The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

ashleymateo.substack.com

Does Running Have a Content Problem?

Ashley Mateo

Sometimes, I think we’re so focused on how we present our running journey that we forget to actually be present.

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"...But I worry about when content creating in public starts to infringe on other runners’ experiences. The last few races I’ve run, it seems like more and more people are more focused on turning the race environment into their own stage than actually running the race. There’s a sense of entitlement behind this kind of behavior—the ‘I want to film here and everyone else must accommodate that’ mindset. (And that’s exacerbated by certain influences who have whole camera crews, including bikers, join them on race courses while flouting the rules.).."

This is beautifully put.

I filmed my first marathon a few years ago and never again. It's not as fun, not as challenging and I've found it more liberating to keep my goals and effort close to my chest. The entitlement factor is huge with a lot people at all levels

I actually met Ashley (along with Kofuzi) at a group run in Chamonix. I agree with her that everyone should abide by the race rules (especially if you have an Influencer with a camera man on a bike that also might hand out aid etc). And also for influencers who might be on PEDs...

Anyway back to my "Influencer formula":

1. It helps to have a financial net to fall back on. That is, some people may have saved up money from a high paying corporate job before launching into freelance work -And/Or they have a super supportive spouse/partner with a high paying job/money (that can also take care of the kids/family if they have any). You never know when marketing budgets might dry up (or you get cut) or a deal falls through.

2. and/or (and this is the case in a lot of Boulder "pro athletes") you simply have a trust fund from the parents/family to fall back on. That goes with "Influencers" but also some "Pro Sponsored Athletes" or "Travel/Adventure Hiker VLOGers" or "Ski Bums"....dime a dozen in places like Colorado (and fyi that is certainly not my case....my dad was a public school teacher!).

What I don't understand is how "micro Influencers" say with like less than 20K followers on Instagram can make a living plugging product on social media. Especially if they live in an expensive area like LA or NYC or even Boulder.

That being said I've had brands (non-running related) give me short term cash contracts for paid videos that pay pretty well (thousands of dollars of a single video/image/post for example). I don't even actively seek them out because I rely more on my actual running sponsor brands and coaching business for support to make a living.

But if you really hustle and can do quality paid gigs on something like IG or Youtube multiple times a month (combined with a few thousand in Google Adsense) it is not unfathomable to make $5k-$10k a month as a "medium size" influencer (think like 60K-250k following on Instagram and/or Youtube). And that doesn't even include the travel benefits and free product/gear.

A lot of people in the industry sell themselves short on just getting free product or doing things for a few hundred dollars though imo.

Many paths, some uphill, some downhill. Some paths have soft ground, others sharp rocks – all lead somewhere.

Safety net, like a strong family tree – provides shelter, helps weather storms. But remember, even the strongest tree begins as a small seed.

Small fish swim in a big pond, but big fish sometimes eat them. Chase shiny bait, forget the current. True success is to grow strong, swim your own race, not just follow in another's wake.

To value work is good. But remember, a full purse does not guarantee a full heart. Seek balance, grasshopper. Like moon and sun, both have a place in the sky.

Is the brightest path the one with the most followers, or the one you carve for yourself?

+1 on Crown My Run, genuinely funny guy that runs it and I find way more enjoyment at watching a go pro of a guy trying to get a PB with funny narration than some influencer's 'words of wisdom'.

Informational, but quite weird, Sage.

Why weird?

Yeah. With Spring energy lying about their nutrition maybe I can finally be a part of the team over there

Can we please not get yet another RunTuber thread shut down? It seems like every thread, one of Letsrun's worst (or preferred???) users attempts to derail the thread by injecting inflammatory comments about unrelated topics.

There are already two threads about Spring Energy. Shout down Sage there.

Sage falls in the influencer category.

No one is immune.

So you’ll stop at nothing to turn every thread into a Spring Energy debate? Just don’t buy the stuff if you feel it’s fraudulent.

So the truth comes out… the Serious Runner is on PEDs

Shocking if true

PED users are often those we least suspect. Someone who sacrificed for his art.

Floberg provides info about his Boston Marathon Youtube content:

I dont know who Serious Runner is. But as a general point, these ghastly running youtubers seem high on narcissism, vulnerable on mental health, low on valuing the 'sport' as more than a vehicle for their own egos, and of course driven by money for their performance the same as any doping Kenyan or Moroccan at higher level - so it's unlikely that NONE of them ever use PEDS, in USA or other nations,

I always assumed Sage was a heavy user of PEDs - he's always so loud and whiny about them as a diversionary tactic. Brilliant IMO.

So great note from Sage. Me think I need to review your videos and sign up as my coach.

Know of many influencers getting 5-10k for doing a marathon plus travel, accommodation and kit.

Press trips, 5k is a around the going rate unless there’s a particular angle a brand want from you.

Can earn easily 1k per post if you’ve got over 50k followers and YouTube sponsorships are big money if you have the subscribers, I’m getting lost on the revenue streams already.

Basically, if you sell your soul and you’re consistent, you can earn a stack whilst you’re hot.