The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

Sagusa just posted a 30 minute video blaming his 2 hour half marathon performance on everything except Nike and himself.

Nothing New 2 wrote:

He didn't make the documentary himself though? It was done by some production company called emulation. It looks like they've been trying for about a year to get off the ground. They probably did this for RTJ as a project for their portfolio and to get their name out there.

Only Floberg has the knowledge of cameras, audio, lighting, storytelling and framing to pull off a cinematic documentary about smelling his own farts amongst running YouTubers.

I think if Jake RTJ would have made it, it would have been better/funnier. (I watched the first 45 minutes on the treadmill this morning and haven’t finished it.)

The name of the game for “influencers” is collaborating with anyone/anything out there. For example, Jake does a ton of podcast interviews. My sense is that Jake was approached and couldn’t really say no. It also seemed that the documentary was sponsored by his nutrition sponsor BIX — its logo was flashed on the screen on at least one occasion.

Ackley wrote:

I think if Jake RTJ would have made it, it would have been better/funnier. (I watched the first 45 minutes on the treadmill this morning and haven’t finished it.)

The name of the game for “influencers” is collaborating with anyone/anything out there. For example, Jake does a ton of podcast interviews. My sense is that Jake was approached and couldn’t really say no. It also seemed that the documentary was sponsored by his nutrition sponsor BIX — its logo was flashed on the screen on at least one occasion.

I couldn't finish it either. Another unsubscribe here. Absolute s**t and really I think like he's played a fantastic long con and out himself in a position that now he can hit everyone with the shilling. Personally, disappointed this is him, but he's out to please anyone who sponsors him over how I feel the spirit of the channel started. But hey, that's the name of the game for these guys I'm just annoyed I felt Jake was different. Got sucked in and invested lol

He should have waited until he got the sub-2:10 or won any competitive race. he story is interesting but that not compelling yet...

side note would love someone to produce something similar about someone like Joel Reichow but probably he doesn't have the persona this production company wanted

not ready for an RTJ doc wrote:

He should have waited until he got the sub-2:10 or won any competitive race. he story is interesting but that not compelling yet...

side note would love someone to produce something similar about someone like Joel Reichow but probably he doesn't have the persona this production company wanted

Jake should have had the sense to sandbag it for after some meaningful event—it still would have been cringe, but not so odd. Either way, even if he was offered it for free, a self-posted documentary about himself is a worrying sign of ego inflation. It’s almost as bad as when Phily sold tickets to a grand London premiere of her homecoming marathon, only to run the second slowest time of her life! I don’t know whether to respect or hate her lack of humility for continuing with the screening!

Hahaha, get a grip you massive drama queen.

What is with all the comments here saying ‘I thought Jake was different’ etc.. you sound like jilted lovers.

Hes a guy who makes YouTube videos about running. He’s top 1% level at both going by his subscribers and PBs. All YouTubers are self indulgent, you don’t start filming yourself and hoping people are interested in it without a degree of ego. what on earth were you expecting from him. Madness

ItsNotThatDeep wrote:

Hahaha, get a grip you massive drama queen.

What is with all the comments here saying ‘I thought Jake was different’ etc.. you sound like jilted lovers.

Hes a guy who makes YouTube videos about running. He’s top 1% level at both going by his subscribers and PBs. All YouTubers are self indulgent, you don’t start filming yourself and hoping people are interested in it without a degree of ego. what on earth were you expecting from him. Madness

Dude, you don't need to defend Jake. He's not gonna bum you.

To the point, it was a cringworthy video and truly awful. If some of the real knobs had made that, we'd be all over it.

not ready for an RTJ doc wrote:

He should have waited until he got the sub-2:10 or won any competitive race. he story is interesting but that not compelling yet...

From a narrative standpoint, probably, but not if you’re trying to make money.

Realistically the window of peak popularity/growth on YouTube is like, a couple of years at best. If your channel has a good enough premise and you’re smart about it you can retain a core viewership and some level of steady income beyond that, but you’re no longer the guy the algorithm’s pushing onto everyone’s front page and nothing’s really guaranteed so you might as well cash in while you can especially if there’s someone conviniently willing to do the bulk of the work for free. (Marathons being a trending topic at the moment doesn’t hurt either.)

it’s the same mentality as pop stars releasing their memoirs at the ripe old age of 25- even if they continue to be relatively popular someone else comes along and you are no longer The Thing.

Poor Jake didn't even make it to the end of 2025 without the backlash starting. Bit harsh.

But, to be fair, even as someone who has been a fan of Jake, that is utter cringeworthy and real sh*te.

No idea what he was thinking.

Bunch of unregistered users with the same harsh language and feelings against RTJ. Weird. Same person/persons that make the Bester posts?

ParadiseByTheDashboardNikes wrote:

Bunch of unregistered users with the same harsh language and feelings against RTJ. Weird. Same person/persons that make the Bester posts?

All I can tell you is I've been around the forum for a while, I watched Jake's "documentary", and wanted to hide behind the sofa. Felt very unnatural and forced. It's tricky, because he has to make content. But someone needs to tell him not to force it. Just felt awkward.

Ehhh you guys are tripping. RTJ video was fine. Tells the story of an expat with a purpose. Nowhere near the cringe levels of any Floberg or Philly Bowden video. Then you have the whole BPN "hybrid bro" side of Youtube... yea im definitely identifying more with Jake, thank you very much.

old_skool50 wrote:

ParadiseByTheDashboardNikes wrote:

Bunch of unregistered users with the same harsh language and feelings against RTJ. Weird. Same person/persons that make the Bester posts?

All I can tell you is I've been around the forum for a while, I watched Jake's "documentary", and wanted to hide behind the sofa. Felt very unnatural and forced. It's tricky, because he has to make content. But someone needs to tell him not to force it. Just felt awkward.

I am registered and a long term. Honestly, I love most his stuff. However, this was just toe curling.

"Yea, we are known as the super competitive Barracloughs".

It does not help how posh they all are -- if someone told me the historic footage was prince Harry spending the summer at a royal retreat, I would have believed them. Also, what's with the mysterious documentary makers filming there backs when asking adoring family members how great Jake is?

brightonhobbyjogger wrote:

I am registered and a long term. Honestly, I love most his stuff. However, this was just toe curling.

"Yea, we are known as the super competitive Barracloughs".

It does not help how posh they all are -- if someone told me the historic footage was prince Harry spending the summer at a royal retreat, I would have believed them. Also, what's with the mysterious documentary makers filming there backs when asking adoring family members how great Jake is?

Problem is for Jake, there are a group of runners who subscribe to this sort of stuff who will lap it up. So he will do more. This is always where these channels go and then you get weird superfans.

This thread is known for calling a spade a spade. Just because it's Jake, it's naive to think if you put out hot garbage people will not call it out.

And that was garbage. With the hot.

rtj fan wrote:

Poor Jake didn't even make it to the end of 2025 without the backlash starting. Bit harsh.

But, to be fair, even as someone who has been a fan of Jake, that is utter cringeworthy and real sh*te.

No idea what he was thinking.

Who is left. FOD? Probably the only person in 2025 I haven't seen have to face the wrath of the mob here lol

I do feel like 2025 was the year a lot of people have had enough of these online characters. I do wonder why that is. The line got drawn and people's tolerance went down. Maybe we are just all a year older and grumpier. But I do think "running" content has been dumbed down so much this year, to useless shorts, tik tok, self indulgence or pure shilling. It's hard to find any useful information on, you know, running for hobby joggers which was originally the point.

old_skool50 wrote:

ParadiseByTheDashboardNikes wrote:

Bunch of unregistered users with the same harsh language and feelings against RTJ. Weird. Same person/persons that make the Bester posts?

All I can tell you is I've been around the forum for a while, I watched Jake's "documentary", and wanted to hide behind the sofa. Felt very unnatural and forced. It's tricky, because he has to make content. But someone needs to tell him not to force it. Just felt awkward.

Okok, it might be explained by me not bothering watching the documentary. I enjoy the regular vlogs and are happy with that. However I think many go to far, acting like he has no accomplishments in 2025 etc etc. Thats setting the bar incredibly high for vloggers.

madhatters wrote:

Who is left. FOD? Probably the only person in 2025 I haven't seen have to face the wrath of the mob here lol

I do feel like 2025 was the year a lot of people have had enough of these online characters. I do wonder why that is. The line got drawn and people's tolerance went down. Maybe we are just all a year older and grumpier. But I do think "running" content has been dumbed down so much this year, to useless shorts, tik tok, self indulgence or pure shilling. It's hard to find any useful information on, you know, running for hobby joggers which was originally the point.

I've watched less running content this year. I used to watch it for training advice. But jumped on the Norwegian on lower mileage thread and tbh, I don't really even think about my training anymore because it's worked so well for me, so stopped watching a lot of content.

Then when I do watch something like Fenton, Bester, I realise now how little they actually know about training and turn it off very quickly.

There's definitely a market for it though still, for semi regular runners, the parkrun crowd. Nothing wrong with being that, but then they get shafted by being the target audience of clowns like fordyruns.

madhatters wrote:

rtj fan wrote:

Poor Jake didn't even make it to the end of 2025 without the backlash starting. Bit harsh.

But, to be fair, even as someone who has been a fan of Jake, that is utter cringeworthy and real sh*te.

No idea what he was thinking.

Who is left. FOD? Probably the only person in 2025 I haven't seen have to face the wrath of the mob here lol

Ryan Thompson, TwoRunningBrooms, CrownMyRun are nearly always well received on here

I like some of FOD's videos, but I pass on about half of his content

There may be a new audience; the Run Club crowd. These are the people who aspire to be hobby joggers and are doing it mostly for the social aspect. I get the feeling that they're not interested in spending time learning about the sport; so shorts, dumbed down videos, influencer 'coaches' etc. It's just this year's thing to do. Something else will be around to take the place of running soon.