The Trials and Tribulations of Running YouTubers

Respect your honesty, Sage, and I'd feel the same way. So much of being an instafluencer appears to be right place, right time...

Exactly--there is a woman, Hungry Runner Girl, who runs 2:45-2:55 but never ran in HS and college.

Others played soccer or lacrosse, then took up running in their 20s and 30s and are like "I didn't know I was good." Some of it is talent being uncovered via social, whereas before the '00s, these runners would have been great "runners out of nowhere" on the local scene but with no context nobody would know their backstory (i.e. HRG showing up at a marathon and busting low-2:50s but before the internet, people would just do articles on her being an OTQ hopeful in the newspaper).

Same with half runners like raceacrossthestates (1:19-1:21 half lady who has run halfs in all 50 states).

Very talented, hard workers, but also beneficiaries of social presence.

I agree with everything except the break being given.

I'm very much on the same page here. Been in the sport for 18 years and I don't think I've ever seen this many new "coaches" pop up. Obviously Instagram does a great job validating these people for unsuspecting newer runners. It's the same story. x runner comes from a somewhat athletic background and then runs 2:5x or 3:1x fairly quickly then starts pedaling coaching programs for hundreds of dollars. I've had a couple of people around me fall for this crap and the training programs are basically them using technical speak as filler/trying to make their programs sound complex to justify what they're charging.

From what I've seen, these influencers get a larger following than people that have been in the sport for a while/run relatively competitive times because they present themselves as relatable to the common person. What people don't want to hear is that it's not supplements or some silver bullet to get better at this sport, it's a lot of boring miles for years. The funny thing is that while these people may start as somewhat relatable, their lifestyles becomes much closer to that of a professional athlete.

I think it's important to look at this from the customer's viewpoint too....

I can see how an influencer who progressed from 3:40 to 2:55 and worked their ass off to BQ can be a guide for a new runner on their own heroic journey to run Boston. The new runner has a goal, finds someone who completed the very same quest they're on, and wants to learn how to do it for themselves.

Whereas an elite who ran a 2:30 marathon debut and now runs 2:20 is so beyond comprehension for the new runner. The new runner can barely fathom running sub-3, nevermind 2:30. Additionally, that 2:20/2:30 runner does not have the shared experience of working toward a BQ.

I think part of it is there's just a lot of people with different backgrounds and goals, and they relate to certain people.

First off, thanks to all those who wrote supportive posts on here! I really appreciate it.

As Stephen writes, the "average runner" may be looking for a Boston Qualifier (or low 3-hour marathon instead of a 4-hour marathon etc). PR times aside, I actually think I can relate to them pretty well though (we've coached a lot of people to sub 3s).

My journey of trying to OTQ again and fail by 12 seconds (in 2016) and 50 seconds in (2020) is similar (imo) to those trying to BQ and just miss the cut-off. Sure, the raw times (and a lot of aspects of my lifestyle) might not be very relatable....but I think the processes and mindset and physical training (in terms of pushing one's own limits and finding their own potential) are pretty similar actually. Whether or not they can relate to me compared to a newer influencer though is another story though (I am getting slower as I get older though...especially after my PE!). But idea of "chasing a fast marathon time" is similar between a BQ and OTQ imo. I'd even write *some* similar workouts for you that I'd write for myself (with paces changed obviously). You pushing to PR and run a sub 2:50 (or whatever) is like me when I was pushing to run another sub 2:20.

The earlier post I wrote on here wasn't so much about certain fast times (that an influencer may or may not have). It's more about the background, knowledge and experience in the sport that many seemingly don't have (As well as any knowledge of exercise science and what actually goes into a periodized training plan).. A lot of them never even ran track or xc in school....so they are often not very experienced with pacing a 5km even....There's no respect for the distance or the history/traditions of the sport.

There are plenty of great coaches that are not "super fast runners" themselves and it is certainly not a requirement. But experience, knowledge (and as you mention "relatability") might attract a certain demographic of customer to your coaching programs or your training plans...and that will influence your popularity and financial success. I don't coach people around my times usually though, and our fastest marathon plan is the "Sub 2:45 plan". Personally I have a template for what it takes crack 2:20 (I've done it half a dozen times and shown a lot of consistency there), but that's not our main demographic/speed of runners. I'd rather help people BQ than OTQ.

So my point wasn't so much that "so and so influencer is only a 2:57 guy":.....it's more: "he just started running himself 3 years ago....so how much does he actually know about running coaching and the science of running?"

For example, if I'm training you for the Houston Marathon right now you can be confident I know that course pretty well and how it runs (I raced the Houston Marathon 4 times over the years!....2 of those were sub 2:20). Or are you going to listen to a guy who ran it once over 3 hours with a selfie stick? I guess for some (many?) maybe it is the latter because he made a video during the race and talked about slurping down 7 Maurtens on film!

At the end of the day people can do what they want and it's a capitalistic market obviously. People drool over "shoe porn" because the influencer game is all about flaunting consumerism and materialism in the latest "swag drop," showing off the newest finisher medal, and filming that morning coffee shot in the fancy hotel you got comped. There are certainly no "full proof marathon training plans" and no promises in the sport. What I don't like is misinformation that spreads as well as "bad tips" and "bad advice." As you know from content creation it's often the "clickbait" and "fast fix hacks" and "hybrid athlete 'let's go' motivation reels" that win the attention. In that sense I think some influences do a disservice to the sport in a way.

Youtube began recommending gym bro videos to me while I was researching strength training routines. I'm absolutely stunned that guys like Mike Israetel have millions of followers and get several hundred thousand views per video posted. However, it got me thinking that there might be a place for someone like that in the running market. A person with a solid exercise science background humorously yet harshly critiquing the latest fades and sham products.

My point wasn't that someone like you can't relate; my point was that a material number of customers may identify more with someone similar to them and that they may be drawn in by the influencer's story, not by their quality or their experience.

I would guess that running influencers, who are also dabbling with coaches, are leaning into that -- i.e. "I qualified for Boston, I can help you too!" Think about how politicians sell themselves by identifying with the everyday voter, even though they are anything but. (e.g. "I grew up middle class...")

If customers weren't (presumably) buying their plans, they wouldn't be selling them. As much as it pains me to say this, I don't know that we should necessarily fault running influencers here for filling some market demand.

(me personally, I care more about the quality and experience than the narrative being told.)

I checked out Clor’s IG as a result of a thread on this board.

She had just run a 10k and of course had lots of pics and vids.

There was one head-on shot with the title:

”Grinding!”

I almost pissed myself.😂😂😂

No doubt...weak bladder syndrome. Kegels and donkey kicks for you.

Ko hit 200K

Ben Parkes also did a few months ago. Has anyone checked if SJD is doing okay?

If you write cookie cutter training plans, you are not a coach, you're a charlatan.

All of the best coaches I've had have been guys I interacted with almost daily, have been there for my workouts or on the phone after and mostly aren't even interested in the financial side of coaching, they are guys who just love coaching and being around runners. Giving out a cookie cutter sub-3 or sub-2:45 plan is just garbage, you are not coaching as you're not imparting any valuable knowledge, you're just saying "Pay me, follow this and shutup"

Actual coaching means working day to day with athletes, having discussions about the whys and also taking feedback and adjusting.

Hi, Elizabeth.👋

Who is Clor? Not a username I reocognize

Can’t wait to see your plan, “no days off” $100 per month please 😂

Floberg really needs to stop telling everyone when he poops during runs.

Old Seth is producing some quality content of late. First off, he’s got a new rig-a big silver Ford F 150. I don’t know what happened to his dream ride 20 year old Chevy Suburban but it appears that the new truck won’t hold his entire family. By design? Conscious choice?

He has a video about breaking the excuse mindset. Nice pablum for the DGR faithful, but Seth is usually all excuses whenever he comes up short in any endeavor like races and merch deliveries. He’s been chasing FKTs in his hometown whilst avoiding actually having to race anyone. He drinks spicy salsa in cheap motel accommodations and it appears that the boys recently got some Andy’s. I can only skim so much cinematic brilliance and breakfast preparation footage.