It's why I don't follow or trust Believe in the Run. Absolutely no authenticity.
It's all show garbage reviews to make commission. But Thomas is actually pacing himself well. A lot of people blew up. He seemed to have anticipated the warmer weather and really held back in the early miles.
This is actually commendable. I know some pretty good runners who blew up late because they didn’t anticipate the heat. I’m glad I didn’t run in this race. My ideal marathon temperature is 40.
Has anyone ever tried to have a non running conversation with one of these "ShoeTubers" or "Running Influencers"? Do they actually have any intellect about things beyond running? The few I've seen videos of don't seem to be....how do I say this nicely....the type of people who are very well rounded.
It’s funny to see them all blaming the weather and late state for their slow times. Maybe try actually qualifying and you won’t have to run during the warmest part of the morning
Did Matt Choi cheat? I looked at his tracker and it doesn't seem like he crossed the 35k mark. Everyone else I tracked cleared all of the different markers.
Maybe so, but cheating to run a 3:27:49 has got to be a new low, even for Choi. Hopefully given his chequered history, Derek will look into it.
Choi still hasn't posted his Strava...getting more and more fishy by the second.
Compare that to the influencer/coach who was planning on fueling w 13 Maurten gels for Boston....cause science... All for a 3:16 marathon.
I want to clarify that my problem with running influencers isn't that they're slow or untalented runners. Like I could get people following someone who used to be obese or just really bad at the marathon and then worked their way to a 3:30 time and learned a lot along the way. What I find so annoying about these people is they believe they are training smart and doing all this extra stuff that they claim will help them get faster but they always run the same or worse. I they amplify everything about themselves and broadcast it loudly, except the results once they start turning sour. These influencers would 100% skip races if they could still maintain the image without the race photos. You can BS a training run, instagram workout or video, but you can't BS a race!
Did Matt Choi cheat? I looked at his tracker and it doesn't seem like he crossed the 35k mark. Everyone else I tracked cleared all of the different markers.
Choi's Heartbreak Hill mile split (20 to 21) was his fastest of the second half (8:18) until the final mile.
Mile 21 is almost universally the slowest mile of the race for any runner that is still moving reasonably well at that point. For example, Eric Floberg's 21st mile was 6:30 and he averaged 6:03 for the race.
Maybe so, but cheating to run a 3:27:49 has got to be a new low, even for Choi. Hopefully given his chequered history, Derek will look into it.
Choi still hasn't posted his Strava...getting more and more fishy by the second.
Looked at his splits on the BAA app. Didn’t completely fall apart but an unimpressive effort for a 29 year old man who fancies himself an expert. I know an over 60 runner who ran a faster time in the race.
Now that the opening races are over, it's time for the main event, running influencers at Boston.
Meghan Murray from Believe in the Run: went through the half at 1:25, then promptly blew up and is running 7 minute miles.
Thomas Neuberger from Believe in the Run: ran a flying 28 minute opening 5k. This a dude who trains in $300 shoes. To run 9 minute pace! He should just go buy a pair of Brooks Ghosts!
Matt Choi, who somehow started in the fast wave, ran a 22 minute opening 5k, then faded to a 1:36 half and is now running 8:25 miles.
Katelyn Mueller, fading to 7:30 pace.
Ben Parkes, massive blow up at 15k, and is now jogging 9 minute pace past 20 miles.
Why oh why does the Internet hold these people up as experts? Why is anyone paying Choi, who can't run an average marathon unless it's down the side of mountain, for coaching?
Anyway, I suggest Rabbit send them all a free copy of this singlet that says "Show Up and Blow Up," on the front and "no one cares" on the back. They all sure did and no one does!
Not really a runfluencer but @davis.clarke (the locked in finance guy) has finished above Matt Fox in 2:56 and has shat his pants as seen in his instagram video. Captivating stuff.
I follow him on IG and didn't even realize he runs. His marathon PR is actually pretty good at 2:39 according to strava.
Amazingly, plenty of folks follow these youtubers. I dont think the advertising algorithm looks at likes or negative views on lrc as much as it does views, time, etc. So, I am sure the $$ is just validating their activities.
Choi’s aesthetic has been grating ever since I saw his videos, especially the one where he went shoe shopping and went to at least threedifferent run specialty stores (said he had the shoe he liked the best multiple times, then wanted a different color…), phone out and all, recording the employees as he walked in.
The focal point has and always will be about his successes and failures, so the faux pacing of others in time trials and collaborations will continue to be ways to level up his own fame. Problem with doing so in the running community is that one’s ego and ability are often inversely related, and I would hope that a dash of humility allows him to take his influence and use it for good, not just as a self-serving, suspect, increasingly slow social media star.
It’s hard to find the video he posted on his Instagram of finding shoes, but I think it’s this one:
I just hope with these influencers that they take the fame/fortune they’ve been gifted via social media, and use it to give back in a way that doesn’t put themselves as priority. Plus, Kane shoes suck.
It's all show garbage reviews to make commission. But Thomas is actually pacing himself well. A lot of people blew up. He seemed to have anticipated the warmer weather and really held back in the early miles.
This is actually commendable. I know some pretty good runners who blew up late because they didn’t anticipate the heat. I’m glad I didn’t run in this race. My ideal marathon temperature is 40.
couldn't afford another 5+ hour debacle like '23 NYC
Anyway, I suggest Rabbit send them all a free copy of this singlet that says "Show Up and Blow Up," on the front and "no one cares" on the back. They all sure did and no one does!
"Show Up and Blow Up" wouldn't be a great choice for Boston tbh
I follow him, on IG, actually like a lot of the science-y stuff he posts. But he is the ultimate proof that much of that stuff is a rounding error compared to solid training.
Being able to down 90g/hr of carbs is awesome if it helps you reach your potential, but if you don't have the mileage to back it up it doesn't matter.