The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

I had sort of assumed Philly would run The Marathon Project - it's local and has groups targeting the times she purports to want to run. But saw her on the start list for Majors (not sure if she commands prize money? I'm not fast enough to know how that works). But haven't watched her stuff in quite a while, so had no basis for thinking that.

That's the reason.

It's pretty much the game you sign up to play by becoming a runfluencer... uh... professional runner, I mean.

She would need run around 2.20 to get anywhere near the prize money at Chicago. I imagine the buzz of a big marathon helps with content and motivation.

I imagine for her, showing she can repeat her Berlin performance would be a huge win for her.

I'd argue she doesn't have to actually run those times, her fitness can progress with consistent and targetted training, and well-reasoned performance planning... which both just seem completely lacking to me?

Had a great result in Berlin, yeah she had Dan Nash running the entire way with her but she still covered the distance in that time. I don't think London can be called a bad decision - Brits get looked after there and we've been watching the race every April our entire lives.

But then at that point, if we take what she says as the truth about London - an injury plus the heat - surely you take a few months to get back to full health and then put in a good few months of training for something like Valencia or Seville?

Instead this just feels massively rushed and like they actually have no long term plan... no idea of the next 12 months with the main goal and then a plan for additional races to fit around that. It really seems like Chicago came about recently and they're now rushing to scrape together some shape, which will culminate in another lacking performance, another 6 months of meaningless content, and another year and marathon without a result.

From a high-level view, you cant seriouslly suggest that the Olympics is possible but then go and run London with an injury, battle that (and others) injury for a few months, rush to altitude and get covid, rush a marathon build, when other better options exist.

Just patiently waiting for the next Tree Time and Sabrina Time episode.

Broberg taking unusually long for his next narcissism-fest. Hour+ long episode incoming?

Wow felt so bad for Nick B on his latest video when he takes a tumble. Sounded really shocking and painful. So brave to get back up and smash out an amazing parkrun time. A huge win there.

Such a likeable dude. Inspiration for a lot of us parkrun enthusiasts

Looking forward to watching the new FOD, BIR, Phily and Jimmy runs videos this evening.

I feel like London broke something in Phily. She's always been a bit neurotic but since London it seems like it's just been non-stop chaos and short-term thinking.

Case in point: Random knee-jerk "heat adaptation" training right after London.

That was definitely bizarre. Just recover for a week and then build back to normal training. What was she adapting for?

CIM has better prize money. And would also get her higher in the rankings, but my guess is she commands a pretty decent appearance fee because of social media following. And running CIM, even if you win it, probably isn't as profitable as a 2:27 at Chicago.

I am curious why an over subscribed marathon like Chicago would need the sort of publicity Phily brings.

It's already proven to be the fast course in the world. Rationally, I don't see why they would fork out beyond free accommodation and a bib to have Philly there. It's not like she's going to make a dent in the top 10 of the elites. She'll probably only be visible on the broadcast for a few mins.

Potentially something in her ON contract stipulating the size of the event? But she could probably enter a few of the big half marathons (Big Half or Great North Run, for starters) in the UK to tick that box?

If she was hampered by some previously unmentioned injury or the heat really was a major factor then surely you'd just put it down to bad luck, bank the good training block, have some time off and come back.

The fact Bowden appears to have gone crazy suggests she thinks she's not as fast as she thought and is panicking she'll get dropped by On and won't be able to call herself a "pro runner" any more.

The narrative she's been spinning on London keeps changing and her behaviour since that race suggests she's totally panicking

To be fair, Nick Bester has done well to run sub-2:20 as a bigger guy (for a marathon runner), who started later in life.

He's around, if not past, the point where the improvement curve crosses the age related decline curve.

He has done a good job of converting what he does into a whole business model.

As an ex-English club runner - now 68-years-old and living in US - I've enjoyed Cole Gibbens, who is very much part of the English club program, running around some areas I remember. His marathon debut was very good.

Scullion is on a long hiatus.

I hadn't noticed but you're right. I used to enjoy Scullion but he became a bit draining to watch. He was a pull as a professional runner but with that gone he doesn't offer much variation to other channels. Probably doesn't help that his most interesting videos (by title at least) went behind a paywall. Plus, I always found that if there was a way to say something in 5 minutes he would find a way to say it in 10.

5 mins to tell you what he had to say, 5 mins to talk about his 2:09 marathon

not in a million years do she get near the prize money or performance bonuses from the organisers

interested if anyone knows, do lower tier "elites" get appearance fees? I cant see her getting any money from the london marathon and why would Chicago care about a 2:25 lady turning up? these races only care about having 10 random Africans inc a couple of "big names," hoping that 1 or 2 of them will survival and run a really fast time. they are not remotely bothered about runners doing outside 2:20

the youtube dross makes no difference to them, they get plenty of clicks and videos posted by the fun runners and the race sells out each year so they dont need to pay for "influencers" to roll up