The other thing to consider is the amount of views is videos get. If you look at the last years uploads non-race/parkrun perform extremely poorly compared to race videos.
His ability to provide the standard of living he wants for himself and his family will ultimately depend on the success of the channel and other forms of social media so it only makes sense to focus on that type of content even if it is detrimental to maximising performance.
For me, their times are irrelevant—it's more the toxic "send it" culture they spread, antics at races, and money-hungry approach to what has been a community-focused voluntary sport that set them up for critique.
Both of them come across as very self-centred people with very undeveloped levels of training analysis and criticality. Driven to achieve these arbitrary goals to massage their egos. They seem to dump all caring responsibilities (Matt with his dog and Nick with his kids) in the process. Sub-elite running seems to be a life-consuming toxic obsession. I've seen a few non-youtubers consumed by it!
I’m not the biggest fan of Mr Bester or his personality but how do people know that Nick doesn’t see his kids? This is literally his job, even if he’s running 3 hours a day that still leaves 5 hours a day to work on social media and coaching to match a 9-5 job.
With regards to travelling to races and events there are plenty of other occupations out there which require regular travel to meetings abroad and away from home. How is this any different?
Absolutely nailed it.
I feel the same (find him over the top, I wouldn't claim to be his No1 fan) BUT I think questioning his performances as a sub elite and ability to be decent father is absolutely baseless saltiness.
I'd actually hazard a guess, based on his employment that he spends more time with his kids then 95%+ of men (which is unfortunate statistic due to archaic care giving assumed roles, which albeit have got 100x better in last few generations are still out of whack).
Nick has achieved something alot of us (including me) are jealous/envious of, leaving a middle of lane finance lane to earn good money in the running space.
I’m not the biggest fan of Mr Bester or his personality but how do people know that Nick doesn’t see his kids? This is literally his job, even if he’s running 3 hours a day that still leaves 5 hours a day to work on social media and coaching to match a 9-5 job.
With regards to travelling to races and events there are plenty of other occupations out there which require regular travel to meetings abroad and away from home. How is this any different?
Absolutely nailed it.
I feel the same (find him over the top, I wouldn't claim to be his No1 fan) BUT I think questioning his performances as a sub elite and ability to be decent father is absolutely baseless saltiness.
I'd actually hazard a guess, based on his employment that he spends more time with his kids then 95%+ of men (which is unfortunate statistic due to archaic care giving assumed roles, which albeit have got 100x better in last few generations are still out of whack).
Nick has achieved something alot of us (including me) are jealous/envious of, leaving a middle of lane finance lane to earn good money in the running space.
This seems like labelling warranted criticism as haters/salty.
As for evidence, the nature of an anonymous forum makes speculation the basis for funny debate and discussion. He has two very young kids. From experience, for most hands-on dads, the mental and physical fatigue does not lend itself to running 200k (I think he's aspiring to this) a week. Also, like Nick, I can run when I want.
Bester is an interesting case. I was unaware of the size of his Best Athletics brand until he ran at Brighton. He's built a sizable brand and is following around his Best Athletics brand. I think the whole self-absorption of a brand around your name does not sit well. However, arguably, he's done very well.
I think Brain Cell's comments are all fair enough.
I don't understand why anyone can be "jealous" of Bester's guessed-at income. He had achieved this purely by his MO which seems to have made him immensely unpopular in a big swathe of the sport, and particularly amongst those at the sharper end. It seems a hefty price to pay. So the income is tied in with his personality and conduct. Not much to envy there imo.
Fwiw I think that being obsessed with earning a lot of money (vs earning an OK living) , and trying to do it in the world of serious distance running, is nearly always a bad combo if you have much integrity or wish to retain it.
Bester is doing more workouts and races than elites , by a good bit
In a 6 day period doing a race , a double threshold, and 15 miles workout in a long run at pace is just ridiculous.
When you look back further it's much the same . Definitely alarm bells should be ringing on the powers of recovery. But also the lack of improvement. He's not giving himself time to properly recover hence not improving. If he just did less "sexy stuff " and more boring he might actually get better.
The only thing more pathetic than these YouTube hobby joggers is a 129 page Internet forum thread where losers with no apparent lives gossip like high school mean girls about said hobby joggers
The only thing more pathetic than these YouTube hobby joggers is a 129 page Internet forum thread where losers with no apparent lives gossip like high school mean girls about said hobby joggers
No one cares
A little misogynistic. Also, you missed, or more likely don't understand, the irony of writing this message on a thread you don't care about. Welcome to the loser club!
The only thing more pathetic than these YouTube hobby joggers is a 129 page Internet forum thread where losers with no apparent lives gossip like high school mean girls about said hobby joggers
No one cares
More than two sentences(or 15 words) and I totally agree with you.
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