The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

I get your point but to be fair to him he’s been sick and on holiday with his dad in Australia for the last 2 weeks so I can forgive him for this video not being up to the usual high standards.

My comment wasn't about the quality of the content, but the ratio. What non-sponsored content was there was fine. I'm used to seeing sponsored videos in today's YT, but you usually see at most 2 sponsored segments per vid, not 3. Of course, it's his channel and he can do what he wants. Someone on the previous page was complaining about Ben posting too many sponsored IG stories, but those are way easier to avoid than sponsored content within long form YT videos. Just saying.

Fair enough, it did sound like a more long term deal in the video to me, that said I wasn't aware of what start fitness did with others.

I loved RTJ;I still think he's a great guy. However, since he has picked up a contract, my interest in the channel has plummeted.

There was something so endearing about a plucky outsider living on a shoestring in Japan, making his marathon dreams a reality. Everything from his insane mileage to working out by putting books in a backpack was so endearing.

Since he’s “turned pro”, for me, some of the magic has gone. It’s a shame, he’s still the same, great guy - I have no motivation to watch his journey anymore!

Are you sure? In the video he specifically states he's now salaried from Adidas, and talks about balancing his career alongside that.

I'm certain he is now salaried as a hybrid influencer/runner. How much would this be? 10/20/30k? Who knows hows but fair play.

He has to take the opportunity, but I can see him running two, good but not superb marathons instead of a PB time in Valencia.

It's only been a few weeks since RTJ announced the Brooks deal. and he has been travelling and racing the entire time.

I do think he could make his videos a bit longer to make up for the ads.

I would go back and listen to everything he says, with the the knowledge that it's not a full time contract - he's been incredibly careful with his wording to make it sound like it is, but not say anything that is factually incorrect; he's intentionally vague on some points.

Yes he is getting money from them (so he can interpret and present that as a salary), but no it doesn't extend beyond Berlin so he's only balancing it up to the event. As I said, there was a bunch of British club guys last year who got the exact same one-event 'deal' even without social media presences, and ultimately it wasn't to help them out, just try and show off the brand infront of more eyes at the sharper end of the event.

I have no insights on exact figures. The lads last year had much less exposure and I didnt want to ask them specifics though they said the actual monetary component was very low, with it mostly being kit, shoes, nutrition, access to massages, cryo chambers, sports therapists, gym access etc that were all covered for them (as opposed to a lump sum or monthly cash payment like a salary). I appreciate Cole's benefits will probably be higher than they got due to being more well known, but I imagine it's unlikely they're dropping a salary to him, especially when its only 2months away.

You have no insights into any of it quite honestly.

He travelled from Japan to Copenhagen only to end up in a hospital bed, without insurance taking the costs, and getting much of his season destroyed. Let him get back into shape again, physically and financially.

His fans ended up paying for his hospital visit via a Crowdfunded, no?

I think RTJ has become a bit too formulaic, and while his titles and thumbnails have always been clickbait, it feels like he turned it up another nodge on that front.

To be honest it's also just really hard to keep making engaging content. RTJ was interesting because he did kind of stand out with his (ridiculous and unwise) training methods and the different location he was running and racing in. What I'd love for him to do to make it more engaging would be to focus much more on Japanese culture, engage with other Japanese runners via interviews etc., but he seems to be having a hard time actually integrating there.

And he still had to pay for the plane and the stay without getting anything back in terms of maraton results, exposure etc. Most likely that trip was an investment for him to make a lot of content, get a great result etc that didn't pan out. And its not like the rest of his season is the same after that setback either.

Have you seen his videos, regarding integrating? In more or less every race video he is having a chat, in japanese, with a top runner. He is going to new places for his races, showing the unique prizes they have, trying food, highlighting historic japanese marathon runners and japanese running culture. That you bring it up makes me think that you are trolling tbh.

He should have received medical treatment through the reciprocal GHIC agreement that the UK has with Denmark.

It would have been awful for him and there would undoubtedly have been costs but medical costs would have been covered.

To qualify for a GHIC he'd have to be a UK resident, sure he probably could have got one before upping sticks to Japan but considering it is of no use there he may not have bothered to apply.

Absolutely vile comment tbh. RTJ is amazing

Seems like Cole Gibbons has fallen into the grifter trap by doing Berlin and Valencia marathons. Berlin is way too soon (just 10 weeks away) which will mean he'll end up with 2 sub-par marathon performances rather than getting a PB in Valencia. His 2:16 in London on a scorching hot day in London could be worth 2:14 in Valencia.

The more than two months between races should be more than sufficient time to recover, particularly if he doesn't treat Berlin as an "all out" effort.

I tend to think the conditions at London will account for more than two minutes at Valencia, provided the conditions are favourable.

ya this. im kinda baffled by everyone screaming bloody murder for cole doing berlin and valencia. its completely doable and he even alluded in his most recent video that he's obviously going to give berlin a good go but is looking at it sensibly. its not that difficult or taxing for a high mileage sub-elite marathoner to run 2 marathons in a span of ~10 weeks. he can easily keep valencia as his A goal race and still go pretty hard at berlin and be fine if he is smart about recovery after the race. there's been many others who have done 2 thons in a span of a couple months, heck i know a 2:18 in my city who ran 2:17 at chicago and then 2:17 again at indianapolis 3 years ago, and those races are only 4 weeks apart. its not that crazy guys relax

I actually think he includes quite a bit of Japan content in his videos. He's often chatting with Japanese runners and travelling to different locations in Japan to race. I'm not sure what more you can ask of him on that front. It's not like he can just join a Japanese team if he asks nicely. It has nothing to do with integrating. Keep in mind that not everyone wants to be interviewed and put up on YouTube.

I think it makes more sense for him to focus on his training and organically include Japanese content where possible rather than going out of his way to add more "Japanese culture" in his videos.

It's 100% doable, but by his own admission, 2:16 isn't a world class time.

Say he's not in peak shape for Berlin, and carrying some fatigue for Valencia and runs 2:17/2:17.

Both amazing times, but, his words, he needs to eke every percentage out to level up.

If he could run 2:13 on a perfect day in Valencia, it moves him up a level.