After Earning $280K On Roads, How Fast Can Sambu Run Chicago Marathon?
After Earning $280K On Roads, How Fast Can Sambu Run Chicago Marathon?
Since graduating from Arizona in 2012, Stephen Sambu has run his way all the way to the bank. The Kenyan distance runner and Tucson, AZ resident has earned
Since graduating from Arizona in 2012, Stephen Sambu has run his way all the way to the bank.
The Kenyan distance runner and Tucson, AZ resident has earned over $280,000 in prize money from his road running performances, and that amount doesn't even include appearance fee earnings.
Some of Sambu's post-college career highlights include setting a world record in the 8K on the roads, winning the Boston Athletic Association Distance Medley crown and its $100,000 purse, and clocking a 60:41 half marathon personal best. He is also known to display killer road speed in the shorter distances, as seen from his 27:25 BAA 10K victory in 2014. Sambu has also used a large portion of the prize money earnings to build water filtration systems in his home of Eldoret, Kenya.
On Sunday, Sambu will make his debut over 26.2 miles at the Chicago Marathon, which holds a $100,000 prize for the winner. Sambu faces stiff competition in his debut, notably last year's champion Dickson Chumba and Olympic bronze medalist Tsegaye Kebede. Despite the difficulties and uncertainties that come with a marathon debut, Sambu heads into Chicago with a wealth of experience on the roads and a pocket full of cash to prove it.
Breakdown of Sambu's Prize Earnings Since 2012 (Results courtesy of Tilastopaja):
*Does not include individual race appearance fees or prize earnings for Oyster Bay Turkey Trot
2012
Yearly Total = $2,500
2013
Yearly Total = $119,500
2014
Yearly Total = $68,000
2015
Yearly Total = $48,800
2016
Yearly Total = $44,500
On Sunday morning in Chicago, Sambu will attempt his longest road race of his career. In 2016, Sambu has either won or finished in the top three of all five road races he's competed in, highlighted by a 61:16 victory and big payday at the New York City Half Marathon. Sambu told My Chicago Athlete that he's been responding very well to the increased mileage in preparation for his goal of running under 2:10.
"The only thing I've done differently in this training is increase my mileage. I've done a lot of 21-mile runs, and then did 22, 23, and even 25," Sambu said. "It's been tough though. When you finish a long run that long, you're tired and can't do anything else that day. I'm even tired the next day and have to take it easy."
The first marathon, even for a professional, is one of the most difficult challenges that a runner faces. Assuming Sambu has done sufficient preparation, he should respond well to the next challenge on the roads, a surface where he has already proven himself many times over. After three years of racking up prize money in the shorter distances, an even bigger payday awaits Sambu in the marathon where prize money can be as high as $200,000 for the winner.
The Kenyan distance runner and Tucson, AZ resident has earned over $280,000 in prize money from his road running performances, and that amount doesn't even include appearance fee earnings.
Some of Sambu's post-college career highlights include setting a world record in the 8K on the roads, winning the Boston Athletic Association Distance Medley crown and its $100,000 purse, and clocking a 60:41 half marathon personal best. He is also known to display killer road speed in the shorter distances, as seen from his 27:25 BAA 10K victory in 2014. Sambu has also used a large portion of the prize money earnings to build water filtration systems in his home of Eldoret, Kenya.
On Sunday, Sambu will make his debut over 26.2 miles at the Chicago Marathon, which holds a $100,000 prize for the winner. Sambu faces stiff competition in his debut, notably last year's champion Dickson Chumba and Olympic bronze medalist Tsegaye Kebede. Despite the difficulties and uncertainties that come with a marathon debut, Sambu heads into Chicago with a wealth of experience on the roads and a pocket full of cash to prove it.
Breakdown of Sambu's Prize Earnings Since 2012 (Results courtesy of Tilastopaja):
*Does not include individual race appearance fees or prize earnings for Oyster Bay Turkey Trot2012
| Race | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st place, Silicon Valley Turkey Trot | $2,500.00 |
Yearly Total = $2,500
2013
| Race | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 4th, Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run | $1,500.00 |
| 5th, BAA 5K | $1,000.00 |
| 1st, Miles for Meso 5K | $500.00 |
| 1st, Oyster Bay Turkey Trot | N/A |
| 1st, BAA 10K | $10,000.00 |
| 1st, Carlsbad Half Marathon | $1,500.00 |
| 7th, NYC Half Marathon | $1,000.00 |
| 3rd, BAA Half Marathon | $4,000 + $100,000 for BAA Distance Medley Crown |
Yearly Total = $119,500
2014
| Race | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 4th, Prefontaine Classic 10K | $3,000.00 |
| 1st, Cherry Blossom 10 Mile | $8,000.00 |
| 3rd, BAA 5K | $2,500.00 |
| 1st, Oyster Bay Turkey Trot | N/A |
| 1st, UAE Healthy Kidney 10K | $25,000.00 |
| 1st, BAA 10K | $10,000.00 |
| 1st, Carlsbad Half Marathon | $1,500.00 |
| 3rd, NYC Half Marathon | $5,500.00 |
| 4th, BAA Half Marathon | $2,500.00 |
| 1st, Falmouth Road Race | $10,000.00 |
Yearly Total = $68,000
2015
| Race | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 6th, Birmingham Grand Prix 5K | $2,000.00 |
| 1st, Cherry Blossom 10 Mile | $8,000.00 |
| 1st, Shamrock Shuffle 8K | $3,000.00 |
| 2nd, BAA 5K | $4,000.00 |
| 1st, Oyster Bay Turkey Trot | N/A |
| 3rd, WB 10K | $6,000.00 |
| 1st, Great Manchester Run | $800 (+ likely appearance fee) |
| 2nd, UAE Healthy Kidney 10K | $10,000.00 |
| 2nd, BAA 10K | $5,000.00 |
| 2nd, NYC Half Marathon | $10,000.00 |
| 7th, Great North Run Half Marathon | (likely appearance fee) |
| 2nd, BAA Half Marathon | $6,000.00 |
| 1st, Falmouth Road Race | $10,000.00 |
Yearly Total = $48,800
2016
| Race | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 4th, Prefontaine Classic 10K | $3,000.00 |
| 1st, Shamrock Shuffle 8K | $3,000.00 |
| 3rd, BAA 5K | $2,500.00 |
| 3rd, WB 10K | $6,000.00 |
| 1st, NYC Half Marathon | $20,000.00 |
| 1st, Falmouth Road Race | $10,000.00 |
Yearly Total = $44,500
On Sunday morning in Chicago, Sambu will attempt his longest road race of his career. In 2016, Sambu has either won or finished in the top three of all five road races he's competed in, highlighted by a 61:16 victory and big payday at the New York City Half Marathon. Sambu told My Chicago Athlete that he's been responding very well to the increased mileage in preparation for his goal of running under 2:10.
"The only thing I've done differently in this training is increase my mileage. I've done a lot of 21-mile runs, and then did 22, 23, and even 25," Sambu said. "It's been tough though. When you finish a long run that long, you're tired and can't do anything else that day. I'm even tired the next day and have to take it easy."
The first marathon, even for a professional, is one of the most difficult challenges that a runner faces. Assuming Sambu has done sufficient preparation, he should respond well to the next challenge on the roads, a surface where he has already proven himself many times over. After three years of racking up prize money in the shorter distances, an even bigger payday awaits Sambu in the marathon where prize money can be as high as $200,000 for the winner.