Gwen J.: The Saga Continues

She is now a much worse runner than she was when she was a triathlete. She's gotten progressively slower since 2016 and having now a clueless coach doesn't really help.

She was doing a much larger volume of aerobic work as a triathlete even though much of it wasn't running specific. It is not unreasonable to assume that she ran better with more aerobic training hours.

Knowing very little of the specifics of the situation but speculating anyways, I have to agree that this is likely it. People in general underestimate the significance of aerobic conditioning. And i think people also overestimate the running talent of some triathletes, who, while talented, owe a lot of their promising running performances to the fact that their global volume of training is three or four times what is possible for a person only committed to running. Of course, I would never go so far to suggest the ludicrous - that kipchoge or anyone else would be faster if they started swimming and cycling another 30 hours/ week. It's just that going from 30-40 hours of aerobic conditioning per week to the comparatively measly 10 or so common among long distance runners, that's quite a different effect on the body. Not to mention that those 10 hours are as a rule so much more risky than the non-weight bearing hours.

I don't understand why this place diggs in Gwen so much. She wasn't last place but the runners behind her don't get threads dedicated to her.

She has a Olympic gold medal and tried something new. She didn't do as well as she hoped but I'll never run a time near hers.

dhey273hdjfh wrote:

I don't understand why this place diggs in Gwen so much. She wasn't last place but the runners behind her don't get threads dedicated to her.

She has a Olympic gold medal and tried something new. She didn't do as well as she hoped but I'll never run a time near hers.

Did the runners behind her use rice cookers?

everyone has bad races. It doesn’t mean the fitness or underlying ability isn’t there

dhey273hdjfh wrote:

I don't understand why this place diggs in Gwen so much. She wasn't last place but the runners behind her don't get threads dedicated to her.

Maybe it is because most of the other runners are not making youtube videos and don't make their private life public.

When you look for attention and you get it, you cannot complain about it.

Elite-opolous wrote:

What are you talking about? Elite women marathoners are a lot slower than that. I saw an Olympian and national record holder run 3:19:32 at New York City this year. Anything under 3:20 is definitely elite for women, maybe under 3:25.

3:19 is not elite, and because it's not elite I know who you're talking about since it was notable how bad of a result it was for someone claiming to be an elite runner.

75 for a half is still quite good for a woman, gets you into any race in the United States. But ya it's not worthy of being a 'professional runner'. How long will she be able to put up these performances and still only run and not have a real job? Maybe enough money was put away from the glory days, but doesn't the husband also not work?

runningchick wrote:

Options Trader wrote:

She needs a new coach who knows the roads.

This isn't a coaching issue anymore. She is now on her second run coach and not injured for a while and seemed to have been training well and runs a time that many sub-elites can. She just does not have the speed and/or taent for running. But from her recent posts she realizes that herself. She mentioned wanting to quit several times. But at this point there is no reason to kick someone who is already down. I think she should actually go back to tri but she seems hard set on keeping the running career. Anyhow I wish her the best. It must be rough for her to have performances like that....

I do not think it is accurate to say she doesn't have the talent or speed for running. 15:08 is not too shabby. For the longest time Hasay's PR was around 15:28.

She's milking the paycheck.

Good for her.

The Pappas Person wrote:

?Maybe enough money was put away from the glory days, but doesn't the husband also not work?

I don't watch her YT, so don't know if she mentions it there, but her husband works for a professional cycling team and does cycling agent work. Probably doesn't make a ton, but between them I imagine they make a solid living.

Options Trader wrote:

She needs a new coach who knows the roads.

What does “know the roads” mean?

chogun wrote:

She's milking the paycheck.

Good for her.

Yes. She's clearly washed up (or rather was never un-washed as a pro runner) but why not keep it going as long as you can make money. People are still interested in her, they're still making money from this lifestyle. I would do the same thing.

no need but wrote:

dhey273hdjfh wrote:

I don't understand why this place diggs in Gwen so much. She wasn't last place but the runners behind her don't get threads dedicated to her.

Maybe it is because most of the other runners are not making youtube videos and don't make their private life public.

When you look for attention and you get it, you cannot complain about it.

You missin the big picture my friend. Maybe dont forget she has a frickin GOLD medal and is faster than 99% of women runners. Thats more stock to be a youtuber than 99.9% of youtubers, even runners. Diet, exercise, whatever, she's already is a made (wo)man. Who exactly is more qualified than her again? I assume you will tell me only gold medalists in triathlon and a middle distance track event? I believe there is zero of those. Being sub elite in one event doesnt cancel out a Gold medal (and a dominant Triathlete) in another. So, yea, you kind of can complain about hobbyjoggers pointing out very flaw and that you are not world leading in every sport you take up. She's outdone everyone here by a long shot if she retires today.

Speaking of her coach. I went on his website just out of curiosity. My God... you should see the rates he is charging. Does Gwen actually pay him to coach her?

Well, that's just it. She's not a "pro runner" based on her times (she's a sub-elite if times were the metric). She makes a living off her running due to sponsorship, YouTube etc. and that does not require that she wins races of actually be fast. Plenty of influencers make money and aren't necessarily good at anything. She at least has the background to be legit (gold medal etc.). Look at that guy who gets a thread every other day, Seth whatever; he makes a living off running and has relatively no credibility as compared to Gwen. I think people just need to accept that social media has allowed people a means to earn an income that does not require them to win races or be the top of their filed. Running itself is not how she makes money, social media is how she makes money. It works for her even if you don't approve.

time to retire and start spending more time her kid. She would also be better off being coached by her husband then this old man on a bike making her pull tires down a road.

I feel like her social media presence is the driver behind this? If she was not all over YouTube with her husband shouting from the top of the hill how great they are this would all be moot.

I realize a lot of “kids these days” grew up on this stuff, but to me it is distracting of her ultimate goal and sets her up for mental let downs. I am all for if she has her stuff wired tight and they want to get some extra coin from views etc. but she is in a tailspin. Get offline, put the head down and get a quality block of training in. Don’t post the silly should I live here or there videos as they only come off as vain and honestly no one cares, nor should.

If she wants to be the best, she needs to live and train like the best (realistically better as she has ground to make up). That means solitude and grinding, you don’t hear from half of the altitude camps until they are done, and as I recall she did not “enjoy” these as it was time away from her family etc. I am certain there is a balance out there, but it may mean hanging up some of the goals and calling it what it is.

bladerunner wrote:

I'm a fan of hers and I have been enjoying her recent youtube videos. But I don't recall Sifan Hassan or any other great runners dragging a tire down the street that's strapped to their waist. I think she's been led down the wrong road. Having said that, 1:15 is like an elite recreational runner time. It's sad because I think she's good for the sport. But obviously, it isn't meant to be.

I actually very clearly remember a video of Asbel Kiprop dragging tires around in a muddy field during a downpour. Not saying it's good or bad, I just liked that video when I watched it years ago.

Anyway, I wonder if she will/still has time to transition back to triathlon for 2024.