These shoetubers can donate their thousands of dollars worth of shoes to their viewers in need. They gloat about all of these free shoes and free travel while their viewers have to save up for one big race a year
Companies place very strict rules, some written, some unwritten, on what shoetubers can do with product when they're done with it. I don't have firsthand knowledge, but I've heard that companies frown upon shoetubers even donating product.
Everything that's great about running today - treadmills to avoid the dangerous winter weather in Baltimore(?), copious shots zoomed in on brand names, "gamification" of running, the wall of medals and a beautiful tracksmith t-shirt.
I am FIRED UP to lace up my NB SC Elites and head out for a 2 mile run. Looking forward to seeing all my people in Staten Island in a few months! I'll be in wave 9, corral Z - hope 2 see u there!
Better look out for Thomas' camera crew if you're in wave 99 corral Z. They'll be impeding others by stopping on the course to get just the right angles. Then when you're about a mile from the finish some dude yelling "LET'S GO THOMAS!!!" and wielding a massive selfie stick will pop out of the crowd and onto the course, cutting you off along the way, to "document" the glory of a 4:12 marathon. But you should be happy, after all that's your chance to be a background actor in a Kofuzi video! (The above is sort of sarcasm but kind of based on the Houston Half Marathon 2023, 13:59 of this video:
Truett Hanes has just came up in my suggestions. I hadn’t heard of him but he has set a goal of sub 2:30 or die trying. He looks like a Nick Bare/David Goggins hybrid but recently ran the Austin marathon in 2:42 IN JEANS hahaha.
Absolutely, which is why the best content often comes from those who are not full-time YouTubers. But as their channel becomes more successful, that becomes available… you’ve laid it out clearly. Look at Kofuzi, whose early videos were sort of charming, authentic looks at his training and shoes. It’s not nearly generic running-YouTube content. It could be made by any number of creators.
Like I said, I can’t stand the stuff besides filling time on the treadmill, especially (as others have noted) the overlong shoe reviews - and this from someone who also reviews shoes, ha! Long live the written word.
A lot of people watching YouTubers like the real life of it all. We're all striving to get better at running which juggling a job and kids and many can relate to FOD Runner or Mid Life Runner.
Floberg, Kofuzi start off like this but gain some sort of money/following which means they actually stop being what made them watchable (was Floberg ever watchable?) - Instead of trying to fit workouts in between the school run and work they have a coach and supplements sent to them and can train when they want with a camera man following them and it's a job. It was fun but now it is a job.
You can't just run now. You need to sell. It's not art anymore. It's work
I have a friend that is a youtuber (from a different sport) and judging by what he have told you are dead right. Even though he was a professional, the youtube thing has killed the enjoyment from his sport. If he ever would try to be active just for fun, relaxation or whatever he cant. Its just a lost opportunity to film his weekly content.
It seems like a very public way of experiencing that if you make your hobby your job, you loose a hobby.
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
I have a friend that is a youtuber (from a different sport) and judging by what he have told you are dead right. Even though he was a professional, the youtube thing has killed the enjoyment from his sport. If he ever would try to be active just for fun, relaxation or whatever he cant. Its just a lost opportunity to film his weekly content.
It seems like a very public way of experiencing that if you make your hobby your job, you loose a hobby.
Same with Ben Parkes - dude quit his job, and now barely scrapes by 50km a week. I think he is just doing bare minimum but secretly loathes running.
Same with Ben Parkes - dude quit his job, and now barely scrapes by 50km a week. I think he is just doing bare minimum but secretly loathes running.
While I admit I enjoyed his earlier content when I first got into running, I’ve always thought he seemed quite socially awkward and uncomfortable with “fame”. I do sympathise though, I would absolutely hate it if dozens of people came up to me to chat and ask for pictures at every single running based event I went to. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has checked out.
He also has the world record for most pull-ups in 24 hours. I don't think he's gonna run sub 2:30 tho unless he gets a bit intentional about his training and loses a bit of weight.
F with these sub-2:30, sub-2:20 etc. marathon goals. How nobody has the balls to make a sub-30 or sub-14 series? These are both achievable goals for a semi-talented individual (male) and you don't need to ruin your body with endless marathon miles.
Personally I think it's cooler to run high 13 5K than being in the dead zone between elite and meh which is 2:08 to 2:18 (roughly).
Yeah really enjoyed Ben's early stuff there were some great video's about his experience doing the Mont Blanc UTMB which turned into a bit of a disaster!But now his content is just generic reviews and running tips rarely watch it these days.
Think it's best keeping your hobbies and jobs seperate.
F with these sub-2:30, sub-2:20 etc. marathon goals. How nobody has the balls to make a sub-30 or sub-14 series? These are both achievable goals for a semi-talented individual (male) and you don't need to ruin your body with endless marathon miles.
Personally I think it's cooler to run high 13 5K than being in the dead zone between elite and meh which is 2:08 to 2:18 (roughly).
Do you think the training between a sub-30 10k and a sub-2:20 marathon is meaningfully different? Asking honestly, because as someone training for the latter (and eyeing the former, I guess, in theory - if given the opportunity), they really don’t seem very different. Yes, marathon training has longer long runs, and perhaps some longer workouts, too - but the vast majority of the training is overlapping, and even many of the workouts could function for both purposes.
Of course, it also depends if you’re a slow-twitch or fast-twitch runner, which could dictate how you approach either.
Sub-14 is whole ‘bother ballgame; I don’t have a clue how that would shake out.
This post was edited 59 seconds after it was posted.
Cole ran 1:04:59 at local Paddock Wood half marathon today FTW.
I think even he was a bit surprised at that.
Definitely looking good for sub 2:20 at London.
You guys might laugh but I ran it as well today and conditions were slightly uncomfortable! It was much hotter than it has been recently and nowhere to hide from the sun. There was a slight breeze but I found the cooling effect to be more beneficial than a hindrance.
Loads of top runners ran much slower than predicted so for Cole to run 64:59 is very very impressive.
Cole ran 1:04:59 at local Paddock Wood half marathon today FTW.
I think even he was a bit surprised at that.
Definitely looking good for sub 2:20 at London.
You guys might laugh but I ran it as well today and conditions were slightly uncomfortable! It was much hotter than it has been recently and nowhere to hide from the sun. There was a slight breeze but I found the cooling effect to be more beneficial than a hindrance.
Loads of top runners ran much slower than predicted so for Cole to run 64:59 is very very impressive.
This is my (much slower) PB course and it is very fast - but today was a hot day and there's nowhere to hide from the sun on the course. Well done Cole!
My club, Paddock Wood AC organises the race and it supports local charities and grassroots athletics, oh and is rather fast top 10 is regularly sub 70, a race worth including to the calendar of training for London.
Cole ran 1:04:59 at local Paddock Wood half marathon today FTW.
I think even he was a bit surprised at that.
Definitely looking good for sub 2:20 at London.
Good result for him, shame about him being an a**h*** to a few people after the finish. Doubt that will make the race video ofc
The running YouTubers at finish lines are always fun.
I want to be there to document some big ShoeTuber's reaction when he/she inevitably gets taken to doping control and told to pee in a cup. I mean the more honest influencers basically imply they're doping. I think doping is pretty rampant in the influencing industry. Especially for guys that were running 3:20-3:30, then ran sub 3 uncoached, then hired a coach and ran 3:15. If I'm right, it's interesting that you give some but not all of the gains back after doping as a Master's runner. A 3:20 at 41 guy should be running 3:25 or so at 46. Not the amazing 2:50s at 42-43 but given how there's a known big thing that occurs around 45, it's interesting that you lose a lot of the fraudulent fitness but still end up faster than than when you started. I think it is a pretty good argument for life time bans amongst Masters dopers.
Good result for him, shame about him being an a**h*** to a few people after the finish. Doubt that will make the race video ofc
it's interesting that you lose a lot of the fraudulent fitness but still end up faster than than when you started. I think it is a pretty good argument for life time bans amongst Masters dopers.
I'd like to know if you have any evidence for doping being "rampant in the influencing industry".
As for your comment about masters' athletes, a guy running 3:20 at 41 and improving to 2.50s in their mid-40s, a person could legitimately make huge improvements if they have a low lifetime mileage and start to train in a more deliberate, serious way (I put myself in that camp).
Due to the low financial stakes of running for runners in the UK, I don't get the impression many are doping - this includes ShoeTubers. Imagine the thought of FoD, Fordy, Ben Parks, and Tim Gross jumping on the EPO to elevate their local legend status. Cole, although younger, is also in this camp for me.
I do, however, think the jury is still out on some YouTubers: Any Hybrid Bro (e.g., Ben Parks or the Goggings dude mentioned above). Also, the guys that clearly have insecurities and use running to feed their egos'. Fox mistakenly admitted to doping (at least taking peptides). Bester has an insane race schedule; he ran another "full send" half this weekend.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
Do you think the training between a sub-30 10k and a sub-2:20 marathon is meaningfully different?
I guess my comment should be more towards the group going for sub-2:30. Yes, sub-2:20 training is close to sub-30. But still, these folks don't revolve their content around 10K racing and training, it's all about the marathon, and the occasional half. This reveals my disdain for sub-elite marathon content on youtube.