That's the only thing that you can hold against him. He's very fast and pretty inoffensive. I think you guys are way too harsh.
thats a pretty huge factor when youre creating videos for people to enjoy. also comes across as a bit of tool, banging on about running 200km per week but he rarely races or provides any big results - he had multiple badddd performances on the track and road over the spring & summer.
hes just another sub elite try to shill a living while living off the bank of mummy and daddy
Bester's coach is Neil Danby - coach at Holland Sports AC who were the host club in this Surrey League Div 1 fixture and indeed who Nick was running for. Yeah he filmed the race (not a bad watch TBF) but probably don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to infer Neil encouraged Nick to run for them. Conditions did again look "brutal". Narrow looking course and the ground was so dry he opted for Takumi Sens not XC spikes. 40th there does look good on paper compared to full send parkruns but in amongst here loads of runners of similar and better ability over short distances. He was also a place ahead of Phil Wicks who has run for GB in the World Cross and a 62 HM runner.
So I think that the deal there probably involved some coaching in return for getting Jack some exposure and turning up to help keep them in div 1 (which they’d have done easily anyway). Though interesting to hear in his video that 1) his plan is already completely written and 2) that he’s ignoring some of it and doing his own thing anyway, which does beg the question of quite how that relationship is all working. But come off on “brutal”. These were the best conditions you’ll see all year, especially for someone with zero xc experience or ability. Yeah he might’ve beaten some v40s and 45s who have full time jobs and don’t go on scam training camps but he also was well beaten by 18 year olds who’ve never raced anything nearly as long as well as others in his age group and even his own training partner. Bester is a totally different person off camera to when he’s being filmed
who are holland sports and why have so many runners joined them?
they clearly have no decent runners turning up as a traditional club would... down the track on a tuesday night.
all there runners seems to be joining from other sussex based teams. interesting that Barry Big Bollox Bester only just made there scoring team at the weekend. good to see the big show put back in his box by the working classes. will be good to see how he suffers when on a muddy and hilly course, he wont make the top 50
Oh for crying out loud, it’s that Nick Bester fellow again, isn’t it?
Can’t scroll two inches without seeing him bounding up a mountain like a gazelle on double espresso.
Back in my day, we didn’t have fancy watches telling us our heart rate or VO2 max or whatever nonsense. We just ran ‘til we saw stars, threw up behind a tree, and kept going! And now this guy’s out here with his perfectly timed splits and motivational quotes? Bah!
What’s he even doing? Smiling while running 100 kilometers like it’s a stroll to the corner shop? Who the heck enjoys a tempo run at 4am? You know what I enjoy at 4am? Sleeping, like a sane human being. Not “crushing hill repeats” with a grin plastered across my face like some sort of endorphin-fuelled robot.
And what’s with the positivity all the time? “You’ve got this.” “Pain is temporary.” “Just keep moving forward.” Yeah yeah, I’ve heard it all before — usually from someone half my age and twice as annoying. He’s like a walking, talking, sprinting self-help book.
But I’ll give him this — the lad’s got grit. And guts. And quads like granite slabs. If I could bottle up 10% of that man’s energy, I’d finally clean out the garage like I promised in 1998. Maybe.
Still. Enough with the Strava medals and high-altitude selfies. Some of us are just trying to survive the walk to the mailbox without pulling a hamstring.
Oh for crying out loud, it’s that Nick Bester fellow again, isn’t it?
Can’t scroll two inches without seeing him bounding up a mountain like a gazelle on double espresso.
Back in my day, we didn’t have fancy watches telling us our heart rate or VO2 max or whatever nonsense. We just ran ‘til we saw stars, threw up behind a tree, and kept going! And now this guy’s out here with his perfectly timed splits and motivational quotes? Bah!
What’s he even doing? Smiling while running 100 kilometers like it’s a stroll to the corner shop? Who the heck enjoys a tempo run at 4am? You know what I enjoy at 4am? Sleeping, like a sane human being. Not “crushing hill repeats” with a grin plastered across my face like some sort of endorphin-fuelled robot.
And what’s with the positivity all the time? “You’ve got this.” “Pain is temporary.” “Just keep moving forward.” Yeah yeah, I’ve heard it all before — usually from someone half my age and twice as annoying. He’s like a walking, talking, sprinting self-help book.
But I’ll give him this — the lad’s got grit. And guts. And quads like granite slabs. If I could bottle up 10% of that man’s energy, I’d finally clean out the garage like I promised in 1998. Maybe.
Still. Enough with the Strava medals and high-altitude selfies. Some of us are just trying to survive the walk to the mailbox without pulling a hamstring.
DISCUSS - decent vids or bunch of goofy dorks? (hi guys, i know youre lurking)
the guys and India seem decent, not sure why Astins still in the squad, not at the level of the others. shame the waterboy McMurrays been left at home as he despatched the golden child Elson over 1500m in the summer and just slayed out a 65min solo half - he could make movements if he was given the same opportunities as the others
any new members joining the squad? perhaps they could help sort out the much loved Cole Gibbon
If we are talking about YouTube’s most naturally talented British runner I’m going to nominate MARM.
He has just run a 80 minute half marathon off the back of about 25km week training wise. Must be in his mid to late 40s too. That’s insane. Doesn’t appear to care much for any sort of training plan, food, strength work either. Just a wing it approach.
Taking into account age grading and mileage I’d even have him above the likes of Bester, T Grose, Brooms, Felton etc..
Cole, Ryan & Jake B are obviously another level but then again they are all much younger than MARM and probably do 10 times his mileage
Every now and then you come across a Strava profile where every run has a description which practically a brag - how “easy” a session felt or how “stupid” some people were in a race for going too fast. Yet people are liking these posts?
Not just me who sits there and thinks you arrogant t*sser?
So weird. I feel like many people are either trying to prove they are fit by showing how something feels easy (Floberg's 120hr treadmill runs), or prove they are hard workers because they puked or something (again, Floberg), and losing sight of the main idea: your race times are your race times are your race times. That's how we measure each other. Yes, we can speculate to a degree by comparing/discussing workout results, but we do that knowing that the end goal is a fast race time. Nobody wins any medals for "best workout"
It's easy to lie about something feeling easy, and only slightly more difficult to pace a workout so poorly you puke. The real hard part is training consistently and well for months at a time in order to put it all together on race day.
Ultimately, that's why we rely on racing to prove the fitness - execute your physical (workouts) and mental (race plan) to run at as close to 100% of your ability as you can and achieve the time you say you want to run. There is no way around it. A 2:40 "feeling easy" or 20 miles at 2:30 pace before blowing up and running 2:40 are both only worth 2:40, not a 2:30.
Unfortunately, many people are addicted to the daily social gratification of likes/comments/views on social media, so they need to seem cool and fit every day, not just a handful of times per year.
Every now and then you come across a Strava profile where every run has a description which practically a brag - how “easy” a session felt or how “stupid” some people were in a race for going too fast. Yet people are liking these posts?
Not just me who sits there and thinks you arrogant t*sser?
So weird. I feel like many people are either trying to prove they are fit by showing how something feels easy (Floberg's 120hr treadmill runs), or prove they are hard workers because they puked or something (again, Floberg), and losing sight of the main idea: your race times are your race times are your race times. That's how we measure each other. Yes, we can speculate to a degree by comparing/discussing workout results, but we do that knowing that the end goal is a fast race time. Nobody wins any medals for "best workout"
It's easy to lie about something feeling easy, and only slightly more difficult to pace a workout so poorly you puke. The real hard part is training consistently and well for months at a time in order to put it all together on race day.
Ultimately, that's why we rely on racing to prove the fitness - execute your physical (workouts) and mental (race plan) to run at as close to 100% of your ability as you can and achieve the time you say you want to run. There is no way around it. A 2:40 "feeling easy" or 20 miles at 2:30 pace before blowing up and running 2:40 are both only worth 2:40, not a 2:30.
Unfortunately, many people are addicted to the daily social gratification of likes/comments/views on social media, so they need to seem cool and fit every day, not just a handful of times per year.
DISCUSS - decent vids or bunch of goofy dorks? (hi guys, i know youre lurking)
the guys and India seem decent, not sure why Astins still in the squad, not at the level of the others.
Obviously decent vids.... Not sure why anyone would insinuate otherwise. They are the opposite of everything this thread moans about. All professional level, training sensibly to a great standard, not shilling or giving out dangourous training advise and no cringey catchphrase rubbish. Very well made as well.
There's obvious talent, with national record holders, international medal winners and top-level national times, however I've seen them critisised on here before for not being good enough. Thats sport though, not every professional athlete is going to be a world champion, or even make a world final, but there needs to be a deep talent pool for the sport to exist. And thats why these guys are a fun follow, the struggle, the journey, hoping they'll have a breakout performance or surprise result - I was absolutely buzzing to see Rory take it on at the British champs this year.
Regarding Sarah, she's building up for a marathon debut next year - I assume London. She has a HM PB 35s quicker than Phily Bowden (to use someone this thread knows all about) and Phily ran, at the time, a top-10 all time British marathon time. So I think Sarah has a good chance of debuting with a time in / around the British top-10 all time. Not exactly far off the level....
It's now Thursday and no Chicago recap video from Floberg. Me thinks he is focused on securing the NYC details so that he can quickly pivot to that as a distraction from his 7 second PR result in Chicago.
Hopefully he's spending lots of Sanriah time as there are no shortage of suitors here with actual Sub 2:30 marathons waiting in the wings.
I think Truett Hanes is gonna destroy Floberg in NYC... He called him "a friend" in his latest video. I'd love to see them run it together, though I'm guessing Hanes is going for the sub 2:30 and Floberg shouldn't.
I'm guessing Hanes is going to announce some new running goal within the next few months. He hinted at it in the St George video. Sub 2:20? OTQ? The way he talks about weight, I think he thinks he'd easily run much faster if he got scrawny like an elite. TBH I'd be curious to see it. He said 150 but he probably needs to target 140 if he's going all-in.
After I saw that Floberg wanted a Houston bib, I was thinking he's trapping himself into running only the fastest courses if he's going from McKirdy to Chicago to Houston.
NO:TIME would've been better for NYC since it's a slower course. The obsession with a certain time would've naturally lessened.
What’s the move for Flowy though…why go to NYC if you’re not trying to go sub 2:30? If he was truly happy with Chicago then he doesn’t do another marathon, so obviously he’s not happy with his time. Does he really believe he can go sub 2:30 on that course a month after Chicago? Dudes going to end up sick or injured and honestly he deserves it.
Someone who doesn't get much air time in this thread is Tommy Trees. I'm not sure what it is about him, but I find him nauseating, a narcissist and if he was a chocolate bar he'd eat himself.
What’s the move for Flowy though…why go to NYC if you’re not trying to go sub 2:30? If he was truly happy with Chicago then he doesn’t do another marathon, so obviously he’s not happy with his time. Does he really believe he can go sub 2:30 on that course a month after Chicago? Dudes going to end up sick or injured and honestly he deserves it.
Right, didn’t he try and double up with Chicago and Indy last year and proved he couldn’t improve his first time? And as you say, NYC is almost certainly a slower course, unless he thinks it was all down to the moderate temps in Chicago. Which is possible, maybe he’s hyper sensitive to warmth.
If we are talking about YouTube’s most naturally talented British runner I’m going to nominate MARM.
He has just run a 80 minute half marathon off the back of about 25km week training wise. Must be in his mid to late 40s too. That’s insane. Doesn’t appear to care much for any sort of training plan, food, strength work either. Just a wing it approach.
Taking into account age grading and mileage I’d even have him above the likes of Bester, T Grose, Brooms, Felton etc..
Cole, Ryan & Jake B are obviously another level but then again they are all much younger than MARM and probably do 10 times his mileage
Apparently MARM only started running in 2014, probably when he was in his early 30s. He's obviously not a national talent, but given how low his mileage is and his age, it's pretty impressive. He must have been active in other cardio sports as a teen (football?)
I wonder how fast he could get if he stuck to NSA for a year or two instead of whatever mismash of training + a weekly half marathon race he is doing right now. Probably won't make for good youtube content though, so he should stick to what he is doing.