall donating his winnings is an amazing announcement. As one of the favorites, he is basically running the race for free. When it comes to professional athletes and earnings potential, marathoners are pretty far down the list. There are only so many races they can run in a year. Injuries are common. It’s hard to stay on top of the mountain. So when one of the best runners of his time announces he’ll donate whatever he wins for a major marathon, that is pretty remarkable.
As fellow runners, we all know the professional aren’t in it solely for the money. You can’t be. Running a marathon is to hard and takes too much out of you. You can’t fake it. As a professional you can’t just show up and get paid. You get paid by where you finish. It’s as simple as that. If they weren’t world class the professionals would probably still be out there pounding the pavement in local races on the weekends, just like the rest of us. Still this is an act that speaks loudly to his commitment to charity work.
So kudos to Ryan Hall. The only way this could get any better is if Asics and Nissan – two of Hall’s main sponsors – follow his lead and agree to match his NYC marathon prize earnings with donations to the Hall STEPS Foundation. So, Asics, Nissan…what do you say?
The site isn't fully operational yet, but for more on the foundation the link is here: http://www.thestepsfoundation.org/
0 comments: