Can Spencer Brown (AthleteSpecial) make it as a pro-runner ?

Well, right now there is no professional track and field. He's only got 50k subscribers, so he'll need to more than double that to pull in the $15k/month that Sage Canaday gets from YouTube for his 200k subscribers. It's a time game that is exponential. Look up the history of Mr. Beast. Fascinating going from 6k subscribers to almost 40 million!!

He's still super young. He has a chance. Pro runners have such a huge edge in getting faster, though, compared to people just trying to make the cut. Props to him for following his dream.

It doesn't matter what I think, but I am doubtful. He might have the physical tools, but without a coach and support structures (trainers/physical therapists, etc.) I think it's an uphill battle. One serious injury/setback and I suspect his experiment will be over.

It also seems like he's the big fish in a little pond in his current situation. Who's going to pull him up to the next rung? The whole Youtuber thing is interesting, but it also seems like ther's a lot of distractions. Maybe that's a good thing... I dunno.

There are so many things that have to go right to maximize your abilities that the deck is stacked against you ever doing it. I do think he could get to 3:56 without miracles, but is that fast enough to make a living as a runner?

I wish him the best, however.

Silly boy wrote:

I do think he could get to 3:56 without miracles, but is that fast enough to make a living as a runner?

Probably not:

I am really a fan of his channel and what he’s doing with it. That being said, I think he is a long shot to make it with a steady pro contract and thus make it as a pro runner. But he’s also too good not to give it a shot.

He coins himself as a sub 4 miler which is true, but in the sense of talk in running circles he’s only done that once (and a 1500 equivalent I think once) so I wouldn’t call him a consistent sub 4 guy.

I see his ceiling as making USA championships (you know, if they ever happen again). And then maybe getting past the first round. I think the times you mentioned in the original post are feasible for him.

I agree with most of the above. However, as long as he maintains a large fan base and stays active on social media, he’ll be virtually guaranteed of getting a solid contract. I don’t think anyone would turn down a 3:39 1500 runner with a huge YouTube following in favor of some back of the pack guy at the Olympic Trials.

Define what you mean by "make it."

ZakyLievty wrote:

I'm not talking about him making a living thanks to this youtube channel, selling merchandise etc.

I think he can have some good pro races, but I don't see him ever breaking 3:37 on 1500, or 3:56 on mile.

What do you think ?

Well, he's only three seconds away from a 3:37 1500 with his 3:39.94 PR.

Casual Impartial Observer wrote:

ZakyLievty wrote:

I'm not talking about him making a living thanks to this youtube channel, selling merchandise etc.

I think he can have some good pro races, but I don't see him ever breaking 3:37 on 1500, or 3:56 on mile.

What do you think ?

Well, he's only three seconds away from a 3:37 1500 with his 3:39.94 PR.

Spencer NEEDS to run more than 60 miles a week

ZakyLievty wrote:

I'm not talking about him making a living thanks to this youtube channel, selling merchandise etc.

I think he can have some good pro races, but I don't see him ever breaking 3:37 on 1500, or 3:56 on mile.

What do you think ?

Of course. He already ran 3:59 mile in college and a 1500 that was equivalent to 3:57 mile. You think he can't run another second faster for the mile? Now that he's running more and at altitude, unless he is injured or sick, it's a no-brainer.

He's got too many distractions. The YouTube thing is okay, I guess, and expected any more, but his posse is too large, too influential for no reason. Spencer needs to put his head down and up the mileage a ton, for a start.

That said, get more McAllen in there, and you'll grow the subscriptions by quite a bit.

he ran a 1500 sub-4 mile equivalent at least twice (not that it changes the discussion, but just trying to give him an accurate accounting of his efforts).

gotta stay healthy wrote:

he ran a 1500 sub-4 mile equivalent at least twice (not that it changes the discussion, but just trying to give him an accurate accounting of his efforts).

I get the impression he doesn’t like racing all that much and it might be afraid of failure. He’s posted some very fast workouts this spring but not one time trial or race effort. I understand bc COVID but lots of other people are doing time trial and race efforts. But not him? Why didn’t he do a time trial at sea level before he left for CO?

i think not having an outdoor szn kinda screwed him. Could’ve dropped his 1500 a couple seconds maybe to like 3:37. Still think his times r pretty good. But his situation just like a lot of runners rn isn’t the best with no actual coach and no races in the future

Emma Stoned wrote:

gotta stay healthy wrote:

he ran a 1500 sub-4 mile equivalent at least twice (not that it changes the discussion, but just trying to give him an accurate accounting of his efforts).

I get the impression he doesn’t like racing all that much and it might be afraid of failure. He’s posted some very fast workouts this spring but not one time trial or race effort. I understand bc COVID but lots of other people are doing time trial and race efforts. But not him? Why didn’t he do a time trial at sea level before he left for CO?

i think he was gonna do a 2k but he got lyme disease. He explained it in a video a couple months ago

Hejendo76 wrote:

Emma Stoned wrote:

I get the impression he doesn’t like racing all that much and it might be afraid of failure. He’s posted some very fast workouts this spring but not one time trial or race effort. I understand bc COVID but lots of other people are doing time trial and race efforts. But not him? Why didn’t he do a time trial at sea level before he left for CO?

i think he was gonna do a 2k but he got lyme disease. He explained it in a video a couple months ago

Thanks, hun, I must have missed that

Emma Stoned wrote:

Casual Impartial Observer wrote:

Well, he's only three seconds away from a 3:37 1500 with his 3:39.94 PR.

Spencer NEEDS to run more than 60 miles a week

^^ this. Spencer has never really gone above 65 consistently. If he keeps increasing he may have a chance to run decent on the national level.

gotta stay healthy wrote:

he ran a 1500 sub-4 mile equivalent at least twice (not that it changes the discussion, but just trying to give him an accurate accounting of his efforts).

3:57-8 equivalent

ZakyLievty wrote:

I'm not talking about him making a living thanks to this youtube channel, selling merchandise etc.

I think he can have some good pro races, but I don't see him ever breaking 3:37 on 1500, or 3:56 on mile.

What do you think ?

Even if he runs 3:32 he is likely to make more from YouTube and merch than from the sport of athletics.

That's the sad state of affairs in this sport.

It's a sport for amateurs who can afford to forego a normal job, or for the dreamers in poverty with nothing to lose.