Business & Sports Discourse

New York Road Runners slashed their work force last week, to the dismay of all and the the surprise of few. In this episode, Jason and Matt discuss the corporate ramifications of race cancellations and what, if anything, can be done to save the elite racing season. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/i_am_jaymac/ Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

We are beyond excited to welcome Jen Ator to the show. Jen is the editor-in-chief at Women's Running Magazine and a force within the running community. After a decade at Women's Health, Jen took over Women's Running in April, 2019. Since then the running scene has seen fantastic highs and depressing lows. In this episode, Jen describes Women's Running's niche, free vs. paid content, balancing customers wants with creative/unique content, and much more. You can see her team's work at www.womensrunning.com. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/i_am_jaymac/ Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

Over the past year, Tracksmith, a small running-based clothing brand based out of downtown Boston, has made a series of moves to elevate its brand within running community. From working with a large cohort of the Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifiers, signing Mary Cain and Nick Willis, starting the Tracksmith Fellowship Program, and more. In this episode we take a deep dive into those moves, what it means for the the company, its ideal costumer, and the culture brand wants is working hard to cultivate. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/i_am_jaymac/ Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

Track is back! Well, kind of. A bevy of top track athletes made there way to Texas to take part in the AP Ranch High Performance Invitationals. The series of "meets" were a interesting display of creativity in the face of contractual issues and requirements. The races resulted in some excellent performances. Michael Norman and Brianna Rollins-McNeal, in particular, really set the track ablaze. The races were also littered with athletes checking boxes that are requirements in their sponsorship deals. It wasn't their fault, just the way that the game  In this episode we also talk about what many of these athletes are going to face on December 31 - uncertainty over their sponsorship contacts that are about to expire. Without formal 2020 meets and COVID uncertainty it will be a whole new world. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz  Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

Cross country seasons are starting to get cancelled and postponed across college and high school ranks. What are athletes to do? In this episode Jason and Matt have some fun throwing out creative ideas for socially distanced distance running and team competitions.  Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz  Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

As we progress through the age of athlete empowerment, organization/unionization has made it's way to triathlon, track & field, and CrossFit. The top athletes in all three sports have made a big push recently, especially over the past two weeks, to create a dynamic where competitors come together to advocate for changes within their sport in one voice. At least, that is the goal. In this episode we talk about the sports and organizations differ, what they are doing well, current and future challenges, and where we think this is heading. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz  Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

Under Armour's rise over the past decade and more has been awesome to watch. They've built a culture and strong brand awareness across multiple sports. However, in recent weeks the news surrounding the company hasn't been as rosy. From cancelling massive contracts with UCLA and UC-Berkeley to looking for a buyer for MyFitnessPal, which they purchased for nearly $500m in 2015, the UA landscape is changing quickly. In this episode Matt and Jason talk about these transactions and whether they signal a positive shift or a sign of rough water ahead.  Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz  Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

In part II of our conversation with professional triathlete Cody Beals, Jason & Cody discuss the reason for the countless hours of training and preparation: to actually race! However, as races are being postponed, pushed, and even cancelled, how does a pro triathlete stay sharp? Cody talks about virtual racing, as well as his own 20 minute time trial pushing north of 400 watts. Of course they also chat about IRONMAN and their communication to their pro athletes, as well as what they're doing to assist them during this cancelled season. They also discuss the newly formed Professional Triathletes Organisation and what they are doing to help pro triathletes get to the point of earning a living similar to tennis or golf. This fun, two part conversation is wrapped up discussing Cody's (hopeful) race schedule leading up to Kona in February, as well as his new YouTube channel...which may or may not include his famous cat. For all things Cody, please visit his website www.codybeals.com and follow him on all his social media channels. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz  Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

After recording his first win as a professional triathlete in 2015, Cody Beals first realized you can actually make a living swimming, biking, and running around the world in spandex. In Part I of this interview, Jason and Cody take a deep dive into the finances of a pro triathlete and discuss how more money is made from sponsorships rather than from standing on the podium at the end of the race. With the race calendar essentially wiped out for 2020, Cody explains how he has built a balanced portfolio of sponsors whose financial incentives are less about winning and more about his personality. Although this has enabled him to survive financially without races, Cody is honest about the fact that he didn't sign up to be a social media influencer or a sales rep for sponsors...and he has some questions about how certain companies can make it through the pandemic. For an in depth analysis of Cody's year by year pro triathlete budget, please visit  https://www.codybeals.com/2019/07/my-fifth-year-pro-triathlon-budget/ A list of Cody's sponsors' referenced in this show can be found at https://www.codybeals.com/#sponsors You can (and should) follow Cody at https://www.instagram.com/cody.beals/ Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz  Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

Lululemon, the maker of high-end activewear and athleisure attire, is making a big bet in the personalized remote exercise space by acquiring Mirror, a home fitness start-up that sells a $1,495 wall-mounted screen ideal for streaming workout classes with a focus on demonstrating and teaching technique-based exercises.  The $500 million purchase, announced on Monday, is Lululemon's first acquisition. This is a remarkable move for Mirror who introduced their product two short years ago and raised a whopping $72 million from investors.  In this episode we talk about the potential ripple effects of this acquisition, pivoting in a time of upheaval, trying to seize the moment, and Lululemon's potential as a media company with an enormous outlet for potential ad revenue. Follow Jason:  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz  Follow Matt:  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

IRONMAN is not simply a company that puts on the most popular triathlons across the world, it is quite literally the sport of triathlon itself. It has faced many challenges over the years, including several changing ownership groups, but it's current situation is unlike anything it's ever faced. In this episode we talk about the mass cancellations, the disjointed communication structure, and take a deep dive into their decision not to refund race entries while entering athletes into 2021 races. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

Two weeks ago Spartan obstacle course races returned with a 5k race in Jacksonville, FL. Spartan was forced to create a race that honored CDC social distancing guidelines without sacrificing the soul of what makes these races unique and powerful events. We dive into the preventative measures that were put in place, how they compared to a traditional race, and what this race portends for the future. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

In this new era of sport without games the traditional model of athlete sponsorship has been upended. The connection between an athlete and their fans is now at the core of what is most important for brands looking to work with athletes. It's now on par with the success an athlete has on the field of play. Will that dynamic continue when the games resume? Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

The world of gyms, fitness classes, and personal trainers has been completely devastated by the current effects of COVID-19. Millions of Americans have been forced to re-think how they workout. The gyms they've depended on are going through a similar catharsis. In this episode, we discuss how/if gyms will get through this, what kinds of companies are seizing the moment, and possible pivot points for both patrons, businesses, and personal training professionals. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

As the COVID-19 pandemic as run roughshod over the college landscape, division one athletic departments are are making significant cuts to Olympic sports. In this episode we detail the practice, the wacky accounting of athletic departments, boondoggles, wishful thinking, and how lower tier division one schools cannot be compared to high-level Power 5 institutions.  Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

The Tour de France is embarking on a whole new summer. The Tour moved their race back two months and created a professional virtual race during the traditional race dates. This drastic change to the Tour and the European cycling calendar comes after a baffling string on decisions. Jason and Matt dive into all of it during this episode of the Business & Sports Discourse. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/business_sports_discourse/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

This part two of our conversation with Jason Fitzgerald, the founder of Strength Running. If you haven't already done so, you should listen to part one first because part two is a continuation of that conversation. Over the past decade Jason has built Strength Running from an interesting side venture to multi-channel media and coaching company. It is one of the largest running blogs in the country with 200,000 visitors a month. His email list has 100,000 subscribers. The Strength Running podcast is one of the top-10 most popular running podcasts in the country and his YouTube channel has nearly 30,000 subscribers. Truly, a multi-media success. Jason breaks down how he built his business, expanded into different channels, developing and utilizing his mailing list, connecting to his athletes, how he learned to delegate to others once he grew, and much more. You can learn more at www.strengthrunning.com. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jaymac_sportsbiz/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

We are joined by Jason Fitzgerald, the founder of Strength Running, for an enlightening two-part episode.  Over the past decade Jason has built Strength Running from an interesting side venture to multi-channel media and coaching company. It is one of the largest running blogs in the country with 200,000 visitors a month. His email list has 100,000 subscribers. The Strength Running podcast is one of the top-10 most popular running podcasts in the country and his YouTube channel has nearly 30,000 subscribers. Truly, a multi-media success. Jason breaks down how he built his business, expanded into different channels, developing and utilizing his mailing list, connecting to his athletes, how he learned to delegate to others once he grew, and much more. You can learn more at www.strengthrunning.com. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jaymac_sportsbiz/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

The civil and social unrest that has swept American in the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd is unprecedented. In the sports world athletes have banded together to speak about systemic racism in a way has quickly reshaped the public consciousnesses.  With that change comes the response from leagues, teams, and brands. In this episode we talk about the new normal that is facing these organizations - if you are going to publicly support a cause and/or an athlete they better be willing to walk the walk. We discuss examples of when then have gone well and when they haven’t. Specifically, in the cases of Gwen Berry, Ben & Jerry's, Florida State football, and the Washington Redskins. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jaymac_sportsbiz/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner

With nearly every pro sports arena/stadium comes a corporate naming right. These have become so ubiquitous, and ever changing, but their utility have long been a point of contention. In the current circumstances, with limited in-person sporting events, this marketing method has taken a significant hit. In this episode we dive into the pro's-and-cons of this concept and how it may change for the foreseeable future. Follow Jason: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jaymac_sportsbiz/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaymacsportsbiz Follow Matt: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rambling_runner/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/rambling_runner