The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

so i dont have to watch the video, what are her lofty plans?

tbf, the standard for world champs was 2:23, i dont think shes ever ran a half marathon at that pace. for 10km i think shes in the 32:30 range, given these mediocre PBs, she would be better off spending the year working on the 10km and half with a little bit of track and 5km work and maybe try to get in the Euro 10km or half marathon road champs.

no tactical ability is required at her level, shes never fighting to win anything. every race is a time trial be it finishing 10th or 50th, shes not at a level to need race-craft. even in an olympic marathon trial, it will just be follow the pacemakers until they all gradually fall apart

Thats why I said she needs a fast half and so on.

9 GB women are on the London Marathon elite field starting list. And some, like Eilish McColgan with a 5-6min faster halfmarathon pb than phily. And not forget:
Jones, Lucy (GBR) was faster last year in London and started with the masses ;)

Phily ran 2.25 at Berlin (basically with a pacer). Im pretty sure that was quicker than the Olympic standard for the British team for 2024, just she was obviously too late. So I think its fair for her to believe thats possible for her to try and improve 2mins to meet the standard (assuming its similar to the WC).

Im not sure its likely but its not like she is suggesting to lop 10mins off.

Its 3 minutes off as she was close to 2:26 and Berlin really was perfect storm between the pacer weather etc, she hasn’t shown form like that since.

No I agree she hasnt since. When she originally set the plan like over a year ago, it wasnt wildly optimistic but the injuries certainly havent helped. I can just see how someone would look at that as achievable.

Didn't know who you were talking about here until the Sports Direct mention and then realised that you must be talking about FENTON. On behalf of the rest of us who read this thread, please use his LetsRun name when posting on LetsRun message boards. Thanks.

I agree that if Phily were to start doping, then she could make the olympics.

i think the olympic standard back then was a pathetically weak 2:28, even though she ran this after the olympics, the slowest girl on the GB team had run 2:25.01 and there were another 2 who would have been picked before her.

since that day, she has massively regressed and we now have McColgan, Judd and Donnelly running marathoners, Purdue may have fallen apart but Harrison is also making a comeback - thats 4 immediately who are in a completely different league to Phily

then you have Thackary who is having a baby but will be back then you have the other randoms who wont make it but will be in the 2:25~ range - Lucy Jones, Partridge, Evans, Harvey, Reid

all these mean Phily is wayyyy off even getting a vest for the euros. shes just not good enough unless she changes focus and has a big breakthrough over shorter distances. her coach is a bit of a weirdo, she needs someone stronger with a fresh and realistic outlook

He’s run 2:32 but is actually in 2:15 shape.

Too much depth in the UK now. She’ll only get in if she changes to a weaker country.
An Irish great granny or something as they have no women in line for the marathon in LA at the moment.

I'm yet to be convinced that ability and conditioning are at the root of her problems.

Ahh that’s gutting news about Luke & Matt.

Huge fan of Matt’s podcast and YouTube stuff. He gives really interesting opinions and isn’t afraid to say what he thinks.

Thought the two of them together made a great team so hope they make up (as well as Matt and Nick B as they were a true force together. Like the Ant & Dec of the running world)

I very much doubt Foxy reads this page but on the off chance you do and are deciding who to replace Luke with on your podcast - can you please, please, please consider Donato?

That would be such an interesting, funny, knowledgable pod if the two of you collabed

Matt & Donato

Make it happen

Mary McCarthy back running, how long before she’s 180bpm around Battersea park?

I’m calling it now. Nick Bester to quality for LA 2028 for South Africa (or GB, or whatever he’s calling his home country at that moment).

She was not out long, grade 4 my butt

At that point she went to sixth on the British all-time list and an international vest of some kind wouldn't have been out of the question.

Ellish McColgan is in a different league with a 2 minute+ faster 10k.

Philly has to get faster at shorter distances. I think some sort of representative vest, like World Half Marathon could be on the cards, but to be one of the fastest three Brits is a tall order, unless a few ahead have injuries or blow up in the trial.

Maybe this is why she never races anymore

When did Philly race last? Has she any races lined up? Is she actually training?

Can’t wait for Mary’s autism to run wild through BP. Beaaaat the boyzzzz!! Do you know who I am?? Is the a brand I haven’t faked content for? Beat the boysssss!!! I’m a runner first, influencer second! Beat the boyzzz! Did you hear about me at London Mara 2025? Beat the boys!! I think I’m high, good night.