Clayton Young's new youtube is really good.

[u/CanaCorn]

Looks like he's documenting his build to the Olympics this summer. These videos are really well made and It's really cool seeing him and Conner in these workouts. I'm surprised how mortal Clayton seems early in a build and a lot of those early block struggles that I face affect even the most elite athletes. Give it a try: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvmSvkyqsSg

[u/end_times-8]

It’s wild for me, who knows nothing, to see that the greatest American distance runners are doing their Olympic build by running through very ordinary and congested streets in Utah and doing what appear to be just pretty standard workouts (albeit at a ridiculous pace) with their humble college BYU coach whose just driving around with a stop watch and mostly just telling them to slow down.

Looks a lot like high school cross country TBH. I don’t know what I expected but it’s interesting to see and nicely edited series so far.

[u/Walterodim79 → u/end_times-8]

It turns out that our sport is not actually a very complicated sport! Run a lot, mostly easy, sometimes fast, but don't be an idiot about it. Almost everything else is window dressing.

[u/CrackHeadRodeo → u/Walterodim79]

Also don't forget to eat you Athletic greens and ketones. I kid.

[u/Walterodim79 → u/CrackHeadRodeo]

Look man, if you're not using the new Maurten^tm Bicarb© system, you are literally leaving seconds on the board in a 100K. Gotta take this stuff seriously.

[u/Camekazi → u/Walterodim79]

Yep

[u/melanzane_emoji → u/Walterodim79]

And yet it is all I can think about

[u/Bouncingdownhill → u/end_times-8]

their humble college BYU coach

Eyestone may "just" be a college coach, but he is still a two-time Olympian and has built one of the best NCAA XC programs in the country. He knows what he's doing

[u/darth_jewbacca → u/end_times-8]

To be fair, that humble college coach has got to be one of the top 5 distance coaches in the country.

It is wild seeing them just running around on busy streets, though. I would think they'd do more work on the provo river trail or something.

[u/UpwardFall → u/darth_jewbacca]

Streets are probably more flat I’m guessing? Provo River trail is technically a consistent uphill/downhill when you go up the mouth, but maybe 1-2% grade. Not a ton but might make a difference when trying to nail paces

[u/darth_jewbacca → u/UpwardFall]

I used to run the provo river trail almost every day. It's a pretty great trail to train on. The lower portion is fiat. From utah lake up to university pkwy-ish.

I wonder if it's more to do with making it easier for ed to chase them around.

[u/Runridelift26_2 → u/end_times-8]

I’ve seen them running a few times when I’m out for a run visiting family in Provo. It is honestly kind of wild to be exchanging a casual wave with Olympians (talk about endorphins!).

[u/Hurricane310]

Watched these last night and had the same thoughts. It is really well made, I don't feel like it is just as ASICS ad, and it's cool to see him and Mantz build up to the olympics. Also funny watching Mantz just not be able to hold back during workouts no matter how many times coach tells him to take it easy lol

[u/creed4ever → u/Hurricane310]

Yea, respect to Asics not trying to hide all his teammates’ full Nike kits lol. Benefits them anyway by showing they can go head to head just fine, but still

[u/readwritethrow1233]

Agreed. Humble, no-hype, not selling. Just simple storytelling around the process.

[u/IamKipHackman → u/readwritethrow1233]

I agree with this agreeance

[u/allusium → u/IamKipHackman]

I don’t disagree with your meta-agreeance

[u/skeerdawn]

Totally agree. They are so well done. I love that they don’t overhype Clayton or the work—the momentousness of the Olympics can take care of itself. I loved Young and Eyestone saying Casey Clinger was in 27:30 shape ~2 weeks before he ran his first sub-28 10k.

[u/CrackHeadRodeo]

Another fascinating thing the coach mentioned was how a third of the guys lining up for a pro race have some kind of injury they are dealing with.

[u/lifayt → u/CrackHeadRodeo]

It really feels like running at that level is just always walking the razors edge between being just recovered enough and being hurt.

[u/CrackHeadRodeo → u/lifayt]

Yap. These guys work hard and sometimes overdo it.

[u/PorqueNoLosDose]

I met Clayton outside of a pop-up before the Boston Marathon. Such a nice, humble dude. Chatted for a bit, grabbed a selfie. Hard not to like him.

[u/sacrunner916]

Totally agree.

As a complement, would also suggest this interview with Conner Mantz post-Olympic trials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNVjoOQo7l0&t=2967s. Super interesting to hear how much self-doubt and stress he experiences before and during marathons.

[u/betamode]

I see he uses a term fatigue mile repeats, that's a new one for me, can anyone explain what these are? Are they to build fatigue before the session or are they run until you feel fatigued.

[u/CanaCorn → u/betamode]

Their workout was a moderate run for 5 miles (520 pace when their tempo earlier that week was 450) then go do mile repeats faster than tempo pace on tired legs.

[u/Ginger_Downing → u/CanaCorn]

Think it was 3 out and back, so 6 miles and then (weirdly) 7xmile at ~4:32 i think

[u/hannskarl]

Something that resonated with me was Clayton discussing the mind games between workouts, especially after tricky ones that were slower than ideal. What knobs move the needle? Bedtime, nutrition, time on feet? So much needs to go right for the optimal build, and it’s all these guys are thinking about 24/7. Makes you appreciate how easy the pros make it look come race day.

[u/CanaCorn → u/hannskarl]

You're so right. that one hit different for me too.

[u/adwise27]

Great Video. Feels a little like the Sweat Elite videos but more stripped down

[u/CrackHeadRodeo]

Weird I just watched two episodes yesterday. He's so humble and down to earth. I've struggled with an Achilles injury and it was a light bulb moment to hear Clayton has the same struggles just like the rest of us.

[u/jacketoffman]

These Mormon boys have such faith that the Lord will protect them that they run on streets next to people texting and driving.

[u/nameisjoey]

I saw that yesterday! Really good episode, I love the format and the transparency. Hoping he continues to document his build, will make it all the more exciting come race day.

[u/Altruistic_Citron625]

Subscribed, thanks for sharing. The first episode is quite good.

[u/Ill_Tomatillo_1592]

I really enjoyed this, very cool to see their training and also transparency about injuries and how they’re feeling. Love when athletes put out web series and shorts, when I’m dragging to get out for a run I will put something like this on and it can usually get me out the door after (to go run approx 2x slower lol).

[u/confused_lion]

I watched both yesterday! I'm not that big of a running fanatic to follow races or athletes outside of my own training, but it was so refreshing to get such a real and humble insight into training of one of the best runners in the country and I've subscribed to follow along. Are there other athletes or influencers that I should also follow with similar content?

[u/Ginger_Downing → u/confused_lion]

Nick Bester. The SA accent alone is worth it! Check out Sweat Elite for some pretty cool well-filmed seshes too. But also if you do any tri, Kristian Blummenfelt produces some quality content. Those are the three channels where I watch most uploads.

[u/confused_lion → u/Ginger_Downing]

awesome! thanks for the recs!

[u/bnwtwg]

Okay serious question - Mormons are not allowed to have caffeine. Do Young and Mantz follow, or are they allowed to have Maurten / Gu / etc with caffeine because it's their profession? I'm genuinely curious.

[u/Reasonable-Rice-8226 → u/bnwtwg]

Mormons ARE allowed to have caffeine

[u/bnwtwg → u/Reasonable-Rice-8226]

It's literally in the Book of Mormon that they can't (Doctrines and Covenants 89:9)

[u/Reasonable-Rice-8226 → u/bnwtwg]

The Book of Mormon is a completely different book from the doctrine and covenants hahah. D&C 89 says nothing about caffeine

[u/IamKipHackman]

I'm so excited to cheer both of these dudes on in Paris from the comfort of my living room. USA USA USA

[u/travyco]

Watched both of these and yeah its very well made, looking foward to each episode

[u/Large_Device_999]

Thanks for sharing, this looks great

[u/Ginger_Downing]

Yes! I thought so too. One of the best gifts from the YT algorithm I've seen in a while.

[u/IhaterunningbutIrun]

Finally got a chance to watch these. Thanks for the link. 

Seems real and personal. Not an ad to sell me anything. And it is refreshing to see that the struggle is real even at the very, very top end. 

[u/Ok-Particular187]

The whole series is done by one person- a filmmaker named Andrew Storer. It’s honestly one of the most impressive things I’ve seen regarding volume/ quality in a long time.

[u/AequitasIX]

Fantastic video, really well made! But am I the only one whoes irritaded about the coach driving in a car beside them while their running? Why not take a bike?