Change of Perspective - Thoughts Inspired by a Super Fan

  I took some time recently to catch up with Derek Rubis, arguably distance running's biggest fan after our first interview took place nearly a year ago.  The original interview can be found here.  Talking with Derek led me to think about the sport and areas that we would look to change, specifically in the marketability of athletes and perceptions held of elite athletes.   

  The beautiful thing about Derek is he loves both participating in track/cross country but also loves to support the sport as a spectator.   Derek continues to pound out mileage and has a pretty hefty outdoor schedule ahead of him where he hopes to crack 11:00 for 3K, 19:00 for 5K, and 40:00 for 10K.  Derek is also hoping to crack 11:30 for the steeplechase, an event where has coaching input from one of the nation's best in Billy Nelson of Colorado.  This relationship shows a positive quality of the sport in that one of the nation's elite in Nelson has taken the time to befriend a fan.  This shows the perfect opportunity for a marketability  we can highlight.  As looking for "stories" in the sport can be an issue things like this should be pounced on.  Lets market every opportunity like this where the stars and top athletes do great things.  Nelson could have brushed Derek off as easy as the next guy, but he didn't and now according to Rubis they keep up casual contact.  Its athletes actions like this that should be publicized.  If Aaron Rodgers reaches out to a fan it's all over ESPN; I think we should hold our athletes in the same regard.  Rubis agrees.  He suggests that the best ways to promote the sport to big fans and casual fans is more mainstream media outlets.  Whether that be ESPN, NBC, or simply even the front page of local papers, more exposure should mean fan base growth.  I agree.  I think it's great that Derek could so casually form a relationship with Nelson after attending the Olympic Trials, but that also highlights a perspective we need to look at for the sport.  We market the best runners as just normal people that everyone can relate to when in reality they are nothing of the sort.  We say things like "run with an Olympian " at road races.  It's all fake though, as lining up next to them may be the only thing we have in common with those Olympians.  Most people cannot comprehend the work they put in or the ability they have.  The runners like Ritzenhein, Rupp, Farah, Flannagan, Goucher, Fernandez, and Jager are not normal at all!  They are freaks! (In the best of ways)  No matter what the average person does they will never run like these people do.  Just like no matter what the average person does they will never play ball like Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant.  We treat those basketball players like gods, we should treat the best runners like them too.  So what makes them more god like in addition to the way they run?  The fact that Nike, Brooks, Asics, etc. pays them to run.  If only we knew how much right?  Releasing this makes the pros seem more professional and helps bolster this idea that they are indeed superstars.  I know it's not as if they will be paid like Kobe but getting paid 100K a year to run is pretty damn solid.  Releasing more information about racing schedules and developing rivalries would help too.  Announce fields well in advance..... quit this waiting until the week of crap.  Give time for some excitement to build and only pull out of the race if you truly must!  Let's see Rupp versus Lagat more often and make a big deal about it.  Lets respect the fact that these blazing fast runners can put on a hell of show when they go head to head.  Rubis appreciates this idea as no one has more respect for fast runners than he does.  Rubis gets excited when the best do well, he gets excited when the average do well, he even gets excited when the slowest of the slow do well.  This is what we need to build off of.  This excitement at all levels is valuable at involving everyone but expressing how great the best are is what makes the spectator or fan experience valuable.  The Olympics happen every four years, but there are years of stories in between that the public would love and we are missing the boat by not promoting these stories.      

  I asked Derek what the most valuable piece of information he would give to any runner was and he replied with a quote from Steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti, " You can let things destroy and lead to self destruction or you can destroy the things that keep you from fulfilling your true potential"  I see this as the perfect response and fitting for the tone of change we seek in the sport.  It's our older way of thinking that keeps us from fulfilling our true potential, perhaps destroying or at the least changing that way of thinking will lead to the long term growth of the sport's fan base.  Let's stop pretending the best runners are just like us and let's take advantage of every opportunity to promote the stories that will help get us and keep us in mainstream media channels.  Hopefully this blog helps you to take a step back and think about how you or anyone can grow the sport we love.  I know that this may lead to more questions than answers, but without a doubt thinking about things is the first step.  Thank You to Derek for helping inspire runners everyday and to help shape the thought that went into this.          

Derek Rubis + Danny Stults = Derek Stults

You May Recognize Some of Derek's Famous Face In Hole Pictures As Many Runners Consider Being "Rubisized" As An Essential Step To Making It.