Do people really like this guy? Here's a great example of a perfect running shoe video. Can someone please tell me what’s so appealing about these videos that are over an hour long? Many people think this is the best shoetuber right now. What on earth?
Do people really like this guy? Here's a great example of a perfect running shoe video. Can someone please tell me what’s so appealing about these videos that are over an hour long? Many people think this is the best shoetuber right now. What on earth?
So, do you have an hour every day to listen to random chatter? His opinions on shoes could probably be summarized in a 1,5-minute video. You could easily cut at least 55 minutes from the over hour-long videos.
The "shoetuber" model has been around awhile, but the first true shoetuber I noticed was Triathlon Taren. Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be a huge shoetube presence in triathlon even though there's a lot of product to sell to a population with discretionary income to burn.
Taren's channel started in the mid-20-teens, and his channel went through multiple iterations. His progression, for posting "positive" videos everyday, to hocking product, to experiment with every fad supplement/diet, to overtraining, to complete burnout, to transitioning to coaching, is reminiscent of the progression of 90% of shoetube channels. Then suddenly, about four months ago, his channel and socials went completely silent.
Reviewing photo evidence, it's clear that gear selection stands head and shoulders above the hundreds of gaffes in Gnoza's Leadville race strategy. A Tracksmith speed suit -- built for the most pivotal performances, engineered in a luxuriously soft fabric that strikes the balance between comfort and compression, might I add -- and three fresh pairs of Pro Evo 1s would have shaved hours. The Federation Blazer could've kept him warm without adding bulk. A relaxed fit blazer handmade in Italy in an organic cotton twill with unstructured tailoring and sportive details, it's elevated to suit the needs of the modern amateur.
Not my focus, but the ensemble also would've turned heads at the finish line.
Can you be part of my crew for my next race?
Gnoza Knows-a Gnoza. Your severe desperation is sad. This is Letsrun, a forum where the brightest minds chart the sport's future. You know the consensus is ultra"running" is beneath us.
Plus, if I'm crewing for you, who's going to carry the boats on Letsrun? Between building my business empire, I have to own the libs.
Floberg's last 2 videos are him trying to run extra hard while being sick. His coach gives him x pace to hit, and Floberg decides to do x+ instead. Latest video has him almost vomiting after a session. Doing 120% is not smart when it comes to marathon training. Doesn't seem to do any good recovery at all. He's aiming for 2:32 in Chicago but this training cycle just seems like madness. It's hard to watch.
I don't know what is going on with this training block, it's painful to watch honestly to the point where I'm considering unfollowing his Strava. Some recent posts include:
- sh*tting his pants on a run and discussing it in depth
- training through sickness to the point where he just maintains a state of being ill for longer
- stopping for donuts halfway through easy runs to refuel because his diet is absolute rubbish
- barely hitting his weekly mileage, especially for someone aiming for 2:32.
- abandoning workouts without completing all intervals
All in all, I'm not even convinced this guy enjoys running anymore? A lot of his posts are about runs he didn't want to do, or runs where he has to force himself out the door / onto the treadmill. I very much doubt his 2:32 goal, and with the way training has been going, <2:38 even seems a stretch.
Yeah it feels like he's trying to construct this narrative of pushing through the pain, overcoming challenges - all the trite (but also real) themes of marathon running - but he's doing really stupid things to create the obstacles. So much of this suffering is preventable. Like take a week off and recover from your illness! Do the paces your coach suggests - there's a reason it's x pace and not x+ pace. But that's not very dramatic or cinematic. It's like he's digging holes to fall into so he can film himself getting out of them.
I don't know what is going on with this training block, it's painful to watch honestly to the point where I'm considering unfollowing his Strava. Some recent posts include:
- sh*tting his pants on a run and discussing it in depth
- training through sickness to the point where he just maintains a state of being ill for longer
- stopping for donuts halfway through easy runs to refuel because his diet is absolute rubbish
- barely hitting his weekly mileage, especially for someone aiming for 2:32.
- abandoning workouts without completing all intervals
All in all, I'm not even convinced this guy enjoys running anymore? A lot of his posts are about runs he didn't want to do, or runs where he has to force himself out the door / onto the treadmill. I very much doubt his 2:32 goal, and with the way training has been going, <2:38 even seems a stretch.
Yeah it feels like he's trying to construct this narrative of pushing through the pain, overcoming challenges - all the trite (but also real) themes of marathon running - but he's doing really stupid things to create the obstacles. So much of this suffering is preventable. Like take a week off and recover from your illness! Do the paces your coach suggests - there's a reason it's x pace and not x+ pace. But that's not very dramatic or cinematic. It's like he's digging holes to fall into so he can film himself getting out of them.
Big Flo fan here, so I write this with the utmost respect. I peg the root cause of his alarming training as simply having trouble coming to terms with unrealistic expectations.
I'm sure many of us have missed race goals we've set, and we learn from them in different ways. 2:32 is a stout goal -- and it was set publicly on social media no less. Maybe the weight of that decision is getting to him, and resultingly he's making unwise decisions.
I agree that Ben Felton seems like a really nice guy. However, he tends to burn the candle at both ends and sometimes does unusual things. I remember when he ran his first all-out marathon (was it in Copenhagen?), and then six days later, he ran a half marathon. In my opinion, it's no surprise that he's getting injured. Maybe he was lucky the first time and didn't get injured after the marathon, but if you don't rest enough, sooner or later, you'll get hurt.
He seems just so middle of the road and bland, i really don't get why there's such interest in him. Long odds on him breaking 2.20 too imo though UK Youtubers making big marathon leaps not unknown.
Nick Bester - one month out from Berlin. Just ran 31:23 so not looking good for <2:20 as that puts him at about 2:24high fitness. He also did a 1hour track race last week in super shoes and failed to hit marathon pace. He has 'The Big Half' in central London on Sunday so hold tight for that result.
Ben Is Running - DNF'd a 5K and has been diagnosed with 2x bulging discs in his spine. Told to take 4-6weeks off of running, but only took ~10days, and was back running, and 2 days later has been doing a treadmill threshold workout (claiming it's ok as long as it's uphill on the treadmill). He's now doing Berlin Marathon in 4 weeks, Copenhagen Half before then, and Valencia Marathon after Berlin. These injuries write themselves.
Matt Fox - started yet another youtube series about his Marathon build to Chicago despite swearing he never would. Is now trying 100M weeks for the first time ever whilst also doing all out hill sprints. Seems logical. Based on his set paces, he's aiming for 2:16-2:18 despite never going sub2:20. Also put into one of his apps that he wants to run 2:14..... Also still doing occasional anti-Palestine rants on IG ofc. Not sure who he's really training with since firing his coach and being kicked out of his Chicago running club.
FloBerg - as previously covered he is now burning himself out and trying to push through it. Classic.
Clayton Young - have loved his videos so far. Paris OLY video hasn't dropped yet but should be this week.
Philly Bowden - in Flagstaff training for Berlin in 1 month. Not much content coming out.
Ari Klau - blew up yet again in yet another race. Not even worth discussing at this point.
Cole Running - trying to make a comeback not published much recently. Is adjusting to post-College work/life/running balance.
Seth Demoor - publishing a couple videos but mainly just go-pro clips of FKT attempts getting rolled by his brother. No news on racing.
SOVA Running - about to publish a video tomorrow of Hocker's 'post OLY workout' but not published anything from their time in Paris
Athlete Special - training for a HM now, alongside Charlie Lawrence having moved to Boulder. Ran Falmouth Road Race recently but also still messing about with trying to overtake casuals in Parkruns. Has now started a podcast with Allie which 1) has the same name as an existing podcast which is frustrating, 2) is not worth a listen because they're just re-hashing old info we've known about them both for years. Dont think theres any word on which half or target time yet.
FOD Runner - just ran at a decent standard 5K event in the UK. Missed <16:00 again and if the splits are accurate was only ever on pace for the first KM. Racing Abingdon Marathon in less than 2months. Still pulling the same confused face in every video thumbnail.
Yaseen Abdalla - has been posting some behind the scenes vids from his time doing the OLY Marathon, good stuff.
Ben Parkes - doing videos on literally anything but his running now, including copying videos from other channels.
TheDistanceProject - is back to run/walks as of this (last?) week after his achilles tear at World Indoors at the start of the year, so hopefully his content should pick back up soon
FOD Runner - just ran at a decent standard 5K event in the UK. Missed <16:00 again and if the splits are accurate was only ever on pace for the first KM. Racing Abingdon Marathon in less than 2months. Still pulling the same confused face in every video thumbnail.
lol. He seems like a good dude but the thumbnails feel so clickbaity. I guess the algorithm wants what the algorithm wants.
Nick Bester - one month out from Berlin. Just ran 31:23 so not looking good for <2:20 as that puts him at about 2:24high fitness. He also did a 1hour track race last week in super shoes and failed to hit marathon pace. He has 'The Big Half' in central London on Sunday so hold tight for that result.
Ben Is Running - DNF'd a 5K and has been diagnosed with 2x bulging discs in his spine. Told to take 4-6weeks off of running, but only took ~10days, and was back running, and 2 days later has been doing a treadmill threshold workout (claiming it's ok as long as it's uphill on the treadmill). He's now doing Berlin Marathon in 4 weeks, Copenhagen Half before then, and Valencia Marathon after Berlin. These injuries write themselves.
In one of his recent podcasts Benisrunning talked about how if he misses Berlin he ends up losing 1/3rd of his annual income - so I guess you can understand why he's doing it, but also wonder how he's negotiated himself into this hole that anyone could see coming a mile off. Having to run so many races to earn a living so soon after coming back from a previous bone injury will only cause problems imo.
Bester looking good for another crack at 2:20 building on 31:23 in the 10k with a solid 69 low at the Big Half; also managed to nearly start a fight literally pushing people out the way in start pen which didn't win him any fans/boomshakalakas from the front (although I don't think that's really his target market anyway).
Bester looking good for another crack at 2:20 building on 31:23 in the 10k with a solid 69 low at the Big Half; also managed to nearly start a fight literally pushing people out the way in start pen which didn't win him any fans/boomshakalakas from the front (although I don't think that's really his target market anyway).
1) His 31:23 is equiv to 2:24high 2) He ran 69mid when he wanted <67-67low 3) If you look at his splits he blew up at 13K
He's in a terrible place for Berlin, even with 4 more weeks prep I'm not moving from my prediction that 2:22 is best case scenario this time around.
Bester looking good for another crack at 2:20 building on 31:23 in the 10k with a solid 69 low at the Big Half; also managed to nearly start a fight literally pushing people out the way in start pen which didn't win him any fans/boomshakalakas from the front (although I don't think that's really his target market anyway).
1) His 31:23 is equiv to 2:24high 2) He ran 69mid when he wanted <67-67low 3) If you look at his splits he blew up at 13K
He's in a terrible place for Berlin, even with 4 more weeks prep I'm not moving from my prediction that 2:22 is best case scenario this time around.
But he's training somewhere slightly hillier now - he's a shoe in for it, at least according to Nick Bester...
I wonder what happened with his search for a coach that he mentioned a while back, I think if he wants that 2:19:59 he needs to get some external guidance, rather than hope for better vibes and boomshakas from the same work as before and telling him that races like Manchester will not have huge 2:19 packs but that's a handful of runners competing for podium places and top 5s.
Good lord, let’s hope someone is. For the countless hours that guy devotes to blabbering about running you’d think he’d take like 14 minutes and figure out the basic principles of training.