The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

Ah, Nick Bester, now there’s a man who makes the rest of us look like we’ve been training for the potato sack race at the village fête. Honestly, if sheer athleticism were on tap, he’d be a pint of the good stuff—no froth, all body. When Nick walks into the pub, even the dartboard stands to attention. I’ve seen less dedication in a royal guard. A true thoroughbred in a world full of donkeys.

I mean, I’ve just managed to run a 5K without crying, and he’s out there making marathons look like a warm-up jog to the shops. If running were a group project, I’d be the one carrying the water bottle and Nick would be handing in the final draft early—with bonus slides. Inspirational? Absolutely. Intimidating? Also yes.

Every time I see one of his runs pop up on Strava, I have to sit down with a cup of tea and a biscuit just to emotionally prepare myself. A rare time when the word legend isn’t an over exaggeration. Truly the running YouTuber GOAT. Sorry FOD (you’re my second fave)

he only ran 51:30, why is this seen as a spectacular performance?

conditions yesturday were actually very good for Portsmouth (the last 2 miles can be a slog into a dreadful wind). everyones splits looked consistent so although damp, it wasnt pouring down and the wind doesnt appear to have had any effect

51:30 from a guy who ran 30:30~ a few weeks ago isnt a great conversion on a pancake flat route which is the fastest 10 miler in England, im sure he would have fancied going sub 50. he never peaks for any races as he smashes out 100mpw all year round and full sends his weekly race.

i dont see this as a great performance, sub par if anything. he cant be compared to sirpoc who has been injured for months and was just jogging round

The thing is. The guy has zero self awareness that when he reads this (we all know he reads the thread, comments under second, third, fourth profiles) that he genuinely probably thinms this is true and the tide has turned. Rather, than it being simply a bit of sarcasm.

51:30 versus 52:30 for sirpoc. I don't like Bester, but he's flipped it from London. I think 51:30 yesterday was pretty good. It's definitely sub 51 in other conditions. Wasn't terrible, but certainly wasn't as nice as the last GSR that got ran.

Not a Bester fan. But sometimes you just have to say well done, even to guys who are unlikeable. He beat quite a few people he wouldn't have 6 months ago (and didn't in the case of sirpoc).

Yeah, have to agree. You can easily say sirpoc has only run 600km since early July versus whatever nick has, but you can only beat what is in front of you and although I agree 51:30 isn't great, he did definitely beat folks who would have dropped him going back to around London time.

I say this btw as someone who really dislikes Nick and thinks sirpoc is the best thing to happen to hobby jogging and training, in almost forever.

Yeah it was a top performance from Nick yesterday. Think getting a coach has helped him kick on. Obviously he was already very very good (has a sub 2:20 marathon under his belt) but now his training seems more structured and he’s churning out consistent good performances in races.

I raced GSR yesterday and witnessed Nick Besters enormous presence in the bag drop tent. It was well after he had finished the race and he was pacing up and down taking photos with everyone that asked, a true gent.

What made me laugh was these were all grown men finishing around the hour mark begging for photos without even saying anything else to the man.

As much as his persona can get on my nerves at times I think fair play for having the patience to deal with that with a smile on your face as it would honestly do my head in.

I mean, I agree in principle. I'd rather put my balls into a nutcracker than live the In-/runfluencer life. But I assume the guy chose the life he lives. Does doing the slightly annoying things in your job also do your head in? These sycophant grown-man fanboys are literally paying the man's bills.

Bester does not need patience, as I doubt this happened. I've seen Bester and many these shills at races.

While they get cheers on the course, why would anyone want a picture with the likes of Bester? It gives you zero cred; I'd argue it make you look like a complete goon.

I saw Bester's IG story with his bib ripped to shreds and having to carry it due to the "horrendous" conditions yesterday, akin to a Cat 5 hurricane. Was the weather that bad?

I didn't think it was terrible personally but I'm pretty big and fat so maybe the wind effects me less. I did see at least 5 race numbers on the floor as I went round though, which I've never seen before, so it was an issue for some.

I saw it with my own eyes. I can’t stand the guy as much as the rest of the people in this thread but I did see many many 30-50 year old men approaching him for photos and found it truly bizarre.

17th place overall, 17th place by gender - although these days that could be any one of 23 types. In that weather, the marshalls should be knighted. Good vibes only.

No, it was around 15 mpw winds and only really noticeable from mile 6-8. It was raining a bit through most of it but not heavy at all for those around the hour mark or less. Those that were running 1:20+ would have been caught in the worst of it. I think there was an issue with the material used for bibs as I noticed loads on the floor and there is an official notice from the organiser recognizing this.

Anyone know what happened to Yowana yesterday? Started well then went out like a candle in the latter stages

"The mustard fell off the hotdog"

I see we've circled back around to shirtless jeans guy. Not sure what his flat marathon PR is (the Eugene time from this year), but the most unrealistic thing about thing about this guy is his unreal recovery ability. Just smashing 100 mile weeks, trail ultras, road marathon PRs, week after week without much training structure aside from "hard work and trust me bro". Okay bud, so you must have unlocked training and recovery secrets that pros haven't found for decades.

Be fully transparent about your training, diet, supplements, recovery, lifting regimen, sleep, support team, etc., and then we can have a serious discussion. Until that transparency is available, then we're right to suspect PED usage because doing all this "clean" is utterly unrealistic.

All this talk of The Great South Run but Nicks (& Ben Feltons) performance at The Vitality 10K seems to have gone under the radar here, not much talk of it. A 30minute 10K on a very warm day in the capital is not to be sneered at and shows his training is working for him currently. Just my 2 cents anyway lol

I've heard the heat was so bad many people collapsed. Epic performance's by 2 of the UK's finest, but brushed under the carpet because Bester and Felton aren't in the "cool gang" on this thread.