Running Vlogs used to be enjoyable

Why is it 'so hard'? Look at how hard it was for you to write a single post on the subject that didn't attract negative responses? Now imagine pleasing the running public with content multiple times a week. The easy answer is to curate your viewing. Pick vbloggers who don't irritate you (if there are any), and only watch if the day's specific subject is of interest. If it it a 'perspective' or 'this is my life' post, ignore it.

I understand the argument that "you can just scroll past it if you don't like it", if the content is of no consequence.

However, I do think that some YouTubers/Vloggers do exert influence on the direction that the sport is heading. Therefore, it's important to criticise the facets of their content that you'd prefer were tossed aside.

Criticism, to many, has become a dirty word, but it's one of the few means of course correction that we have.

100%. Every consumer of a product is in their right to critize that product.

Those vlogs have always been cringe. Everyone that isn't in your very specific age group thinks this.

As someone who has "been in the YouTube game" for over 10 years I agree with this. There is a certain obligation (in my mind) that when someone has a decent social media following they should try to project helpful and accurate information. It can be inspirational too of course (often that just engages better). While many of my running "training talks" are boring and of me just sitting on the coach, I try to be very informative and talk science generally. And you've got to have thick skin if you read the comments and put yourself, your content, and your running/trainings out there. You are up and open for the critics and criticisms (some more valid than others!). It's why I post under my real name on these boards. I'll take a responsibility with what I say and write.

But full disclosure I also do "click-baity" titles and coffee making VLOG shots and seek more subs and viewers. I don't do slick editing jobs, illegal drone shots, or spend very much time on decorating my thumbnail image. But I do paid product promotions and shameless sponsor plugs all the time. In social media (be it YouTube or Instagram) there is always an "agenda" at a certain level....even if it is just one's own vanity or narcissism. For me the sponsors like it generally as well and it is business "advertising" for our coaching business.

There is a certain feeling of responsibility and trying to project a somewhat accurate image of your life/lifestyle though. It's easy for rich trust funders (I'm thinking the 20-something Instagram and TikTok travel influences with 140k travel vans) who start with money and don't actually have to grind and risk finances to make a "social media travel lifestyle work"...but they may project an unrealistic lifestyle and career path" for the average 20-something American who doesn't come from money. Often I'd predict it is pretty unauthentic as well. I don't know?...maybe I'd just getting too old in the social media space.

Marketing ruins the experience of art and entertainment. Imagine if Earnest Hemingway had to write “like and subscribe” every four pages.