unofficial Kofuzi Los Angeles ‘Thon Prediction Contest

Yeah, I mean I've accepted it as "common sense." For some reason though basic science and physics seem to be ignored a lot on the internet these days though.

I've love treadmill. But I've done Mile Repeats at 12mph on 0% incline and it feels like about doing mile repeats at 5:15 pace outside on a track (on windless day). Get that incline up to about 1.5% and the increase in power and workout put might negate some of the air resistance benefit.

I've gone into detail on a "Treadmill thread" on here about all the reasons why treadmill running is different from outdoor running. For example, a lot of people perceive treadmill running to be "harder" because they get hot really fast (or bored) and mentally are not simulated. It also changes your form very slightly and there is the fear of catching an edge and falling (or losing your balance). Finally a lot of treadmills aren't even calibrated accurately so who knows exactly what pace/effort you are running.

But for Taggart even 150-miles a week is probably too much. Now I've trained "with" (err behind) guys like Brian Sell who probably needed to run 160-170 miles a week to run 2:10 and make the Olympics. But for the fast majority of OTQ kinds of guys (if sub 2:18 is one's goal). 150- miles a week (especially for someone who works a real job) is pretty overkill.

He'd probably be better off around 120-miles per week and running some workouts outside on the track/roads more. Sure there is a risk for injury with the pounding of the pavement, but the leg muscles need to get used to that work out put to run up to one's potential in the road marathon.

Boasting about doing a 1:06 half marathon in training as workout on your treadmill and counting that as a "PR" isn't the way to run a sub 2:18 or even a sub 2:20. He's got a chance if the weather at Grandma's marathon is favorable and he's got some new Carbon plated shoes.

Kofuzi ran a PR btw....gotta respect that! I think for him a BQ is more important (for his followers) than actually cracking 3 hours. It's a good goal though...and he can certainly sneak under 3 hours.

As far as "YouTube influencers" and content creation goes. I've been at this game for over 12 years (on YouTube...longer on Facebook...). It's always changing (and I don't always have the time and energy to keep up). Even as a pro runner you've gotta evolve. Social media has changed everything (in a lot of good ways but also a lot of bad ways). I will say it certainly helps to have a few things: 1. Extra Time on your hands and 2. Financial Security

what air pollution? its freaking CA the not so free state of america!

I don't follow Kofuzi or watch much of his content, but this is a well-done video. After watching it, I'll consider watching more. Ultimately that means he's doing his job well and is more important than quibbling over how much the selfie-stick impeded him or whatever. That course looks pretty darn hilly and he looked to be somewhat winging it pace-wise until he was holding on for dear life. Feel like that matters more anyway.

I liked the video Kofuzi posted, and have probably seen a dozen or so others he's done the past couple years.

Seems to me inching toward 3 hours would be better for him financially, just like the current world's best pole vaulter is doing. Tiny little increments, you know.

I like watching these running you tubers. It is nice to have a cup of coffee on the morning before a run and catch up on a few of these. I always enjoyed Sage videos when I want to get into the nitty gritty of trying to improve. I like Kofuzi and a few others as they prepare for their races. I used to live in Chicago so I enjoy the lake views. The shoe reviews are decent because they can save you $ by avoiding bad shoes. The race day videos are entertaining because if you have run that course it kind of relives the moment. But what I like most of all is that these videos are only about 7-12 minutes. Not much investment of time.

I honestly don't think whether one of these guys goes sub 4 or get an OTQ it really affects their viewership or their income at all like people claim here. They are just like everyone else. Just trying to reach running milestones and PR's.

Floris Gierman video recap.

Seems like a nice guy who makes fun content.

seems strange to be so invested to run a time and document it and not know if he is on pace at the 10K.

why did LA Marathon choose not to finish at the beach and have uphills at the end instead?

I see his coach in the video is an ultra guy. He probably would be better off with a a coach that coaches for road marathons where tempo runs and repeats are part of the training instead of just mileage.

This ^ 100%. In my experience, running on the treadmill and running on pavement does not use the exact same mix of muscles. You've gotta get the muscles, joints, etc. used to to beating and fatigue of running on hard surfaces if you're actually going to race 26.2 miles on the road.

I've strangely enough found the treadmill to be a decent substitute for non-technical trail running due to the softer nature of trails. It's also great for vert. But it's not a perfect substitute for road running.

I still use it in inclement weather (which is a large chunk of the midwest winter), and I often use it for recovery runs, but other than that you gotta get out there. I love you Sage.

Ko is maybe my favorite YouTube runner. He seems really genuine and nice. That said, he would definitely benefit from an actual running coach. The programs he creates for himself are pretty bad - seems like he just throws in whatever random YouTube channel workouts he can find (e.g. his latest obsession with Yasso 800s). He's also been pretty open about his mental struggle with pain at high effort - having a coach that can get him doing good workouts and preparing him for the mental toll of a hard marathon effort would do a world of good and no doubt he could go a few min under 3:00 on a good day. And yes dropping the selfie stick would be a massive benefit I think.

If you watch Floris's recap combined with Mike's own footage toward the end, you realize just how much the running coach/Floris's pacing and their constant encouragements probably contributed to his PR. Without that serendipitous encounter, it's doubtful Mike would have PB'ed.

At this point in his fitness I think the pivotal factor is his mental game. Knowing the net downhill in the first half of the course, he should have been disciplined to stay on pace instead of going out based on feel. That obviously came back to haunt him toward the end.

Unless his fitness improves considerably in his next training cycle, accurate pacing and mental resiliency will continue to be his weakest links.

Hey Sage - did Kofuzi ever hit you up for coaching after Houston a few years ago?

Kofuzi is my favourite youtuber, a bright spot in the youtube/running scene (along with people like Sage) but it still blows my mind that:

1. He completely torpedo'd that Houston race by overdressing for conditions & then letting the HR number on his watch dictate his entire race

2. Turned down Sage's coaching offer to stick with MAF in the comments of the video after