The Athlete Special titled his last video “The Last Ride”…he’s 23

fhdhfghdfhg wrote:

I hope for the best for him and I think he's on the right track. What I cringe at is that he thinks 12 miles is actually a "long" run and 70 MPW is a lot...he doesn't have a full time job, he could easily handle 100 MPW. I'm not sure why his training is so light for someone who is running full time.

That's exactly his problem. He says he wants to be really good but none of his actions back it up.

Connecticut is Soft wrote:

Meanwhile, Robert Brandt is 25, works full time while training and racing as a real, professional runner.

If Robert Brandt works full time, he is a professional at something other than running. Running his not his profession.

i agree Ct is soft wrote:

Connecticut is Soft wrote:

Meanwhile, Robert Brandt is 25, works full time while training and racing as a real, professional runner.

If Robert Brandt works full time, he is a professional at something other than running. Running his not his profession.

Profession: a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.

You can have multiple professions.

Well it's certainly not an either/or where we need to compare him to another runner. The runner referenced can't supplement his income through social media. Hate the game, not the player. Spencer would have to find a full-time job if he wasn't putting out content like this. I do think it is a bit dramatic but he is a Youtuber, trying to drive views/clicks. I think there's something real he's speaking to about how off-putting the D1 experience is for some runners. Maybe off-putting is wrong but D1 running leads to burnout for a lot of athletes. You see it on here all the time where people run at a high level in college & then don't have the desire to train into their 20s/30s. I honestly believe Spencer feels like his time to be "good enough" to stay in this sport is closing on him. Some of us know that that's ridiculous but it's also a sad reality of our sport for runners at his level. to feel that way.

Moo G wrote:

champagnepapitherealone wrote:

Because he doesn’t want to be a 30 year old “chasing the dream” he knows that it’s now or never. Run fast, or get a real job. Only on LetsRun would you have people cry about someone not wanting to be a professional hobby jogger.

But he didn't even really try that hard. This guy made videos and called himself Special for reasons unknown.

"The Athlete Special" is the name of a sandwhich at a restaurant near Georgetown.

To answer some things brought up so far plus some comments:

1) Whether he has ever been "fast" is up for interpretation. He's a sub-4 minute miler. He ran a 1:49 800. You decide if that's fast or not.

2) "The Last Ride" is fair. He's not been fast enough to really make it as a professional runner, and he wants to see how far some uninterrupted focused training can take him. He likely doesn't have too long left to make it as a professional runner, so the title is apropos.

3) Is he "cool"? Another thing that is up for interpretation. I have seen lots of people and things described as "cool" that definitely were not. I see no relevance though.

Is this guy famous?

If 70/week is "high mileage" for a guy not fast enough to make it in the 8 or 1500, better clean up the resume.

nutmeg state of mind wrote:

fhdhfghdfhg wrote:

I hope for the best for him and I think he's on the right track. What I cringe at is that he thinks 12 miles is actually a "long" run and 70 MPW is a lot...he doesn't have a full time job, he could easily handle 100 MPW. I'm not sure why his training is so light for someone who is running full time.

That's exactly his problem. He says he wants to be really good but none of his actions back it up.

From what I've seen, he hasn't ever really had a chance to get up to 100mpw. His college coach didn't have him running it, and since then he hasn't had a chance to build his mileage that high without a setback (injury, covid, etc).

I think in college, he was running an inconsistent 50-60mpw, so if he can consistently hit 70mpw, I think he has a good shot at breaking some of his PRs. Remember, he ran a 3:59i and a 3:39 without super shoes. If people are right about them being worth 2-3 seconds, and he gets back to the shape he was in a couple years ago, he could throw down a 3:36 in the right race.

Personally, I think he's gonna get a PR in something before he throws in the towel. He said he didn't know you were supposed to have protein after a workout until he was already with the Beasts, and he's started doing strength exercises with those rubber bands. If he's taking those small steps and staying consistent, I see no reason he can't improve.

why not last dance?

Rubber bands? Oh, watch out, here's our next Olympic champion!

I'd be sad for the guy, if he had any talent. Sorry, but I was faster at his age, and as I've said before, nobody would know my name if I revealed it. He's the same, only has YouTube to be Peter Pan.

Craig's Mullet wrote:

nutmeg state of mind wrote:

Spencer is soft, but Connecticut is bad-ass.

Danae Rivers - NCAA champ 800m

Henry Wynne - NCAA champ 1500m

Michaela Meyer - NCAA champ 800m

Donn Cabral - 3xNCAA champ, 2x Olympian, 2x8th in the Olympics

Cas Loxsom - NCAA runner up, World Youth runner up, USATF runner up, American record in the 600

Alex Ostberg - NCAA runner up DMR, 5th in 3k, 3:59 mile, 7:49 3k and 13:42 5k, 3x All American in Cross

Kevin King- 7x NCAA All American, 3000m NCAA champ, DMR NCAA champ, 6x Big East champ

Michael LeDuc - DIII XC Champion, 2x DIII Steeple Champ (8:4x PR). Shout out DIII.

Spencer will be fine. I think he could PR this winter. Not sure if will be fast enough to get sponsor attention but he sure ain't DONE yet.

Cas Loxsom is NOT the American Record Holder for the 600m.

I repeat: Cas Loxsom has not covered the distance of 600m in a faster time than any other American who has been officially recorded to run this distance. For example, Johnny Gray has run almost 2.5 seconds faster over the distance.

As I've posted on these boards several times before, I HATE when people cite a "Record" without the proper qualifications such as "on an indoor non-oversized track" (for an off-distance, no less). And in case you have a short memory, I'll remind you that Donovan Brazier in his worser shape has run a faster 600m Indoor time.

jamin wrote:

Cas Loxsom is NOT the American Record Holder for the 600m.

I repeat: Cas Loxsom has not covered the distance of 600m in a faster time than any other American who has been officially recorded to run this distance. For example, Johnny Gray has run almost 2.5 seconds faster over the distance.

As I've posted on these boards several times before, I HATE when people cite a "Record" without the proper qualifications such as "on an indoor non-oversized track" (for an off-distance, no less). And in case you have a short memory, I'll remind you that Donovan Brazier in his worser shape has run a faster 600m Indoor time.

And David Rudisha en route to the 800m WR (a real Record in a real race) beat Cas Loxsom's 600m time.

jamin wrote:

Cas Loxsom is NOT the American Record Holder for the 600m.

I repeat: Cas Loxsom has not covered the distance of 600m in a faster time than any other American who has been officially recorded to run this distance. For example, Johnny Gray has run almost 2.5 seconds faster over the distance.

As I've posted on these boards several times before, I HATE when people cite a "Record" without the proper qualifications such as "on an indoor non-oversized track" (for an off-distance, no less). And in case you have a short memory, I'll remind you that Donovan Brazier in his worser shape has run a faster 600m Indoor time.

At one point Cas Loxsom had the WORLD RECORD in the indoor 600m. Technically it's considered a world best since it's not a standard distance.

theRanMan wrote:

Imimpresssed wrote:

“Nerds”

Are you in 8th grade?

Sure lol. imimpressed by your lashing out at me like you are in 6th grade.

Well I couldn’t resist because I like nerds. But you are right I shouldn’t be spending my time engaged in this stuff! We have different ideas of what’s “cool”. I thought you seem to be attacking him somewhat- but that’s how the internet goes- fire away!

Spencer runs 3:36 and you go home devastated, or are you already are bitter and angry?

champagnepapitherealone wrote:

Because he doesn’t want to be a 30 year old “chasing the dream” he knows that it’s now or never. Run fast, or get a real job. Only on LetsRun would you have people cry about someone not wanting to be a professional hobby jogger.

Why do people treat them like they are mutually exclusive?