The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

It's interesting, probably for clicks. I imagine "pro" means something to the general running public. However, the term "elite runner" may not have as much impact.

I like Ally. She comes across as a hard-working, real person chasing her dreams. I am sure she has fans invested in her journey who ignore the clickbait. I am like this with Ran to Japan; the content is so good I dive in and watch it; he can put up whatever clickbait thumbnail he likes.

Phily is the polar opposite. Her fake, wacky persona drains the life out of me. The blend of clickbait and tryhard content means she probably puts off a lot of people. I imagine she churns most of her fans. They get sucked in; however, she does not deliver. Then the clickbaity thumbs like "I accidentally came 6th in a half marathon" seem to become more visible and suck away energy.

Is that freakshow Mark Lewis still going?

Unsubscribed about a a year ago when he perpetually waved his, bang average, bird under my nose every video like he was some kind of James Bond figure.

Opted for PEDs rather than honest training.

Wacky, self-branded comedian as funny as cancer.

Made out fitness wasn't his life, but admits he doesn't have friends or drink, or go out.

What must his bird make of the whole setup?

Posts continuous, homoerotic, pictures of his muscled physique, laden with testosterone

Absolute, whack job. An oddball even by YouTuber standards.

Oh Jesus, now you've triggered me. The guy blot on the landscape that is the cesspit of YouTube. The only thing he has on Ben Parks is he admits he's on gear. In many ways, he's the archetypal Hybrid mid-life crisis bro.

He's recently moved from whatever bland shi**y commuter town he lived to the countryside. He has the dream set-up, a huge place, a barn with a gym and multiple-watt bikes. I've no idea how he affords it all, as he's a full-time YouTuber. As for his wife, I believe she's also a full-time YouTuber - think white person, dryrobe lifestyle vlogging at its worst.

A bit like MessyHappy, I've no idea how they support their lifestyle.

I think ThisMessyHappy are teachers.

Mark Lewis did used to have good content but now he just preaches from a chair and says everyone else is wrong and his lifestyle is what we should all follow

Seth looked authentically miserable towards the end of his shoe review career. Maybe something else was going on, but it looked like things were unraveling for awhile. Now he wants to go back to it?

I think the other posters are being a bit needlessly harsh on him but you're right that his last video came across as a bit holier-than-thou.

'I used to think that I needed a new pair of trainers or a race entry but what a fool I was, now that I live in a farmstead I realise that what I actually need is a chainsaw for that fallen over tree' etc. In reality, he doesn't literally need any of these things; if the tree stays fallen over the world will keep turning. Arguably it's actually better to leave the tree where it is because a dead tree supports more life than a live one but who am I to tell him how to spend his time. I dunno, he maybe just came across as a bit condescending with the implication that chopping up a random fallen over tree is inherently more valuable than entering a race, but ultimately they're both just ways in which to spend time and feel productive.

Humour is a matter of taste but I think your last comment is off the mark, he says “I’m just a YouTuber you shouldn’t do stuff just because I do” in every video I’ve watched.

I assume you are talking about Yowana. Admittedly, I usually watch his videos while doing stuff around the house (cooking, folding laundry, doing dishes) or while I'm on the treadmill/exercise bike.

Jake's videos are a lot faster paced.

Both guys have a sense of humor.

171K subscribers and only cracked 10K views once in his last 17 videos, which was a.... *drum roll* ... shoe review!

Back to chasing views instead of quality content now. The cycle begins again. Strap in folks...

think Phily may be injured. the training vids have dried up and shes just pumping out generic dire "tips for runners" vids.

perhaps she will finally realise spending 6 months training for a race in which u dnt make the startline isnt what the fans want. no one cares if she can scrape over 100 miles a week for 6 weeks in a row... race results are all that matter

Fact check, which a she's got an open Strava was easy to do:

She's ran consistsent 100mpw weeks, 111 miles last week and already on 65 for first 4 days of this week.

Lets not let truth get in the way of an angle to bash a YTber though...

(Not actually replying to hove rent boy, although great name 😂)

I see Cole Running is the latest content creator to provide online coaching. Not sure about coaching pedigree/qualifications but at least it’s reasonably priced compared to others in the space.

Her Strava says she's still averaging 100 miles a week. I think she's making videos about "I'm running the LONDON MARATHON in the ELITE FIELD, am I READY?" which woll run endlessly for the next six weeks. She was more authentic at the beginning of her YouTube career (as was Kofuzi and if you really dig back as was Thomas and Meaghan from Believe in the Run circa 2015). The common thread: they were all doing other things for a living at the beginning and this was just their hobby not their job. Then they turn YouTube pro and it's suddenly about Bombass Socks, LMNT, the brands that pay for trips, Moroccan tours, and Coros watches. I mean I get it but I wish a few of them would stick with it as a hobby.

What's wrong with just following Pfitz or Jack Daniels? There is enough content out there to allow you to get a decent plan together yourself. The majority of these people are constantly overtraining, injuring themselves or underperforming in races.

Fordy Runs is apparently a qualified coach and he runs 4 miles, 3 times a week, then 20 miles "with a big chunk at goal pace" at the weekend. When he enters a race he generally gives up or "walks it in" because one of his tribe are struggling, ironically, probably because they're undertrained for the event after following one of this plans

I noticed she made a (running) appearance in the latest Rory Linkletter video, so she's not injured.

Not directed at me, but I only watch running videos on the treadmill. I can’t really imagine sitting down to watch a Kofuzi (or any?) video in my free time.

For what it’s worth, though, the RTJ videos aren’t particularly long - at least now what you’re suggesting. Most between 15-25 minutes? Consume two videos and your run is nearly over!

Once again, fully agreed - and, this is why Ben Barrows remains the greatest running YouTuber of all time. Always genuine. Didn’t overstay his welcome. He went out on top. Early Athlete Special videos were similar - but I unfollowed a long, long time ago. It’s hard to capture the “real running spirit” without coming across as disingenuous (or worse) in that medium.

TrackAllAccess, while a different “genre” is also doing good work.

Problem is the ones that do it for enjoyment don’t get the views and eventually give up. The ones who get the views and subscribers will eventually be approached by brands and it’s hard to say no to free stuff. Also I think it’s unrealistic to expect to produce free content in perpuity when they have careers, families etc.

I can’t think of many other forms of entertainment where ads aren’t prevalent and brands are always going to target these content creators as their audience is the brands target audience and they can easily get a gauge on the individuals return on investment through unique promo codes, affiliate links etc.

Straight emotional manipulation of his flock! The boy paid attention in church, didn’t he?