The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

Has Welsh Runner broken up with his missus?

On this week's episode of the Believe in the Run podcast, Thomas continues his obsession with getting Meg to wear buns and says he likes the look of big balls (on the Brooks Hyperion Elite).

Thomas: Meg won't wear buns to race.

Meg: there's no performance advantage for buns!

Thomas: I'm not so sure about that.

On the Hyperion Elite:

Meg: they have these large balls in the forefoot that I don't like the looks of.

Thomas: I like big balls!

Meg: Ok.

Robbe: Yeah, they're cool.

It's pride weekend. The Baltimore local 5k scene is begging for Thomas to show up on buns and put the performance advantage theory to the test. The YouTube short of that could go so viral! Also, as many have noted, the Thomas-Robbe dynamic actually does have gay couple vibes. 🏳️‍🌈

Why is the ShoeTube/Running YouTube space full of camp men? So many I am shocked to find they actually have wives and children

Nick Bester, Thomas and Robbe from BITR, Andy Baddeley and Floberg certainly give off "the vibe"

Not that it matters; however, I don't find any of these guys overly camp. Welsh runner perhaps a bit. I can't stand Bester and Floberg, but it has nothing to do with their level of campness

Running is inherently geeky, and I like that. Would you rather have more juicy bros in the sport like Ken Rider, Topless Jeans Kid and Nick Bare? I think the bigger issue is hybrid bros trying to take over the space with their trendy run clubs and posey gym shark apparel.

Juicy bros are undesirable, but personally, more than them I don't like geeky dudes. Perhaps this is wrong opinion, and I will hear it from the message board, but I can only stomach geeky runners if they are fast fast, or they are on a track to become elite.

My thing is, being weird and unrelatable person isn't a badge of honor and it's just plain not cool. If you don't excell in some other area and you're just crushing it there - what's the point of being some dorky mustache wearing funny looking man? Sue me, that's how I feel about it.

From his IG he's on holiday, not every run has to be a pb!

His Mrs is doing a 100km trail run this weekend. So probably some tapering as well for her.

I get people feel connected to social media people, but over analysing every run looks stalkerish!

It’s looking more and more likely that over the next few years ItsOnAndy is going to become the greatest running YouTuber of all time

ItsOnAndy's quite likeable, has good video editing skills and above average camera presence (though that's not saying much given the average running YouTuber). What he unfortunately lacks is running talent. That's not a death sentence (see: Fordy aka Everyday Runner, though part of his success is that he got there early) but it's still a useful ingredient that can shift channel growth from linear to "explosively exponential". Ran To Japan is a great example of someone who has the full package - insane running talent, good editing and video pacing, great camera presence. If Jake also had to pump out 60 mile plus weeks to squeeze out a sub 20, he'd probably still have a decent audience, but an order of magnitude less I'd wager.

All that to say no, ItsOnAndy won't become the greatest Youtuber of all time.

Watching Thomas fangirl over his wife is never not uncomfortable.

Also he's what? 50? He gives off 22 year old frat boy energy

I share the same sentiments about the guy but this is like the 100th time that exact comment has been said. We get it. He’s an old ass man with a creepily young wife and gives off a loser vibe. Idk why you guys keep watching BITR just to criticize it. I am not subbed to them. At least with the other influencers that we all watch and bash over in here we are seeing videos of actual runners and training/races. Makes no sense to me why you guys fawn over BITR content. Thomas is an old lame loser we all agree here..so move on ffs lol

but this weekend he's all that AND wearing an insanely large cowboy hat while toddling around at WSER on Hoka's dime

Here's the thing, a lot, and I mean a lot of people want to watch someone relatable. Ran To Japan, Bester, Ben Felton are OK but if I'm a guy desperately trying to break 20 mins for 5k they'd rather watch Andy.

The reason MARM, It's On Andy and Crown My Run are popular is they're normal people with a sense of humour, a bit of extra timber, jobs, kids and are honest about messing up training or pacing in a race. Even Ran To Japan has some charisma and adds something to his videos.

I can imagine and Bester to be all running. Nothing else to talk about. It is them. It is their entire identity. Every argument would be settled by "And what's your 5k PB?" - they come across as bores. There is entertainment beyond running in MARM and It's on Andy. Felton and Bester would be bores down the pub

Thomas is 54!

I listen to their podcasts for the same reason people watch Nascar races: because train wrecks can be enthralling.

To be fair, Meg is a pretty good, maybe even close to sub elite, runner. I think her marathon PR is like 2:45 or something. I think she's in her late thirties too. For that age group, super great time! And she jogs the NY Marathon in like 3:20, half an hour ahead of Thomas. Robbe is also a better runner than Thomas. I think he's run like 3:25 for the Marathon. While that's not great, for a forty something dude it's well above average.

For the people commenting on Felton’s latest posts saying things like ‘BenisDNFing’ etc etc, get a life. He’s a harmless guy who obviously loves running and is probably fairly down about his last few races. Leave it out.

Going back to Tim Gross collabs though - the BBC could do worse than signing up him and John Broom for some sort of historical travel series (especially with some of the crap they show, Solomon & Swash cough) . ‘Tim & John run all of Britains disused railway lines’ or something.

This comment is only slightly tongue in cheek by the way. Two really great running channels and I bet both of them would be great to chat to down the pub if you’re in to either historical running trivia or general history. Think both read this sub from time to time so want it put on record that they are very much appreciated by me and spent many an hour watching their videos with a coffee before my morning run

Also - here’s an idea for a YouTube series John/Tim.

Runnerboi style videos on local British running performances over the last few decades. Some of the best runners and performances of the pre super shoe eras. Who was dominating the marathon scenes in the 70s, 80s, 90s etc. amazing performances from runners we might not have heard of these days. Often see John or Tim talk about their heyday when they’d get their 10k, 5k, half PBs and mention some runner they ran against from back then who went sub 30 10k in a Yorkshire race. Their local Ron Hills etc.. We know all the legends of football, tennis, golf etc from yesteryear off by heart but feels like running is somewhat neglected other than the likes of Coe, Ovett, Olympians

Something seems to be going on, the tattle life forums have been nuked too

Yet he doesn't act a day over 25 or look a day over 65!

Meg is like 36/37