I don't think we've talked about Jake's statement that he is confident he could set the world record for the 100K if he wanted to. I don't totally doubt him, but if true, why doesn't he?
I don't think he's going faster than 2:12 in the marathon, and what does that get him? Clearly his greatest talent is being able to run more mileage than almost anyone in the world. So why doesn't he set the ultra world on fire? A world record at 100K would open sponsorship door for him far beyond what a 2:12 would.
I think he's wasting his talents at the marathon if he truly could be this dominant at longer distances.
I think he addressed this in one of his earlier videos, as I recall he doesn't think the ultra running world is anywhere near as competitive and the marathon is where the true glory is. Especially in Japan, sure they love ekiden more than anything else but after that it's all about the marathon. Of course he can change his mind and do any distance he wants to, but I think that's how he set his stall out a while back.
I'd love to see him take up his place at Comrades. When Steve Way did his second Comrades he was 11th around 60km, and stormed through the field to finish 3rd. That was a year they ran the course downhill, wonder if Jake would factor up/down year into his calculations - next event will be an up run.
Does anyone know what happened to Steve Way after his third at Comrades in 2018 or if he is still running? He is in his fifties now — he was 40 when he made the English team for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
I found this old thread about Steve where he posted as “Marigold”.
Steve Way was a 230lb smoker 6 years ago and now he is an international runnerhttp://www.standard.co.uk/sport/running/london-marathon-former-165-stone-smoker-steve-way-qualifies-for-commonwealth-games-9265281.html
I dont understand how so many fail at making merch in general. Make a plain shirt or sweather. Have an track-oval at the chest, maybe with a subtle "BenIsRunning" or just "BIR" or whatever if you must. Done.
Make something people will wear, its super weird with these overstated designs. Let it be a subtle nod to those who also watch the channel, not something that screams "LOOK AT ME I RUN AND WATCH YOUTUBE AND I LOVE THIS DUDE".
RTJ should make one that says ran to Japan in Kanji, normal colours.
I like that idea for the RTJ. Or he could do an homage to Japanese illustrator/designer Ikko Tanaka whose work consists of geometric shapes in primary colours. Beautifully simple, and would work very nicely on a tshirt.
Thats a great idea! I dont mind buying merch when I like watching someones youtube, but I want to be able to wear the merch without looking like a creep.
I think Jake could and should aim higher. He is a unique talent. No other human in the world can run the mileage he does. I'd like to see him shoot for the 200K World record in time - maybe aim at 2:20 marathon pace (ish). Would also like to see him get an invite to the Barkley marathons. Sure a course record is well within his reach there.
I really don't understand the RTJ love in on this thread.
Yes, he is running high mileage but it is causing him long term health issues and he clearly isn't absorbing the training as his improvements are not in line with the mileage he's running.
He's a decent guy but I'd love someone to explain why people seem to adore him when he is mismanaging his training just as much as the Feltons and Besters of this world.
Because he has a more entertaining personality, have the whole japan angle to make more interesting, does something unique in his training and is at a whole different level than them result wise. At least thats why I like his channel better.
I really don't understand the RTJ love in on this thread.
Yes, he is running high mileage but it is causing him long term health issues and he clearly isn't absorbing the training as his improvements are not in line with the mileage he's running.
He's a decent guy but I'd love someone to explain why people seem to adore him when he is mismanaging his training just as much as the Feltons and Besters of this world.
Because he has a more entertaining personality, have the whole japan angle to make more interesting, does something unique in his training and is at a whole different level than them result wise. At least thats why I like his channel better.
Same for me. Jake has a likeable personality and seems like the kind of of guy you would actually have as a friend. Fenton’s lack of personality combined with his creepy stash just gives off the overall weird vibe of the loser barista at your local coffee shop who you’d never voluntarily spend time with if you didn’t need him to make your coffee.
I've represented England at 100k and been on a team with/know atheltes of a much calibre than me.
Big fan of Jake but thinking 100k record (even Steve Ways GB only) can be easily broken by him is misplaced.
It's way harder (without a few attempts and working out how not to over trained but be trained) than you think. Lots of runners with Jakes marathon time, Jakes mileage have fallen far short. It's so much harder than you think.
FWIW a 2:14 UK marathoner (serial top 10 Commrades finisher) Alex Milne will break UK record in 2026, so Steve Way time is on borrowed time but not from Jake.
You forgot to mention Big Nick Bester with a 14:56. Risked it for the biscuit but the biscuit evaded him on this occasion.
Yeah I left him out because I saw him being somewhat condescending toward Joe Skipper for not breaking 15. In the world of endurance sports, Skipper is a titan compared to the peasant that is Bester. Like forget that guy for pretending to be on the same level as Skipper.
But he feels like he is, because he beat him in a NYE 5K. The lack of respect is obnoxious.
Come on. He's still top 20 best long course guys in the world, and is a verifiable legend in the sport. I expect him to do quite well next year in Kona. He's an exceptional athlete.
14:39 5K PB for Benjamin Felton/Fenton/Fentanyl, sending this thread home devastated
Hugo Fry with a 14:42, Joe Skipper with a 15:02, and Gabriel Smith with a 15:09. Not a bad day out for the UK YouTube crew.
Also a good day for a lot of the runners on the inside tonbridge channel. Best performance of 13:37 for Ted Higgins (also gone from 3:58 > 3:37 this year), seems to have a good future.
6 Tonbridge lads in that elite race, 3 of them running sub 14. The Higgins brothers have really come to the fore this year and I think James Kingston is going to have a great 2026 on the road
6 Tonbridge lads in that elite race, 3 of them running sub 14. The Higgins brothers have really come to the fore this year and I think James Kingston is going to have a great 2026 on the road
Crazy how fast Fenton and Bester are, but it does not seem to translate to the marathon -- unlike Hugo. Anyone think a shoetuber can break 14?
We're finally talking about the best YT running channel in the world. They're nice lads. They show the UK club scene. There's no BS. And they're not trying to sell you stuff. Keep it up Inside Tonbridge! And the Mark Hookway channel obviously.
6 Tonbridge lads in that elite race, 3 of them running sub 14. The Higgins brothers have really come to the fore this year and I think James Kingston is going to have a great 2026 on the road
Crazy how fast Fenton and Bester are, but it does not seem to translate to the marathon -- unlike Hugo. Anyone think a shoetuber can break 14?
You forgot to mention Big Nick Bester with a 14:56. Risked it for the biscuit but the biscuit evaded him on this occasion.
Yeah I left him out because I saw him being somewhat condescending toward Joe Skipper for not breaking 15. In the world of endurance sports, Skipper is a titan compared to the peasant that is Bester. Like forget that guy for pretending to be on the same level as Skipper.
But he feels like he is, because he beat him in a NYE 5K. The lack of respect is obnoxious.
Skipper would be mid-offseason after spending the entire year on IM training, dude's out for a fun run lol.
I'd say he's more on the level of someone like Clayton Young- definitely 'elite with a youtube channel' and a force at domestic events, but not quite top of the pile internationally and perhaps lacking in a bit of versatility. IIRC he's had a weird couple of years so hasn't been in the conversation as much recently, but he's absolutely had a solid career regardless.
So now Truett adds a 2:29:xx to his palmares. The guy acts like he's totally shocked to not set a PR when he ran his 2:25 on a downhill course. He must be on the good stuff.
I'm glad he's finally reached the point like Floberg where he can't PR anymore. These guys are far more insufferable when they are rapidly improving.
Insane he really thought he could run 2:25 low or 2:24. I wish he'd post his training to see how delusional this really was. He seems to not be discouraged. I think he thought he was going to run sub 2:20 in 2026 and now he has to re-evaluate how far he is from that goal. I wouldn't be surprised if that's his new series for 2026 regardless. I imagine if he even split rather than going out at 2:24 pace over the rolling hills, that he maybe could've run high 2:27, low 2:28? It's an enormous leap to sub 2:20 from there, which I think he still thinks he can make by losing a ton of upper body muscle mass. Come on Truett, let's see the Christian Bale Machinist training cycle and see where that gets you.
Truett Hanes has announced his new series: Olympic Trials or Die Tryin'. In what planet does this clown think he's capable of a 2:15 marathon on a legit course? Certainly not this one. This dude is an absolute moron.
I really like FOD and respect SIRPOC too but not overly fussed about their recent love in of Chinese running shoes. Both seem very keen, bordering on smug about pushing how great and cheap they are compared to the Western brands. I’d argue theirs ethical reasons that they are cheaper and they don’t seem to mention much how they are buying these shoes.
They may be cheaper but to me on a surface level they look a lot uglier and the reason they are cheap presumably present an ethical dilemma if it encourages supporting exploitative labor practices, environmental harm, and undermines local industries that adhere to higher ethical standards.
Maybe FOD can do some research into whether those ethical concerns are legitimate or just snobbery. As I’m open to the idea of them if I’m just being the latter.
I really like FOD and respect SIRPOC too but not overly fussed about their recent love in of Chinese running shoes. Both seem very keen, bordering on smug about pushing how great and cheap they are compared to the Western brands. I’d argue theirs ethical reasons that they are cheaper and they don’t seem to mention much how they are buying these shoes.
They may be cheaper but to me on a surface level they look a lot uglier and the reason they are cheap presumably present an ethical dilemma if it encourages supporting exploitative labor practices, environmental harm, and undermines local industries that adhere to higher ethical standards.
Maybe FOD can do some research into whether those ethical concerns are legitimate or just snobbery. As I’m open to the idea of them if I’m just being the latter.
Most brands use unethical production methods. However, with the Chinese brands you are not paying for the marketing.
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