@philybowden
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@philybowden Rating the things I did in my NYC marathon block, trigger warning for toenail content! 🫣 If 90% of these sound really quite positive that’s because they should. This block has been SO steady and I’ve had SO much fun buying into the process, there really hasn’t been much to complain about. GRATEFUL and ready to rip on Sunday 🥹
Performance
Video #48157 · Carousel
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This is a 16-slide Instagram carousel where a female runner documents and rates various experiences from her training block for the NYC marathon. Each slide features a photo with a text overlay describing an event—from getting a toenail removed and testing new gear to traveling and spending time with friends—and gives it a numerical rating, creating a personal and engaging narrative of her journey to the race.
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What stops the scroll in the first 3 seconds
Title hook · 45%
Rating things I did whilst training for the NYC marathon
Verbal hook · 45%
Rating the things I did in my NYC marathon block, trigger warning for toenail content! 🫣
Visual hook · 10%
The first image is a dynamic, mid-action shot of a focused female athlete running. The strong composition, athletic physique, and professional gear immediately establish the theme and capture the attention of a fitness-oriented audience.
[06]
Steal this for your own video
Rating things I did whilst
[07]
The promise the opener makes, and how the video pays it back
Hook
Slide 1: The Premise & Intrigue Hook. Establishes the 'Rating X' format and uses a curiosity-driving subtitle ('some of them might surprise you...') to encourage the first swipe.
Payoff
The final slide delivers the ultimate emotional peak, reinforcing the most important takeaway of the entire journey and ending the carousel on a memorable high.
[08]
The structural pattern this video runs on
Framework
The Rated Journey
A listicle framework that uses a numerical rating system to chronicle the highs, lows, and surprising moments of a long-term project or experience. The sequence is curated to create an emotional arc, moving from a dramatic setback to an emotional climax, making the list feel like a compelling story.
The Setback & Redemption Arc
Slides 2-3: Begins with a significant, relatable problem that initially seems disastrous (low score), then reveals its positive resolution or lesson learned in a subsequent slide (higher score). This establishes narrative tension and payoff early on.
The Emotional Rollercoaster Sequence
Slides 4-15: A curated series of rated items that alternate between Peak Moments (aspirational achievements), Relatable Grinds (unglamorous struggles), Vulnerable Insights (fear, gratitude), Life-Balance Highlights (prioritizing life outside the goal), and Quirky Surprises (random, delightful moments).
The Summit Payoff
Slide 16: The final item, given an exaggeratedly high score (e.g., 100/10), is dedicated to the most important emotional element of the journey (e.g., a key person, a core value), providing a powerful, heartfelt conclusion.
Rating the things I did in my NYC marathon block, trigger warning for toenail content! 🫣 If 90% of these sound really quite positive that’s because they should. This block has been SO steady and I’ve had SO much fun buying into the process, there really hasn’t been much to complain about. GRATEFUL and ready to rip on Sunday 🥹
title · photo_0
Rating things I did whilst training for the NYC marathon
contextual · photo_0
some of them might surprise you...
title · photo_1
kicking things off with a bang getting my toenail removed 3 weeks out from the race
informational · photo_1
1/10 at first • thought I'd thrown my marathon down the drain • couldn't walk for a day because my whole foot was numb
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getting my toenail removed 3 weeks out from the race
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shoutout to the sunroof shoe adaptation that got me through the first few runs
informational · photo_2
8/10 2 days later I realised it was the best decision I'd made and I no longer had a painful black toenail rubbing on my shoes still looks horrendous
title · photo_3
Racing (and winning) the absolute party of a race that was SeaWheeze
informational · photo_3
10/10 never seen so many people smiling ear to ear whilst running a half marathon this race reminded me why I LOVE racing after a long time away from it <3
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Kicking the training block off with a holiday in Canada
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8/10 great memories made tricky to balance: training/touristing/worrying about doing 'too much' vs not making the most of it
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Spending 8.5 weeks of it in Flagstaff (with THE best running community)
informational · photo_5
11/10 no notes I love this place and these people so much
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Continuously getting chafe from my heart rate monitor and being left with scars from it
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3/10 the HR data isn't worth the scabby underboob
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Reminding myself almost daily that this time last year I wasn't going to make it to the start line
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7/10 I was grateful the whole time that I get to do this but I also worried that I'd get injured any minute
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taking the time to dial in my fuelling strategy and test out differnt carbs g/ph and caffeine usage
informational · photo_8
7/10 I now have a bulletproof fuelling plan trial and error is all fun and games till you're pooping 4 times on a long run
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Taking a detour to Dublin the week before the race to see one of my best friends marry the love of her life
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11/10 hands down memories that will last a lifetime, would do the double long haul travel 10 times over again some things are bigger than running
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Testing out my very own race day speedsuit
informational · photo_10
10/10 felt like a superhero... watch this space for what I'm wearing on Sunday!
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Phily, Here is the prototype of your speedsuit. Give it a try and let us know your feedback. We hope you love it! - your friends at lululemon
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Maing a conscious effort to take time to switch off from running and do some fun things
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20/10 balance good for the brain good for the soul + grateful for friends who understand when you need to take a nap afterwards
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being really quite a consistent queen with the little bodywork things
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• non-negotiable pre-run activations • 2 x gym sessions per week • some pilates sprinkled ontop for good measure
informational · photo_12
8/10 reaped the benefits HATED having to drag myself out to the gym approximately 50% of the time
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getting to meet TWO tortoises
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10/10 no context needed here
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sharing most of the miles with friends
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another 10/10 many deep and silly chats were had + you get 100% more out of yourself with a friend working by your side
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Getting to do it all with my ride or die by my side
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100/10 couldn't and wouldn't want to do it without him