Actually quite refreshing to see Cole admit that he completely cocked up by sacking his coach who he felt was holding him back (exactly what he needed!). Fingers crossed lessons have been learned this time and he will be more patient with it...Breaking the repeating marathon cycle as is definitely a good first step.
It's quite interesting that in the Strava comments for RTJ run from 30 May one of his biggest fanboys has been questioning why no 40k runs, fears RTJ has lost his passion, and then throws in Jesus for good measure.
He flew to LA for 4 days to see the launch of some shoe brand team. 10 hours each way on the plane, and apparently no sessions when there - just easy running. Seemed to be a nice trip for him but poor timing if he wants to do well in an A-goal race.
In today’s video RTJ shows that he took a trip to Okinawa and has been cycling 4 hours day instead of running to let his back heal. It’s the off season in Japan now . I wonder about his future of running marathons will be , the back injury has been bothering him since last year .
Fair enough, but why he didn't just say that instead of sarcastically captioning a week's worth of Strava vagueposts is beyond me. Dude seems like a bit of a mess recently if i'm honest.
Not sure where he goes from here tbh. Doesn't seem like he wants to change anything training wise, so as far as I can tell the plan is to cycle for a couple of months until the back clears up and then everything will magically be okay again? Kind of feels like wishful thinking given he's had a lot of issues outside of that with not much in the way of a clear resolution.
I don't think it's that complicated.
He had a long standing back problem, not initially caused by running if I remember correctly, but was very obvious from his form.
It eventually began to cause back issues which he has been working to correct (and I think with physiotherapy).
He came back off a break to run well in the Ekiden (the first of his two runs worth a solo 65:xx half on a hilly course) and his form was visibly better, but he came off the race with the back aggravated, notably with an SI problem.
He has achieved membership of a team with a coach, and I think once his back is fixed, he will be training with the team (why he moved out of Tokyo) and their coach.
Fair enough, but why he didn't just say that instead of sarcastically captioning a week's worth of Strava vagueposts is beyond me. Dude seems like a bit of a mess recently if i'm honest.
Not sure where he goes from here tbh. Doesn't seem like he wants to change anything training wise, so as far as I can tell the plan is to cycle for a couple of months until the back clears up and then everything will magically be okay again? Kind of feels like wishful thinking given he's had a lot of issues outside of that with not much in the way of a clear resolution.
I don't think it's that complicated.
He had a long standing back problem, not initially caused by running if I remember correctly, but was very obvious from his form.
It eventually began to cause back issues which he has been working to correct (and I think with physiotherapy).
He came back off a break to run well in the Ekiden (the first of his two runs worth a solo 65:xx half on a hilly course) and his form was visibly better, but he came off the race with the back aggravated, notably with an SI problem.
He has achieved membership of a team with a coach, and I think once his back is fixed, he will be training with the team (why he moved out of Tokyo) and their coach.
Agree. It's almost like you watch his videos BEFORE you comment. It's a novel and genius approach. I wonder why the haters don't bother to do the same?
He flew to LA for 4 days to see the launch of some shoe brand team. 10 hours each way on the plane, and apparently no sessions when there - just easy running. Seemed to be a nice trip for him but poor timing if he wants to do well in an A-goal race.
Yeah this is the sort of things that proves hes an influencer because thats not good for anyones training to basically take four days off and tire yourself out flying around the world.
Its the same with Philly as well, youve got a small window to try and achieve your dream of qualifying for the Olympics so she decides to buy a house that basically needs a total renovation in the middle of the crucial part of her training in building upto 2028? Surely thats the sort of thing you do when youre competitive career is over.
Interesting take from Fenton his Instagram post. Alluding to being an influencer and it’s responsibilities impacting his performance. Am I misreading this or?
There's meta-marketing to 'admitting' to being an influencer. Yes, it's useful in explaining his (disappointing, I'm sure) 10k performance. But also, Fenton has taken a leaf out of Fry's book and pretended to be relatable by acknowledging that he is an influencer. In the next breath - and now fully justified in doing so as he's admitted what he's doing - he will be punting an unnecessary product to pay the bills. With the mental gymnastics required to perform this short-term line of work, it's a wonder these bods don't consider doing a 9-5.
He flew to LA for 4 days to see the launch of some shoe brand team. 10 hours each way on the plane, and apparently no sessions when there - just easy running. Seemed to be a nice trip for him but poor timing if he wants to do well in an A-goal race.
Yeah this is the sort of things that proves hes an influencer because thats not good for anyones training to basically take four days off and tire yourself out flying around the world.
Its the same with Philly as well, youve got a small window to try and achieve your dream of qualifying for the Olympics so she decides to buy a house that basically needs a total renovation in the middle of the crucial part of her training in building upto 2028? Surely thats the sort of thing you do when youre competitive career is over.
Phily can only train about 2-hours a day, max!
Let's face it, the life of a pro (even a pretend one) is hardly full time - having a house to do up may give her more structure. I think she knows she has a tiny chance of making the Olympics; however, it makes a good story for her fans who seem to lap up any story she tells. Adding in the renovation project gives her more to talk about.
I was thinking, Phily must know she needs to run her half PB pace to even be considered for selection. Then surely she needs to show she can run fast without a male pacemaker. Overall, she knows, other runners need to be unlucky and she nearly needs a miracle! Then, if by chance she makes it, she'll probably be there to make up the numbers! The house stuff is probably her bigger plan to transition into lifestyle/runner vlogger.
I don’t know too much about this Fenton/Felton guy but had a look, I have never heard of anyone referencing the Great Run as the “British Champs”
Maybe it’s new, but having competed in the ‘British Champs’ a few times I can safely say the Great Run has never been listed as this, nor would coming nearly 50th in a race ever be considered ‘British championship’ level worthy even 28th Brit to cross the line.. seriously these people need to get their heads out.
this was a "British champs" only for the few athletes hoping to compete for GB in the European Road Champs in the autumn (an event where the seclete runners have to pay £1000 to run for GB)
Fenton was part of the race, along with the 10,000 other fun runners but make no mistake, he was not selected or invited to turn up for this race. he simply paid his entry fee and it happened to be picked recently as a trial race. Most top runners also dont do it as they have no interest in road 10kms in the middle of track season. British winner Marc Scott ran a mediocre 28:30 which will not be good enough to get picked for the Euro champs
I didn't even need to look at the comments to know who you were talking about, that lad isn't the full ticket. He did a load of 150-200km weeks last winter as he was "inspired by RTJ" until he inevitably picked up a stress fracture.
Fenton claiming he was in the British champs at Manchester 10k is like me claiming I was in the British marathon champs at London Marathon... technically true, but we'd both need the front of the race to be abducted by aliens to actually feature in the championship element.
As an aside, if Fenton was abducted by aliens they'd return him after a few days of him boring them to sleep.
Fenton claiming he was in the British champs at Manchester 10k is like me claiming I was in the British marathon champs at London Marathon... technically true, but we'd both need the front of the race to be abducted by aliens to actually feature in the championship element.
As an aside, if Fenton was abducted by aliens they'd return him after a few days of him boring them to sleep.
listen I can't stand fenton as much as the next guy but he was in the elite field of a race designated by BA as british road champs. let's not let hatred cloud critical thinking
Fenton claiming he was in the British champs at Manchester 10k is like me claiming I was in the British marathon champs at London Marathon... technically true, but we'd both need the front of the race to be abducted by aliens to actually feature in the championship element.
As an aside, if Fenton was abducted by aliens they'd return him after a few days of him boring them to sleep.
listen I can't stand fenton as much as the next guy but he was in the elite field of a race designated by BA as british road champs. let's not let hatred cloud critical thinking
But he’s just not elite. How a race organizer establishes who gets to run in their “elite field” isn’t a regulated term and is often pretty weak times, especially for large 10k races. Even someone like me, with no social media, gets to run in “elite” fields at road championship designated races (and have won small races being referred to as the “first elite male”), but I am able to keep perspective and I’m not an elite runner. Also, even if someone were to win a gold medal, it doesn’t excuse being a smug prick. Maybe it’s less offensive than when a barista with a YouTube channel is a smug prick, but it’s never ok.
listen I can't stand fenton as much as the next guy but he was in the elite field of a race designated by BA as british road champs. let's not let hatred cloud critical thinking
But he’s just not elite. How a race organizer establishes who gets to run in their “elite field” isn’t a regulated term and is often pretty weak times, especially for large 10k races. Even someone like me, with no social media, gets to run in “elite” fields at road championship designated races (and have won small races being referred to as the “first elite male”), but I am able to keep perspective and I’m not an elite runner. Also, even if someone were to win a gold medal, it doesn’t excuse being a smug prick. Maybe it’s less offensive than when a barista with a YouTube channel is a smug prick, but it’s never ok.
well that comes with the territory of having an open ended term such as 'elite'. An organiser can set the time threshold at whatever they want. If you start defining elite as something way higher than it is now it is a slippery slope to BAs selection policy of only medal hopefuls. Did you want the British champs threshold for it to be 28 mins because only 6 brits have done that this year. where do you draw the line?
Is it just me, but I’m so exhausted seeing that influencer James Warnock talking all business and ground breaking chats about his product which is just 100% maple syrup. Like it really is just maple syrup that he’s selling for triple the price in branded sachets, why are you making it sound such a pioneering product, you’re not the only brand/person to have this product. You just push it far better on social media because you have a million followers to give you instant visibility. These people could make a white paint brand and make it out to be the best thing in the world that everyone has to try and sadly people will believe it. - Monday rant done!
Poor guy needs to get some SEO nerds on his side. His instagram is currently second place to the Wikipedia page of a convicted murderer with the same name.