The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

RTJ just ran a 14:52 5k 'Tempo' with a group after a 30k steady. Yet on the weekend whilst going for the Japanese parkrun record again he only ran 14:42. Surely this lack of top end speed cant continue. It go on like this can it?

*insert Mick McCarthy meme*

Was thinking parkrun courses aren't generally that quick and you end up weaving through slower runners. But the course looks absolutely perfect, fewer than 100 finishers and weather looked spot on too. There could have been plenty of non parkrunners to get round though.

Maybe if he had someone to chase/share the work with he could have taken another 15secs off the parkrun, we all know he's a self proclaimed carthorse but 14:42 is equivalent to 2:20+ marathon on vdot calculator.

Given his recent drop in training volume, illness etc I'm guessing he's more like 2:16 marathon shape right now, might get that down to 2:14-2:15 for Tokyo in five weeks?

It may just be me, but the whole “train harder, not smarter” mantra is wearing thin. He tells a great story, and the cultural exchange aspect is genuinely interesting. However, the training often feels chaotic ,simply running as many miles as possible. If he fails a session, he just does an even harder one later in the day. He also keeps banging on about being “the most competitive man in the world”, the sort of thing an annoying sales type guy does; yes, we get it, the Barrowcloughs are competitive people!

Overall, I’m not sure where his marathon journey is heading. Phily has a better chance of making the Olympics, and that chance is practically zero. It seems crazy to risk his health just to run around 2:10.

I’d love to see him step up to ultras. I don’t particularly care about the results; it’s more that he’d shed positive light on the sport and tell a great story.

The train harder mantra isn't a gimmick though, it's just the way he trains. It is part of the Japanese culture that he's embracing and sharing with us.

The Olympic dream is very far away, not least because British Athletics are pretty much broke and wouldn't pay for someone just under 2:10 to have a place when the qualifying standard was 2:06:30 for last years World Champs and there's a few Brits who are near that level. Team GB haven't even sent a full mens team for the marathon in recent Olympics, because of funding issues.

If Jake gets sub 2:10, then I'd consider his marathon journey a monster success. I think he has a live chance of a solid attempt at that for Valencia this year, if he can stay healthy for the rest of 2026.

People thinking he can have a proper swing at 2:10 in Tokyo in five weeks, when he's struggling with back issues and only just building his miles up again, there's no evidence he's fit enough to even attempt that for now.

From what I can see, I think he's doing the right things but he's still in a tricky patch here, needs the back issue to get resolved, might need physio rather than following an app.

The most anticipated YouTube (re)debut in a generation earlier. The second coming of Anya Culling, after a very average attempt at being a part time youtuber before.

Professional filming and editing, interview style video. Says we'll be following along her training for the year (so maybe some sort of deal with the videographers for that?). Says it's an intro to her, and how she got to where she is in running - although interestingly absolutely no mention of her time at Best Athletics, which surely this period saw her formative running years... Certainly without it - and without Nick Bester's pacing - she wouldn't be the name she is today.

Will transition to an Ironman later in the year, reading into that she's happy being decent club runner and not maxing out her potential in running, and has clocked that T100 will fly her and Joe out to Dubai for a fortnight and wants more cash from that teet. Still think it's a shame but I can see why grinding out for less money to go and run 2:26 or something isn't as appealing.

Some talk about barriers to entry for women in triathlon and her desire to address these, doesn't say what they are or how she'll do that. Strongly suspect part of it is the marketability of women's sports so interesting to see if her presence takes attention and money from legit female athletes, or if she brings some eyeballs with her that bring money. I suspect more the former than the latter. Still think it's a shame but I can see why grinding out for less money to go and run 2:26 or something isn't as appealing.

What on earth makes you think she is capable of 2:26 (or something), even with endless amounts of 'grinding'?

You really needs some context. I've done that parkrun - the surface is far from optimal and any bit of wind its very open to the elements. Also 2nd place was more than 3 minutes back, so no pack to run with. Also it was off the back of a 250K week. 14:52 is pretty good all things considered

Random number just outside the top of UK female marathon running, nothing specific in it - or something doing a lot of heavy lifting as it were

Fair enough. I think it overplays her ability level though. Sub 230 'might' be within her reach if she did everything perfectly for the next 5 years imo.

Correction - 14:42.

Yeah she was doing these 100 and 120 minute run workouts damn near all out with a heart rate like 190 bpm with a ton of stoppage time. Then posting about how hungover she is all the time. Not surprised she's injured.

Didn't she previously run 2"34 ? So she could get back to that and it's not a stretch to do sub 2"30. If the build is done correctly the second block is achievable. Where are you pulling 5 years from at all ?

In her favour is immaturity in running. Against her is down time.

Wow - if you run a 1:35 as a PB attempt in January, there's no chance on earth that you will be able to run a sub 3 marathon two months later.

Fair point on surface, I did check wind speed on his activity and I think it said 1.8mph

Like the original poster said, it’s probably not worth the time and effort — not when she could be enjoying her life, earning more money, and becoming a Battersea Park heroic runner. Getting those sorts of times did nothing for Phily, who now looks like she’s loving life and happily expensing a holiday to Cape Town for the bants.

Having a shot at Ironman type stuff makes sense. There’s tonnes of money in long‑distance triathlon, and you don’t need to be super‑elite in any single discipline.

That video Alfie posted really shows what it actually takes to be a pro runner. It looks grim and it’s definitely not content that appeals to the masses! Honestly, if it came down to it, I’d rather make videos about being a sub‑elite and going on hot‑weather training camps somewhere.

Really grinds my gears this, clearly just a performative statement with no meaning or substance behind it, which just ends up belittling all the people that are actually involved in the sport at a youth/local/club level who are striving to actually increase women participation.

Can anyone recommend a good channel for older masters runners? The YouTube space seems to be full of young guns and middle aged runners, but where are the proper 60+ masters?? If anyone knows of any channels, preferably someone who is experienced, such as an England masters runner who still runs sub 20 at almost 65 but doesn't take things too seriously, I'd love to hear your recommendations, oh yes. I'm new to this whole Letrsun shebang so hopefully you're a friendly lot who appreciates users who are no spring chicken.