1st YEAR of YouTube as a Runner - How Much Did I Actually Make?

[@kofuzi]

I think when my channel was your size, I only had about an hour every morning to work on KZbin. I was making a few videos per week. Whatever I could make in that time was whatever I would put out. It wasn't always the greatest strategy for quality, but I valued quantity at that size of a channel. And self-imposing tight deadlines made me a faster editor. I'm not trying to give you advice or anything. Just want to say that I've been there and know what it's like. and I think you're doing great. your wife was right about starting the channel

[@dalexander3136]

The goat commented! That should be printed out and put on the wall haha

[@mottesen_runs]

Kofuzi! Thanks for the comment. I have thought about this a lot and always ended up going for the opposite - quality in sacrifice of quantity to a certain degree. I don’t know what’s better, but thank you for the inspiration and insight!

[@ph0eniix02]

@@mottesen_runs Whatever you're doing keep on doing it! I love the way you make your content, it feels much more authentic.

[@mikemcdonald2517]

Take this with a grain of salt- but you and Yowana are probably my 2 favorite youtubers right now and I kind of felt work/life etc meant your videos weren't overly edited. I think if you're spending such a high ratio of time spent on them to content put out, it might be a bit useful to put out some more raw content. I could be wrong about this, but I think many youtubers give off the impression of highly polished content, and others its nice looking more raw. Its totally possible rather than spending 10 hours to put out a 10 minute video each week, you might be better spending 3 hours to put out 10 minute videos each week. Again- not my area of expertise, but I doubt I'm alone in the things I like about your content and think its possible viewers would like more content and less perfectionism

[@chartmancz]

Yowana is amazing I watch his stuff daily, and have his app, I think this is a great idea for Micheal to try. More raw uploads here and there could be really entertaining and could help with consistency.

[@flour5135]

ITS YOUR FIRST YEAR?!? I have been watching since just before the beginning of the cimttdiascyaanpr (or whatever 😂) and thought you had been around forever. Editing was top notch even then!

[@RunWildwithClaire]

love your content you are the goat

[@CapitulationTrader]

Michael you are a blast. Keep it up! Best for you and your family

[@Healthyrunningworld]

Crazy that it’s your first year. Awesome content. 🎉 Yours is super fun. I wanna start making running content too it’s so hard to start.

[@OandCoGames]

KZbin kicks video game related channels right in the family jewels on ad rev 😅 But! Your channel is crushing it, which is friggin awesome. All it takes is being an elite distance runner with professional and relatable presentation skills. Easy enough right?

[@mottesen_runs]

Yeah seriously, your channel should be in a different category :/ hopefully those video games sales make up for it!

[@joshuadoolittle3820]

I somehow stumbled across this channel, even though I'm not a runner; but its been so entertaining i watch every video. I'm commenting in hopes it helps your channel grow!!!

[@LuisAlkmim]

You are definitely my favourite running youtuber. The honesty, humour and personality in general are just so nice. Big inspiration ❤ thanks for sharing

[@rainy_days]

You and kofuzi are my two favorite running KZbinrs! And just a side note that I actually do enjoy your shoe review videos. Keep it up, hope you can upload more videos one day. I always look forward to them

[@BYU_XC_fan]

You’re totally killing it, man! Keep it up!

[@spatje2k]

Love the content and I hope you will continue putting out a video every now and then! With time you'll get more and more used to the software etc and get quicker editing 🙏

[@jaredgardiner4828]

Love your videos! Your story is always so motivating. And thanks for helping start the Farm Team at BYU, literally my favorite part of freshman year! Also I used to always see you at the Canon Center but never had the courage to say hi 😅

[@JaxonEverthing]

Good job, keep up the good work, big fan

[@AndyNick211]

You have the best running content out there man

[@matttodd6660]

Blows my mind seeing how difficult it is to make a living as a seriously talented, strategic, and hard working distance runner. 10k challenge series shows that better than anything. Hope you know we all appreciate you doing it anyway. It’s motivating, inspiring, and empowering to watch. Being great is worth more than just money (but I do hope you continue to make more money).

[@mottesen_runs]

Yeah, unless you’re at the top.. we do it for the love of the sport :) thanks for the kind words!

[@saintsaens21]

A full time job and a family, it's very impressive that you find time for this channel and for running like the wind.

[@snelson2669]

Scott and Wendy Nelson here!! We follow you and love your content. Scott loves the shoe reviews. Anyway, the videos are so good, mostly love your personality! You are perfect for You Tube! You always make us laugh😂!!

[@mottesen_runs]

Scott and Wendy! I gotta come say hi next time I’m in Puyallup. Thank you, and I’ll probably still put out some shoe reviews haha

[@MartinH_-_-_1]

Love the channel. Agree with the others that less polished more frequent videos are good.

[@joekendall7265]

Thanks for the insight Michael! Really enjoyed finding your channel this year. The challenge idea was new and a refreshing change from many other channels just reviewing shoes every second video. Personally I find shoe review videos boring and a lot of the big guys are doing too many of them. I think your channel and RantoJapan are going to do really well in 2025. My tip is that Jake from RantoJapan will take over the game a bit. Perhaps you could look to him for ideas to help you grow your channel.

[@mikestacie11]

Love the content!! Keep it coming my man! This is coming from a certified youtube watcher. lol

[@thirtytwelve6920]

favorite running channel rn, hoping to break 4:40 mile this track szn

[@thirtytwelve6920]

and 2:05 in the 800 and 10:20 in 32 lol

[@mottesen_runs]

Good luck man, you got it!

[@victorhanley623]

awesome video sir

[@Zombenj]

I remember seeing your channel at around 2100 subs, and I was thinking "oh yeah this guy is gonna blow up massively with this quality"

[@Cubinginatree]

Cheers to 2025! Please keep doing the shoe reviews, they are really helpful and useful! 6:50

[@jazzedgoat]

I enjoy your shoe reviews I don’t know why they don’t do as well

[@rayner10]

Keep it coming!

[@stevenschmidt3321]

Take this from a person who has played it safe their entire life and wondered what if . . . Running is obviously your passion. How good could you be? Could you make the US Olympic team in the marathon in '28? What would it look like to quit your day job and make your living from running? Could you support your family from pro sponsorship/coaching/KZbin/prize money/other idea? Could you train with Ed Eyestone and the BYU crew? Your videos are very well done. Love your humor and honesty. Thanks for your content!

[@randomviewer3494]

Its funny, 15 years ago my teacher said, it takes 1 hour to create 1 minute of video. Now with all the tools we have, this still holds true.

[@vivpm]

❤

[@huyang1558]

hi, can u make a vid about how to create a running plan (w a busy life) and how to combine w recovery, strength training. Huge tks.

[@mottesen_runs]

Hmm, Haven't thought about doing a video like that.. But I like the idea. I'll add it to my list of ideas. So maybe!

[@GotDamBoi]

considering how little time you have to work on this channel you do a heck of a job

[@NipseyX]

Hey curious to know what type of engineering field your in, ive been looking to get into electrical but not sure where step 1 is. Lmk thanks

[@joeygorman3174]

im from the new series mountain!

[@jono1432]

Good news is I tinkered with my bot to make sure that just your videos get watched from a new IP address at least once every 60 seconds. The bad news is that this is going to cost you 20% of all your revenue :) Payment, like any true scammer, I mean online persona is only via crypto :) :) :) Love the channel man. Been following since Episode 1 of the "Can I make $10k..."

[@mottesen_runs]

Haha thanks for the laugh.

[@TeresaRaab-hb5co]

Would I have seen you in an Adam Wood vlog? There was a guy who put his face right up to the camera and I thought that it looked like you.

[@alcheic]

Likely, they were teammates at BYU and I've seen them run together sometimes on their stravas

[@NotTheWan]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I think it is but I’m not sure.

[@gtromble]

@@NotTheWanit was for certain

[@NotTheWan]

@@gtrombleAlr thx

[@TeresaRaab-hb5co]

So this would be pretax dollars? Do you receive a 1099 from KZbin?. I've done small payroll in the past and I'm just curious.

[@mottesen_runs]

Correct… they provided me with a 1099 just this week actually for 2024

[@TeresaRaab-hb5co]

@mottesen_runs thank you

[@SpiritTheGhoul.]

I will find the time to start my KZbin channel by not watching your channel any more 🤭