I'm just an over-the-hill, un-athletic, out-of-shape, normal guy trying to get fit and chase some personal goals in life. Want to let you know that I find your videos very helpful and inspiring. I have no clue what it must feel like to just barely miss out on going to the Olympics, but one thing that you're definitely succeeding at is helping and inspiring other people. I admire you and watch your videos multiple times to improve my own routines...I bet I'm not the only one.
Age 56 3/4, I BQd last year and ran my first Boston this year. I really Identify with the comment 3 mins in snd through the Video. I decided to run Boston (after doing 2 marathons by then) the day the Bombs went off in 2013, the day after I realized one hour had to come off my time. I ran for charities, and a variety of motivators……but it was 18 months ago when I realized that I did not want it enough. For me. So that lead to honesty : 10lbs too heavy on the start line, 20% more miles from a higher base in between, better sleep, better hydration strategy, more tempos within long runs……that I got it done. Thanks for the nudge, i never hit the gym, that is the next step for me to go from 3:26 to sub 3:15. Thanks for the push. Good luck on your true desires too.
Stephen, just a thought. You put in the time, you put in heaps of work, so I'd say you did want it a considerable amount because I bet some of those sessions/double days hurt a lot. But, you also wanted to continue growing the youtube etc and wasn't willing to sacrifice that entirely. Maybe once you found your next goal, hire a young videographer and editor with a good track record, pay him the revenue made from the videos within that training block (3 month-6 months) whatever, that way your youtube is growing and will be there when you want it, and you can focus more on the training and recovery etc, instead of doing long nights at the laptop. You've got a big enough following that I'm certain that would be an attractive prospect for any budding videographer. Could even pump out more content with them on board full time. I've seen this work well on other channels where they're super genuine and get the buy-in from people. Long-form content is the way forward also. Just an idea, hope you see this. Thanks so much for the inspiration, my first marathon is in 3 weeks.
Another great video Stephen. I started running after my wee daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour as a means to look after my own mental health. I have done a few half marathons and I have registered for the Belfast marathon next May. It's down to you and your channel that has helped me become a better runner. Thank you for your content it's honestly been a saviour for me ❤
Aw that's awesome, and I hope she's ok. send me an email, I'll send you a t shirt (doesn't help much) but seems a nice thing I can do, and if you'd like to be added to the marathon plan etc.. and masterclass which has some good psychology stuff (I think) I'll do that for you. Lionscull@outlook.com
I appreciate this so much… You don’t even know. I was just having a conversation about bodybuilding with someone and they kept saying it was physically impossible for them to hit certain goals. I couldn’t wrap my mind around that statement because I didn’t believe it was physically impossible I just believe we have to answer a tough and honest question… “Am I willing to do what it will take to reach that goal?” I think too many people hide behind the… “oh it just wasn’t for me or oh I don’t have the genetics.” OR They do the opposite of what you are doing. They don’t succeed and then write it off by using external reasons as to why. Rather than reflecting and asking that question… “did I really want it?” It’s okay to say no. But don’t use these other things as the reason it didn’t happen. Thank you so much for the honesty! People need this.
I appreciate the sentiment behind any achievement is only locked behind hard work but the reality is genetics really do hold you back from reaching world class levels of success. For example, there is no amount of hard work a 6’6 Dutch man can do to achieve a better marathon time than a 5’6 Kenyan assuming they have the same training and nutrition. Some bodies truly are built better for performance. If you’d like to read more on the subject, I’d recommend the book “the sports gene” by David Epstein.
@@user-ch9di6by3b I agree on the genetics. I believe it’s real. I just wonder how many people don’t push it based off this reality. This concept is going based off the idea that both have the same training and nutrition, but what if the 5’6 Kenyan lacks the discipline to commit all the way and 6’6 Dutch man is all in? I would even say the 5’6 Kenyan might still beat him which would be frustrating but no reason for the 6’6 Dutch man to not push limits. I just appreciate people saying, “hey I didn’t make it because I lacked the commitment.” And not, “oh the only reason I didn’t make it was because I wasn’t designed to” The latter is okay if you can honestly say you have it your all. And that is for that person to decide. I’m 5’7 and doubt that even with the proper training and nutrition I could beat a 6’5” basketball player for a shot on a team. If I wanted it bad enough I could at least fight and then feel at peace with that reality when it presented itself. Only IF I wanted it bad enough for whatever reason.
It's not a bad thing that you didn't want it "enough" Stephen, it's okay for motives to change and they will, throughout life. We are always motivated to do something and in this case you were more motivated to direct your energy elsewhere. It's not a good, bad or indifferent thing. It's also completely human to have competing motives.. I want to lose weight but I also want to eat that cake, ambivalence is human. Sure the highs of being at the Olympics and getting that external validation are great, but as you said, it comes with lots of trade offs too, potentially leaving you in a worse spot mentally. That salience and intensity to achieve a goal will always wear off after the initial few months/weeks and if we truly don't want to persevere after that then that's fine, it's only the hustle culture/ social media influence that leads you to think that it's a bad thing. You've helped way more than many Olympic gold medalists, that's something you should be proud of.
Glad to see you looking in such a good place Stephen. Great to see you and Katie sharing quality time together ❤️. Looking forward to continuing following the journey 👍
Done 23 weeks of training not missing a single run after every run I ate carbs and protein immediately. Than went home and immediately done mobility,dynamic,core or strength session for 10min followed by a hard 3 to 4min intense ab workout and finished with some light hamstring flossing with elephant walk and than posture stretches. After run routine keeps me injury free and flexible I don’t need any foam rolling or anything else. My pace felt so easy during the marathon I didn’t believe my watch and went to fast add I think 22 degrees heat and high humidity I paid the price and suffered for what seemed, never ending miles. I came in at 3:29 in the cork marathon. A hard pill to swallow after hitting 3:18 last year in Dublin. Dublin I done all of the above with 55 miles a week on 5 runs. Cork I done 60 miles a week all of the above and added 3 days of wight training ,polymeric for 30min. Failure is hard. But my goal is clear beat 3:18 the grey area is how to do it. Working shift my runs are at 5am or 8pm 4 runs are back to back most weeks so am to tired to hit proper pace. So I have a huge base. But not enough speed work the plan is to keep all thinning but cut to 3 runs not back to back. 1. tempo mp, 2. Yasso 800, 3. Long easy finishing with mp pace. 14 weeks and I will go again. It’s a process just get out the door. And give it what you have each day.
Great honest video. You should be proud of all you have achieved and remember its okay and natural to feel disappointed. Looking forward to seeing whats next for you
You will always be an inspiration "Irish" and have taken me on a journey that kept me pinned to board with motovation, emotion pure passion but most of all simply sharing your own drive & experiences preparing to be superhuman. You are nothing short of amazing keep that close to your heart man. Thankyou and I sincerely hope you still go on to more power and enjoyment of what you are so so so special at. Being you.
I don't know if this needs to be said; if I'm out of line saying it; or if I'm just way off-base with what might be between the lines in this video, but I'm going to say it anyway: Scully, as you reflect on these things and explain your thoughts about your Olympics build and everything, I hope you don't feel worried about what people on RUclips or elsewhere are thinking about you. We love you for who you are - not who you have been in the past, or who you're trying to become. We are here to grow with you, to learn from you, and to offer support to you. We look at your efforts with adoration and inspiration; never with expectation. Your achievements and contributions for the purposes of this channel cannot be expressed in numbers on a race clock. You are doing great.
Lol “lower volume like 80 miles a week” … it’s all relative but can’t help but laugh. The channel has for sure helped me through the ups and downs inevitable for runners. Can say it’s helped me improve a ton mentally as much as physically. Thanks for doing what you do Scully.
This has come at a good time. I've been in a 5month prep for a sub 2.40 marathon. Has been the fittest and strongest I've ever felt. Nailing every time and pace. 4 weeks ago my hamstring and quad had other ideas. I'm 4 weeks out. Been doing therapy, bike sessions, no running, dry needling. Nothing is fixing the injury. I'm coming to rhe realisation the while event is slipping away. And it's bloody hard to mentally handle.
@Motivatorteo thank you. The mental side, imo is the most important. And right now I'm being challenged the hardest I ever had. The struggle between, do I throw the towel in 4 weeks out, and just accept defeat. Or do I do something dramatic and take a full week off everything to see if it heals. Taking a week off this close is definitely not ideal, but I'm running out of options
What I can tell you from the injuries I had... Listen to your body. I understand the goal, the hard work,... But crossing the red line with your body through pure will power will eventually break you. It's not worth taking maybe a permanent damage just to reach a goal that, in this case, may still be there for you at a later point in time.
@@MrJohnno89 I’d probably recommend taking the time off, or at least dramatically reduce training or change the training to cross training like watt bike/assault bike/rowing, whatever doesn’t aggravate the injury in an effort to maintain fitness and still finish the race?
@Motivatorteo yep I've been doing all my sessions on the bike for the last 3 weeks to maintain fitness. I'm taking this whole week off though to get scans and let it completely rest. Fingers crossed I can still make the start line
Thanks for all your content and introspection! Been reminded of a Nietzsche quote during your video: “If you have a why worth living for, you can endure almost any how,” 👍😎
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Your videos on this channel are strangely compelling. It's not just running advice, although that is in there, too. It's lots of things: reality TV, story telling, self-reflection, philosophy. It's the journey of you as an elite runner, delivered in the first person.
Great video. Let me offer another perspective if I could. Maybe the fact that it was a huge goal and you had put yourself out there publicly led to a fear of failure at some level, which then led to not doing some of the things you know that you needed to do. This gives the mind a subconscious "out" or excuse which then surfaces as "not wanting it enough". Some food for thought. Either way, love your work and looking forward to seeing more training sessions.
Maybe, but I don't think so. Again "maybe" but I also did the same for Tokyo Olympics, with the podcast etc.. in that build up I had company up the mountains in the training prior to qualifying, and it could be as simple as that was missing. Hard to be very competitive without company in training, and it's likely something I'd seek if I wanted to be competitive again.
Hi Stephen. Another great video.. obviously im no where near your level but I also feel im at a stage where I need to give my body a bit of TLC. Teying to focus on recovery/yoga/ome basic strength.. take running easy etc. Would love a video on how to rebuild a broken body, where to start and how to know your ready to start building up again and maintain the strength/mobility while building the endurance. Thanks man 🙏🏻
I completely buy the point about heat. For many of us, it makes a huge difference. And it surely takes an unsustainable amount of adaptive training to fully overcome that aspect of individual physiology
“What do you do next?“ - come to Switzerland! I don‘t know what the weather was like in Saint Moritz but here in Zurich it‘s been dreadful! Enjoy your stay if you‘re still here😁
I watched your videos Stephen you were all in so much so that you ran your race in training no doubt about that…don’t be so hard on yourself…no matter how much experience you have we are always learning…when the person that knows he’s done it all then you know your bet…every day we learn that’s sport
Yeah, who knows.. HRV data (who knows if it's the be all and end all) but from December, the average was 55 (similar to Dublin build up, which saw 50-55 average) well Jan to April 48, 46, 43, 40 etc.. as an average.. So something definitely wasn't happy over those few months. Specifically from December to April. Now since having the teeth removed it's back up to 53 average or so, and actually two days in the last week above 60, which I hadn't seen in a long time. The message would be, had I over analysed right after London, and got all upset "which I did" and then 2 weeks later find out about 2 teeth being infected.. all that analysis would suddenly be in question. ULTIMATELY, we're human ad f*ck. very very human, and sometimes we get tired, sometimes we make ourselves tired etc.. what's likely frustrating is that in 2-3 months you could do the exact same training, and maybe it would work. I can't always explain that etc.. but such is life.
Okay, can you take the time to watch the movie "5000m". The last couple videos i watch on your channel reminds me of this movie. Look who wins the trials and then look at everyone else. They are all training hard but their minds arent in the same place. The pressure you put on yourself is SO HIGH.. you wrecked your nervous system training to make the team, even if you had doubled the work load, i doubt you would of ran faster.. watch Tim's build up, perhaps itll help you have a different approch with your next build up.
Love the videos and above all the honesty and vulnerability you show. Maybe the next goal isn’t a race at all, What about setting a goal to get kids running at schools, get a million kids to run every week using your skills and input
XD casually drop 80miles as low milage. Shows where pros are really at. While you can't do everything at once, there is a neat overlap of flexibilty and strength that most would refer to as mobility. Take a low weight and move it over the full range of motion slowly but a lot of times. Thats really good at opening things up but can feel a bit sore the first times.
no worries Stephen! you're doing great, maybe you didnt enter the olympics but you're achieving other lots of good stuff at the same time, one cannot have everything haha :P At the end of the day you gotta eat something and youtube and merchandizing is gonna help you with it, which in the future it might help you achieve your next goal more easily. Not only that, but you're also helping lots of people; I'm sure i'm not the only one who's learning a lot from you. If im being honest i was also looking forward to see you there, but in the end all this motivation wasnt for nothing either, it helped you get in shape so tomorrow you're in a better place. Keep it up!!
Two quotes come to mind: "Everybody wanna be a bodybuilder but dont nobody wanna lift no heavy ass weights" - Ronnie Coleman "A double-minded man is unsteady in all his ways" - James 1:8 Basically, you dont really want something unless you're willing to do what it takes. When you have conflicting desires/goals, you can only really "want" one of them, so whichever one you choose is the one you wanted. It's not that you didn't work hard, you absolutely did, but you weren't able to dial into the obsessive, single-minded focus that it takes to make the Olympics. Good for you for doing that difficult self-reflection and acknowledging that trying to chase the Olympics while also chasing RUclips goals probably held you back. You clearly have the capacity to learn, so I'm looking forward to seeing how you turn this into a strength moving forward.
Yeah this is beautiful. Of course I wanted to go to the Olympics, and of course I worked hard. "BUT" Clearly didn't want it enough, and clearly didn't work hard enough. It's not as dramatic as say "if you don't achieve this you die" then all your eggs would absolutely go into one basket, and nothing else in life would matter. Suddenly you'd find the time to commit yourself 110%, and nothing would get in your path. That's probably not sustainable all the time, or healthy for that matter. Maybe you tone that down a little bit, but for some people they just want these goals enough that they're willing to do what it takes without any threat of danger etc.. the threat being "I can't imagine not achieving this goal". Failure is worse, than the effort required, or sacrifice required. Forgive me, but sometimes the worst thing that can happen to "me" and others is achieving something. Sub 2.10, Olympics the first time etc.. and then that "need to shower yourself" etc.. is gone, and motivation must then come from something else. I don't think RUclips was the problem, it really doesn't take me much time at all now that I'm much more experienced. Ultimately it's the question of "how bad do you really want something", and when you want something enough, you usually find a way to make it happen.
You mentioned your form not looking 100%- i would love a video showing good and bad form examples and where and why the form is failing and how to adjust it etc. Thanks for the great content!
Yeah it was actually a track session in portugal, 8-10 days must have been before London, and it's like I could just see the tired in the hamstrings, hips, glutes etc.. that would be a great video.
I love ya brother, and I’d def be losing out, as would your community, but I think one of the obstacles in your way/focus detractors might be content creation. I’m sure you spend a lot of time capturing, editing, thinking about and planning your videos, which comes at a cost. Practically it’s your time, and mentally it muddies up a single minded focus. Maybe it’s a hot take, I don’t know, but perhaps the world gets a little bit smaller in proportion to dedication. I’m no 2:09’er, though, so I trust you know best.
The best running videos on RUclips are by Stephen Scullion and Lee Grantham; no coincidence that they are both pro athletes and share their passion for running.
I’d love to buy some merch but $57 to ship two tops to Australia, I just can’t afford. (I do know you don’t make these prices) but thats crazy for something that weighs 200g. Next time 💔.
From watching your posts it is obvious that you "put in the work" in terms of doing the actual training - the runs, the gym work etc. You might say now that you weren't doing the absolute ball busting workouts but nobody can say that you didn't work damn hard. Maybe, just maybe, it was the lifestyle when you weren't training that perhaps didn't match the commitment you showed when you were actually running. But lots and lots of runners acheve great things without living a life that includes running - and sod all else! Infact, many runners have said that they need somthing else other than running if they are tofufill their running potential.
Haha, it was a good reference tho. In fairness it's the body finding the most efficient way (likely) to run, when beaten down etc.. I do think it serves a purpose, but when I try to run faster then hips, etc.. being tight (restrictive) just biomechanically becomes limiting.
Tips: get your sponsors name behind you..!.!.!. If you are out of sponsorship get one ! ! ! .... and tell them your name hits 113,000 K people...... daily - this post fits 5000 So get it and get the pennies in ....... Running is awesome but professionally it's a business...... get sponsors on a huge scare ! ! ! ! !
Yeah that’s a fair point, and you can actually do lengthening type strength exercises. Plus the tightness : lack of flexibility is likely due to muscles (being weak) and over working (getting tight ha). Suckers…
Stephen, you say "I wish you could meet katie " well spend some time and make some videos with her, and we would get a sense of how she s like. make vlogs w her/ geesh.
Rebuild. I think too many marathoners get stuck in doing marathon training. Start over go back to 1500m then to 5k/10k then half take a year to do this and come back to Marathon with renewed energy
I thought that would be great, try to run some PBs at lower distances and re earn the priveledge of moving up distance each time I get close, or run a Personal best.
@@stephenscullion262 cool mate. I would think of the events as complimentary and completing the foundation. Threshold is considered by many as THE foundation but also speed endurance is also a layer of foundation. Raw speed is natural, so I wouldn’t spend a load of time on that, unless biomechanically you’re not where you believe is your optimal self. This like you said in the video can(should) be addressed in the weight room.
I don't think he's denying it those. I'm sure he meant he didn't wanted bad enough to sacrifice some of the other things in life. Anyway i hope he can get his focuses back and moving on yo another chapter. Sometimes thing happens for a good reason. Best of luck on your search for greatness 🙌
Correct and perhaps the application to training wasn’t the same, as it was prior to Tokyo. You don’t really know until it’s all over, but when you really want something, you push that little bit extra. That’s not to say I didn’t “fail” at making an Olympics.. Oo yes, I failed alright, and wasn’t good enough on the day.
I'm just an over-the-hill, un-athletic, out-of-shape, normal guy trying to get fit and chase some personal goals in life. Want to let you know that I find your videos very helpful and inspiring. I have no clue what it must feel like to just barely miss out on going to the Olympics, but one thing that you're definitely succeeding at is helping and inspiring other people. I admire you and watch your videos multiple times to improve my own routines...I bet I'm not the only one.
Age 56 3/4, I BQd last year and ran my first Boston this year. I really Identify with the comment 3 mins in snd through the Video. I decided to run Boston (after doing 2 marathons by then) the day the Bombs went off in 2013, the day after I realized one hour had to come off my time. I ran for charities, and a variety of motivators……but it was 18 months ago when I realized that I did not want it enough. For me. So that lead to honesty : 10lbs too heavy on the start line, 20% more miles from a higher base in between, better sleep, better hydration strategy, more tempos within long runs……that I got it done. Thanks for the nudge, i never hit the gym, that is the next step for me to go from 3:26 to sub 3:15. Thanks for the push. Good luck on your true desires too.
So glad you two are back together! 🏃🏼♀️🏃🏻♂️👍
Agree 👍
Stephen, just a thought. You put in the time, you put in heaps of work, so I'd say you did want it a considerable amount because I bet some of those sessions/double days hurt a lot. But, you also wanted to continue growing the youtube etc and wasn't willing to sacrifice that entirely. Maybe once you found your next goal, hire a young videographer and editor with a good track record, pay him the revenue made from the videos within that training block (3 month-6 months) whatever, that way your youtube is growing and will be there when you want it, and you can focus more on the training and recovery etc, instead of doing long nights at the laptop. You've got a big enough following that I'm certain that would be an attractive prospect for any budding videographer. Could even pump out more content with them on board full time. I've seen this work well on other channels where they're super genuine and get the buy-in from people. Long-form content is the way forward also. Just an idea, hope you see this. Thanks so much for the inspiration, my first marathon is in 3 weeks.
2nd this bro was thinking the same, hope he does see your commnt
Yeah you're right (trust issues ha) but I will try find somebody to help.
Stephen, he’s on to something. Give it a shot! We’ll still be here for you buddy!
Another great video Stephen. I started running after my wee daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour as a means to look after my own mental health. I have done a few half marathons and I have registered for the Belfast marathon next May. It's down to you and your channel that has helped me become a better runner. Thank you for your content it's honestly been a saviour for me ❤
Aw that's awesome, and I hope she's ok. send me an email, I'll send you a t shirt (doesn't help much) but seems a nice thing I can do, and if you'd like to be added to the marathon plan etc.. and masterclass which has some good psychology stuff (I think) I'll do that for you. Lionscull@outlook.com
@@stephenscullion262 aw I'm in tears reading this you're a gentleman thanks so much x
I appreciate this so much… You don’t even know. I was just having a conversation about bodybuilding with someone and they kept saying it was physically impossible for them to hit certain goals. I couldn’t wrap my mind around that statement because I didn’t believe it was physically impossible I just believe we have to answer a tough and honest question… “Am I willing to do what it will take to reach that goal?”
I think too many people hide behind the… “oh it just wasn’t for me or oh I don’t have the genetics.”
OR
They do the opposite of what you are doing. They don’t succeed and then write it off by using external reasons as to why. Rather than reflecting and asking that question… “did I really want it?”
It’s okay to say no. But don’t use these other things as the reason it didn’t happen.
Thank you so much for the honesty! People need this.
I appreciate the sentiment behind any achievement is only locked behind hard work but the reality is genetics really do hold you back from reaching world class levels of success. For example, there is no amount of hard work a 6’6 Dutch man can do to achieve a better marathon time than a 5’6 Kenyan assuming they have the same training and nutrition. Some bodies truly are built better for performance. If you’d like to read more on the subject, I’d recommend the book “the sports gene” by David Epstein.
@@user-ch9di6by3b I agree on the genetics. I believe it’s real. I just wonder how many people don’t push it based off this reality. This concept is going based off the idea that both have the same training and nutrition, but what if the 5’6 Kenyan lacks the discipline to commit all the way and 6’6 Dutch man is all in? I would even say the 5’6 Kenyan might still beat him which would be frustrating but no reason for the 6’6 Dutch man to not push limits. I just appreciate people saying, “hey I didn’t make it because I lacked the commitment.” And not, “oh the only reason I didn’t make it was because I wasn’t designed to”
The latter is okay if you can honestly say you have it your all. And that is for that person to decide.
I’m 5’7 and doubt that even with the proper training and nutrition I could beat a 6’5” basketball player for a shot on a team. If I wanted it bad enough I could at least fight and then feel at peace with that reality when it presented itself. Only IF I wanted it bad enough for whatever reason.
It's not a bad thing that you didn't want it "enough" Stephen, it's okay for motives to change and they will, throughout life. We are always motivated to do something and in this case you were more motivated to direct your energy elsewhere. It's not a good, bad or indifferent thing. It's also completely human to have competing motives.. I want to lose weight but I also want to eat that cake, ambivalence is human. Sure the highs of being at the Olympics and getting that external validation are great, but as you said, it comes with lots of trade offs too, potentially leaving you in a worse spot mentally. That salience and intensity to achieve a goal will always wear off after the initial few months/weeks and if we truly don't want to persevere after that then that's fine, it's only the hustle culture/ social media influence that leads you to think that it's a bad thing. You've helped way more than many Olympic gold medalists, that's something you should be proud of.
Glad to see you looking in such a good place Stephen. Great to see you and Katie sharing quality time together ❤️. Looking forward to continuing following the journey 👍
Done 23 weeks of training not missing a single run after every run I ate carbs and protein immediately. Than went home and immediately done mobility,dynamic,core or strength session for 10min followed by a hard 3 to 4min intense ab workout and finished with some light hamstring flossing with elephant walk and than posture stretches. After run routine keeps me injury free and flexible I don’t need any foam rolling or anything else. My pace felt so easy during the marathon I didn’t believe my watch and went to fast add I think 22 degrees heat and high humidity I paid the price and suffered for what seemed, never ending miles. I came in at 3:29 in the cork marathon. A hard pill to swallow after hitting 3:18 last year in Dublin. Dublin I done all of the above with 55 miles a week on 5 runs. Cork I done 60 miles a week all of the above and added 3 days of wight training ,polymeric for 30min. Failure is hard. But my goal is clear beat 3:18 the grey area is how to do it. Working shift my runs are at 5am or 8pm 4 runs are back to back most weeks so am to tired to hit proper pace. So I have a huge base. But not enough speed work the plan is to keep all thinning but cut to 3 runs not back to back. 1. tempo mp, 2. Yasso 800, 3. Long easy finishing with mp pace. 14 weeks and I will go again. It’s a process just get out the door. And give it what you have each day.
Great honest video. You should be proud of all you have achieved and remember its okay and natural to feel disappointed. Looking forward to seeing whats next for you
You will always be an inspiration "Irish" and have taken me on a journey that kept me pinned to board with motovation, emotion pure passion but most of all simply sharing your own drive & experiences preparing to be superhuman. You are nothing short of amazing keep that close to your heart man.
Thankyou and I sincerely hope you still go on to more power and enjoyment of what you are so so so special at.
Being you.
I don't know if this needs to be said; if I'm out of line saying it; or if I'm just way off-base with what might be between the lines in this video, but I'm going to say it anyway: Scully, as you reflect on these things and explain your thoughts about your Olympics build and everything, I hope you don't feel worried about what people on RUclips or elsewhere are thinking about you. We love you for who you are - not who you have been in the past, or who you're trying to become. We are here to grow with you, to learn from you, and to offer support to you. We look at your efforts with adoration and inspiration; never with expectation. Your achievements and contributions for the purposes of this channel cannot be expressed in numbers on a race clock. You are doing great.
You're very kind
Lol “lower volume like 80 miles a week” … it’s all relative but can’t help but laugh. The channel has for sure helped me through the ups and downs inevitable for runners. Can say it’s helped me improve a ton mentally as much as physically. Thanks for doing what you do Scully.
This has come at a good time. I've been in a 5month prep for a sub 2.40 marathon. Has been the fittest and strongest I've ever felt. Nailing every time and pace. 4 weeks ago my hamstring and quad had other ideas. I'm 4 weeks out. Been doing therapy, bike sessions, no running, dry needling. Nothing is fixing the injury. I'm coming to rhe realisation the while event is slipping away. And it's bloody hard to mentally handle.
Stay strong mate. Being an athlete is so so tough. Nobody talks about its mental challenges.
@Motivatorteo thank you. The mental side, imo is the most important. And right now I'm being challenged the hardest I ever had. The struggle between, do I throw the towel in 4 weeks out, and just accept defeat. Or do I do something dramatic and take a full week off everything to see if it heals.
Taking a week off this close is definitely not ideal, but I'm running out of options
What I can tell you from the injuries I had... Listen to your body. I understand the goal, the hard work,... But crossing the red line with your body through pure will power will eventually break you.
It's not worth taking maybe a permanent damage just to reach a goal that, in this case, may still be there for you at a later point in time.
@@MrJohnno89 I’d probably recommend taking the time off, or at least dramatically reduce training or change the training to cross training like watt bike/assault bike/rowing, whatever doesn’t aggravate the injury in an effort to maintain fitness and still finish the race?
@Motivatorteo yep I've been doing all my sessions on the bike for the last 3 weeks to maintain fitness. I'm taking this whole week off though to get scans and let it completely rest. Fingers crossed I can still make the start line
Sound advice about enjoying the little successes. You take care as well Stephen 👍
Unlucky bro.. love from Belfast ❤️ keep your chin up
I love your form. Could watch it all day. Overtrained triathlete is my new goal!
Thanks for all your content and introspection! Been reminded of a Nietzsche quote during your video: “If you have a why worth living for, you can endure almost any how,” 👍😎
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Your videos on this channel are strangely compelling. It's not just running advice, although that is in there, too. It's lots of things: reality TV, story telling, self-reflection, philosophy. It's the journey of you as an elite runner, delivered in the first person.
Great video. Let me offer another perspective if I could. Maybe the fact that it was a huge goal and you had put yourself out there publicly led to a fear of failure at some level, which then led to not doing some of the things you know that you needed to do. This gives the mind a subconscious "out" or excuse which then surfaces as "not wanting it enough". Some food for thought.
Either way, love your work and looking forward to seeing more training sessions.
Maybe, but I don't think so. Again "maybe" but I also did the same for Tokyo Olympics, with the podcast etc.. in that build up I had company up the mountains in the training prior to qualifying, and it could be as simple as that was missing. Hard to be very competitive without company in training, and it's likely something I'd seek if I wanted to be competitive again.
Hi Stephen. Another great video.. obviously im no where near your level but I also feel im at a stage where I need to give my body a bit of TLC. Teying to focus on recovery/yoga/ome basic strength.. take running easy etc.
Would love a video on how to rebuild a broken body, where to start and how to know your ready to start building up again and maintain the strength/mobility while building the endurance.
Thanks man 🙏🏻
I completely buy the point about heat. For many of us, it makes a huge difference. And it surely takes an unsustainable amount of adaptive training to fully overcome that aspect of individual physiology
Really appreciate your videos ,your an Inspiration for sure..👍
Yeah, I’m doing it now through an injury. I just found out. I gotta get back on that horse and ride.
“What do you do next?“ - come to Switzerland!
I don‘t know what the weather was like in Saint Moritz but here in Zurich it‘s been dreadful!
Enjoy your stay if you‘re still here😁
Haha yeah not fab
I watched your videos Stephen you were all in so much so that you ran your race in training no doubt about that…don’t be so hard on yourself…no matter how much experience you have we are always learning…when the person that knows he’s done it all then you know your bet…every day we learn that’s sport
Yeah, who knows.. HRV data (who knows if it's the be all and end all) but from December, the average was 55 (similar to Dublin build up, which saw 50-55 average) well Jan to April 48, 46, 43, 40 etc.. as an average.. So something definitely wasn't happy over those few months. Specifically from December to April. Now since having the teeth removed it's back up to 53 average or so, and actually two days in the last week above 60, which I hadn't seen in a long time. The message would be, had I over analysed right after London, and got all upset "which I did" and then 2 weeks later find out about 2 teeth being infected.. all that analysis would suddenly be in question. ULTIMATELY, we're human ad f*ck. very very human, and sometimes we get tired, sometimes we make ourselves tired etc.. what's likely frustrating is that in 2-3 months you could do the exact same training, and maybe it would work. I can't always explain that etc.. but such is life.
Okay, can you take the time to watch the movie "5000m". The last couple videos i watch on your channel reminds me of this movie. Look who wins the trials and then look at everyone else. They are all training hard but their minds arent in the same place. The pressure you put on yourself is SO HIGH.. you wrecked your nervous system training to make the team, even if you had doubled the work load, i doubt you would of ran faster.. watch Tim's build up, perhaps itll help you have a different approch with your next build up.
Love the videos and above all the honesty and vulnerability you show. Maybe the next goal isn’t a race at all, What about setting a goal to get kids running at schools, get a million kids to run every week using your skills and input
I find your videos extremely helpful. Thank you
Always a good day when I see one of these bad boys in the feed
Bet it's crushing, but you've got so much going for ya. Chin up, keep moving forward
Get on with it. If you start feeling sorry for yourself then winning isn’t for you.
Good video!
good passion this man
XD casually drop 80miles as low milage. Shows where pros are really at. While you can't do everything at once, there is a neat overlap of flexibilty and strength that most would refer to as mobility. Take a low weight and move it over the full range of motion slowly but a lot of times. Thats really good at opening things up but can feel a bit sore the first times.
no worries Stephen! you're doing great, maybe you didnt enter the olympics but you're achieving other lots of good stuff at the same time, one cannot have everything haha :P At the end of the day you gotta eat something and youtube and merchandizing is gonna help you with it, which in the future it might help you achieve your next goal more easily. Not only that, but you're also helping lots of people; I'm sure i'm not the only one who's learning a lot from you. If im being honest i was also looking forward to see you there, but in the end all this motivation wasnt for nothing either, it helped you get in shape so tomorrow you're in a better place. Keep it up!!
Two quotes come to mind:
"Everybody wanna be a bodybuilder but dont nobody wanna lift no heavy ass weights" - Ronnie Coleman
"A double-minded man is unsteady in all his ways" - James 1:8
Basically, you dont really want something unless you're willing to do what it takes. When you have conflicting desires/goals, you can only really "want" one of them, so whichever one you choose is the one you wanted. It's not that you didn't work hard, you absolutely did, but you weren't able to dial into the obsessive, single-minded focus that it takes to make the Olympics.
Good for you for doing that difficult self-reflection and acknowledging that trying to chase the Olympics while also chasing RUclips goals probably held you back. You clearly have the capacity to learn, so I'm looking forward to seeing how you turn this into a strength moving forward.
Yeah this is beautiful.
Of course I wanted to go to the Olympics, and of course I worked hard. "BUT"
Clearly didn't want it enough, and clearly didn't work hard enough.
It's not as dramatic as say "if you don't achieve this you die" then all your eggs would absolutely go into one basket, and nothing else in life would matter. Suddenly you'd find the time to commit yourself 110%, and nothing would get in your path. That's probably not sustainable all the time, or healthy for that matter.
Maybe you tone that down a little bit, but for some people they just want these goals enough that they're willing to do what it takes without any threat of danger etc.. the threat being "I can't imagine not achieving this goal". Failure is worse, than the effort required, or sacrifice required.
Forgive me, but sometimes the worst thing that can happen to "me" and others is achieving something. Sub 2.10, Olympics the first time etc.. and then that "need to shower yourself" etc.. is gone, and motivation must then come from something else.
I don't think RUclips was the problem, it really doesn't take me much time at all now that I'm much more experienced. Ultimately it's the question of "how bad do you really want something", and when you want something enough, you usually find a way to make it happen.
You mentioned your form not looking 100%- i would love a video showing good and bad form examples and where and why the form is failing and how to adjust it etc.
Thanks for the great content!
Yeah it was actually a track session in portugal, 8-10 days must have been before London, and it's like I could just see the tired in the hamstrings, hips, glutes etc.. that would be a great video.
I love ya brother, and I’d def be losing out, as would your community, but I think one of the obstacles in your way/focus detractors might be content creation. I’m sure you spend a lot of time capturing, editing, thinking about and planning your videos, which comes at a cost. Practically it’s your time, and mentally it muddies up a single minded focus. Maybe it’s a hot take, I don’t know, but perhaps the world gets a little bit smaller in proportion to dedication. I’m no 2:09’er, though, so I trust you know best.
The best running videos on RUclips are by Stephen Scullion and Lee Grantham; no coincidence that they are both pro athletes and share their passion for running.
Anyone know the location of where he's running? Place looks beautiful
You are one cool dude. ❤
Maybe building the jogging school and teaching could be the goal.
I still think you should give ultras a shot. Pick a few 50k runs to do for fun and see where it goes. You’ll be running a 100 miler in no time!
I don’t think he’s given up on proper running yet
Ultras are a joke. So slow
Slow maybe, but much more fun then sprinting for 2 hours.
75,000 miles would be 3 full laps of the equator. That's some achievement.
Wild that, 24 years now as a runner, and from about 2002, around 40-50 miles a week, and then 2004 or so onwards 60-70 at least on average.
I’d love to buy some merch but $57 to ship two tops to Australia, I just can’t afford. (I do know you don’t make these prices) but thats crazy for something that weighs 200g. Next time 💔.
I’ll fix this. It’s £28 gbp with evri and similar with ups, which is a joke. But I’ll figure it out
Looks like you don't run evenly left/right with an slight overhang to the right. Was that always the case?
Probably why right hip / hamstring gets bad
@@stephenscullion262 Goodluck with fixing all the things that need to be fixed!
McNeese St University
Try an ultra
From watching your posts it is obvious that you "put in the work" in terms of doing the actual training - the runs, the gym work etc. You might say now that you weren't doing the absolute ball busting workouts but nobody can say that you didn't work damn hard. Maybe, just maybe, it was the lifestyle when you weren't training that perhaps didn't match the commitment you showed when you were actually running. But lots and lots of runners acheve great things without living a life that includes running - and sod all else! Infact, many runners have said that they need somthing else other than running if they are tofufill their running potential.
Hey some of us overtrained IM athletes are proud of our shuffle
Haha, it was a good reference tho. In fairness it's the body finding the most efficient way (likely) to run, when beaten down etc.. I do think it serves a purpose, but when I try to run faster then hips, etc.. being tight (restrictive) just biomechanically becomes limiting.
Tips: get your sponsors name behind you..!.!.!.
If you are out of sponsorship get one ! ! ! .... and tell them your name hits 113,000 K people...... daily - this post fits 5000
So get it and get the pennies in ....... Running is awesome but professionally it's a business...... get sponsors on a huge scare ! ! ! ! !
Recommend getting in the gym sooner. Strength in length.
Yeah that’s a fair point, and you can actually do lengthening type strength exercises. Plus the tightness : lack of flexibility is likely due to muscles (being weak) and over working (getting tight ha). Suckers…
@@stephenscullion262tightness is weakness you obviously know that
When are we gonna see you on the Hyrox dance floor Stephen?
I honestly think you'd crack the elite 15 very quickly.
Hyrox is a joke pal. It's not a real sport with low quality
@@lean2281 Cool story bud
Stephen, you say "I wish you could meet katie " well spend some time and make some videos with her, and we would get a sense of how she s like. make vlogs w her/ geesh.
One of the most underrated overlooked workout for me are hill repeats. Get used to the hills and the track work becomes a whole lot easier 🙌🏼
Hot yoga 26/2, hot Vinyasa 👍👍
What I learned from _________________________?
MOVE FORWARD. TOMORROWS A NEW DAY.
Rebuild. I think too many marathoners get stuck in doing marathon training. Start over go back to 1500m then to 5k/10k then half take a year to do this and come back to Marathon with renewed energy
I should have watched more of the video first you said something similar to this later lol
I thought that would be great, try to run some PBs at lower distances and re earn the priveledge of moving up distance each time I get close, or run a Personal best.
@@stephenscullion262 cool mate. I would think of the events as complimentary and completing the foundation. Threshold is considered by many as THE foundation but also speed endurance is also a layer of foundation. Raw speed is natural, so I wouldn’t spend a load of time on that, unless biomechanically you’re not where you believe is your optimal self. This like you said in the video can(should) be addressed in the weight room.
first!
Congratulations
You wanted the Olympics man. Don’t deny it🙋🏻♂️
Good job, you missed the whole point of this 👏
Like he said…not enough
I don't think he's denying it those. I'm sure he meant he didn't wanted bad enough to sacrifice some of the other things in life. Anyway i hope he can get his focuses back and moving on yo another chapter. Sometimes thing happens for a good reason. Best of luck on your search for greatness 🙌
Tell me you didn't get it without telling me. Holy moly 😂
Correct and perhaps the application to training wasn’t the same, as it was prior to Tokyo. You don’t really know until it’s all over, but when you really want something, you push that little bit extra. That’s not to say I didn’t “fail” at making an Olympics.. Oo yes, I failed alright, and wasn’t good enough on the day.
you didnt qualify for olympic games? unsub
Did you make it? 😆
@@electrodynamicorb6548 no, but I don't call myself an olympic marathoner duh
@@filoreykjavik but he made the Olympics before
Haha
It's only a run do you have to be so dramatic
yes