Minute 1: LeBron offers $1 million prize to obstacle course runners
LeBron James just announced that he will award $1 million to the winner of a new TV racing event. Contestants will have to clear obstacles on a one-mile course through city streets – while being “hindered” by some celebrity athletes. (Serena swatting you with a racket? Steph Curry lobbing threes at your head?) LeBron may have been inspired by a friendly debate last year with Malcolm Gladwell about who would win a mile race between the hoop star and the best-selling author. That challenge arose from some online speculation that LeBron could easily run a sub 5:00 mile.
#kingjamesmile
Minute 2: How to make $10 million per year by posting your workout photos
We all know that athletes like LeBron James, Tom Brady and Serena Williams make millions of dollars per year. But how about names like Kayla Itsines, Jen Selter, and Joe Wicks? These folks all make more than $5 million per year by sharing pics and vids of their workouts on YouTube and Instagram. This is one sports arena in which women typically make much more $ than men. Forbes even has an annual ranking of the stars of sweat. These buff and beautiful people get paid $60,000 every time they mention a product on Instagram. The general rule of thumb is that an advertiser will pay you a penny for every follower you have. We can see your wheels turning: “Hmm, if I have 500 followers and endorse 100 products per day, I’d make …”
#moneyfornothing #outsmartingmen
Minute 3: Free Salomon gear alert
So maybe your Insta following isn’t quite large enough to quit your day job. Well, at least you can score a year’s worth of free outdoor shoes, apparel, and gear from Salomon with their latest call for brand ambassadors. Salomon is looking for a “unique, eclectic, and quirky group of individuals — they’re runners, skiers, backpackers, hikers, guides, pro athletes, vagabonds, and business professionals. “ If that’s you – and you like free stuff – apply here.
#freeisgood #wisdomofsalomon
Minute 4: Keto diets are all the rage – are they safe for runners?
The ultra low-carb Keto diet has been proven to shed pounds for common folks and Hollywood stars alike. In July, Women’s Health even chronicled a former adult film star who lost 57 pounds on the diet while she “found her strength.” The diet also hit the news recently when a runner from the NYRR Half this year crushed his PR and wrote about it in the NY Post. While there’s plenty of research on the keto diet, the jury is still out on whether it is a good fit for runners. Some experts point out that marathoners and ultra marathoners have safely trained their bodies for years to burn fat rather than carbs in the later stages of a race. Others wonder if the loss of energy in the first weeks of the diet is a good trade for a lighter body.
#lightoncarbs #lightonmyfeet
Minute 5: Japan running past the U.S.A.
While the growth pace of U.S. endurance running may have peaked, the amateur athletes in Japan are just starting their kick. A fascinating July article details how marathon participation in Japan has exploded. The Tokyo Marathon had 322,000 applications last year for only 35,000 spots. Japanese marathoners now account for 40% of worldwide growth in the sport.
#risingfunrun
Minute 6: Today’s words of wisdom
“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, his trust is not on the branch but on his own wings to fly.”
