The Harsh Reality Of Being A Running Influencer

The YouTube video titled "The Harsh Reality Of Being A Running Influencer" by Ben Is Running provides an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a running-focused YouTube and Instagram channel as a full-time career.

Introduction to the Business and Team [00:00]: Ben shares that he has been making running YouTube videos for six years. He introduces his girlfriend, Me

g, who has been working alongside him for the past year [00:32]. Together, they operate through a limited company where they both serve as directors, paying themselves a salary from the business earnings [02:11]. Meg manages merchandise, editing, accounts, booking flights, and handling emails [02:55], while Ben focuses on training and content creation.

Camera Gear and Equipment [04:

28]: Ben discusses the specific equipment they use to produce their content:

The Sony ZV-1 [04:42]: Referred to as the "big cam," this is used for high-production elements like shoe reviews and cinematic race-day footage, often operated by Meg [04:55].

The DJI Osmo Action 6 [05:22]: Sponsored by DJI, this action camera is used for running, cycling, and vlogging due to its small size

, square sensor (which allows cropping for both YouTube's 16:9 format and Instagram), variable aperture (f2 to f4 for low light), and strong image stabilization [05:40].

Athlete-Creator Balance and Workout Routine [07:35]: Ben emphasizes that he prioritizes his training over content creation, ensuring he can train like a professional athlete. The video follows him through a double-t

hreshold training day during a UK heatwave [08:14], featuring a morning session of 6 by 5 minutes [08:52] where Meg follows him on an electric foldable bike to capture footage [02:23], followed by lactate level testing [13:03] and an evening treadmill session [13:43].

Financial Breakdown of Being a Running YouTuber [14:26]: Ben details the reality of their income and the hard work r

equired, noting that they work in excess of standard full-time job hours [16:32]. While withholding exact monetary amounts due to contractual obligations, he breaks down the percentage of total revenue across seven streams [17:04]:

Long-term Partnerships (6–12 months): 40% [17:36]

YouTube Ad Revenue: 30% [17:53]

One-off Brand Deals: 25% [18:31]

Merchandise: 2.5% [19:01]

Patreon: 2.5

% [19:01]

Affiliate Links: 1% [19:17]

Race Winnings: Less than 1% [19:23]

Ben concludes by highlighting that relying solely on running and race winnings would yield virtually no income, making the content creation side essential for supporting his athletic goals [19:30].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7VDx17titA

The Harsh Reality Of Being A Running Influencer

Ben Is Running · 42K