Spencer Brown Is Leaving Brooks Beasts

Couldn't put it better than Flat Stanley. Like a lot of people here, I feel invested in his progress!

I think he was a little deluded with his expectations this year, based on the quality of his sessions.

Obviously the videos only give a self-serving snapshot of his life, but it does appear to me that he needs to alter his mindset significantly. For example, I can't be the only one who winces at some of this dietary choices.

The lad was good enough to break 4 minutes in his early 20s, off a low enough training background, typically you would expect an athlete with that profile to find at least another 3 or 4 seconds, which obviously won't have him running major chamionships, but fast enough to be competitive in lower rank meets in Europe.

He posted an awesome 12 mile run video today. You'd think he just ran a 2:18 the way he looks at the finish. We're watching a train wreck here.

Brown is down wrote:

He posted an awesome 12 mile run video today. You'd think he just ran a 2:18 the way he looks at the finish. We're watching a train wreck here.

I didn't think he looked that bad, but he should not be calling 12 miles a long run...

Brown is down wrote:

He posted an awesome 12 mile run video today. You'd think he just ran a 2:18 the way he looks at the finish. We're watching a train wreck here.

I thought it was a good video. He has to start somewhere. I respect him for putting himself out there. If he fails, he fails, but he should go down swinging. I respect that.

rojo_the_real_one_1 wrote:

Brown is down wrote:

He posted an awesome 12 mile run video today. You'd think he just ran a 2:18 the way he looks at the finish. We're watching a train wreck here.

I didn't think he looked that bad, but he should not be calling 12 miles a long run...

How quick everyone is to judge

Here’s an excerpt from Alberto Salazar’s training log the year he won NCAA XC in 1978

“ 9 long runs (13,11,13,14,14,13,15,12,12)

13.0 miles = avg long run

15 miles = longest run. One occurrence.

Long runs = 91% of the avg daily mileage

Long runs = 13.1% of the avg weekly mileage”

Salazar was doing an average of 13 for his long runs for the 10k.

I think Spencer is fine with a 12 mile starter long run

rojo_the_real_one_1 wrote:

Brown is down wrote:

He posted an awesome 12 mile run video today. You'd think he just ran a 2:18 the way he looks at the finish. We're watching a train wreck here.

I didn't think he looked that bad, but he should not be calling 12 miles a long run...

12 miles is plenty for a 1500m guy. if he wants more miles on that day a 2nd run would be more beneficial. Dad seems pretty sensible about doing mileage but not too much and doing quality aerobic work (repeat miles in that 10k range). Not a ton of details.

I have a feeling though that if this goes well, he ends up back as a 340 runner. to get that break through to be a 336 guy will require pushing the edge a lot more. Granted from where he is from the last time we saw him, 340 would be nice...

Everybody who followed Spencer's YT channel a little bit knows that the guy has no concept of running. He was regularly running his easy days with average heart rates in the 180s. He was also doing the Kipchoge workout on one of his easy days for example. And then he was surprised when he was getting dropped in workouts on the day after. In one of his videos he said that he didn't know that carbohydrates have calories. When he was talking about his workouts you could easily tell that he has absolutely no idea about training stimuli. He simply knows nothing about proper training or nutrition or the like. He was a talented kid who got away with all of this nonsense but genetics only get you so far. At a certain point you need the right mindset and discipline, both of which Spence clearly lacks.

I wish him all the best but I'd be surprised if he will ever run sub 4 again.