It makes me sad to read this, especially on the heels of your post on that other thread about the JV runner who was going to quit because he couldn't make varsity. Most runners with extreme talent or totally devoid of it carry the same aspirations, whatever they are, that they too might get to run "D1" or get a scholarship or become "pro" runners or make the Olympics or become world class. And most fail.
For the thousands who try, including all the sub 4:10/9:00 preps, only one or two make it on the professional level. Fewer still make an Olympic team or have the ability to become world class. Even the vast majority who get scholarships are typically chewed up and spit out, burned out, or injured, eventually.
Let me share my own example, which hopefully will give you some perspective. I didn't start running until age 17, and I had nary a base over the summer going into senior year cross. I managed to finish top ten at the state cross country meet, despite being sick the week prior and probably having the ability to mix it up with the top three or five runners. I didn't really put down a base until the winter of senior year, averaging about 55 mpw. I ended up running a PR at high elevation that would convert to a 9:15 at sea level. I beat many, eventual college all-Americans at state.
But I still knew nothing. I didn't know about college scholarships or running Kinney regional meets (as they were known at the time) or how far I could go with the sport. I only knew that I finally found something that I was talented at, and it became my "addiction" as Steve Way himself put it, but a very unhealthy one. Ultimately, I was iron-depleted in college, contracted mono, struggled with Epstein Barr, and finally, collapsed into full-blown chronic fatigue syndrome.
Even though I didn't narrow my focus completely to running and managed a successful career, I still tried to push the envelope with running. Eventually, it cost me my total health and my career. Now, I can no longer run at all. But, I have accomplished other wonderful things in life beyond making money, including getting married, having kids, which is an awesome experience quite like any other, and having a faith life, doing missionary and healing support work, etc. And I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Ironically, I would trade any of my material possessions for the ability to simply be healthy and be able to go for a run, not train for a competition or run a PR, but merely experience the simple pleasure of running again in the great outdoors, or perhaps use it to raise money for charity.I am sure there are others like me. Even if I had managed to stay healthy, I doubt competitive running really would've gone anywhere significant. Ultimately, running was a very unhealthy obsession for me.
I am guessing you are quite young or in your late 20s, but running is not the "end-all, be all." There is so much more to life. I hope you come to realize this and not fall into that psychological trap that running can become. You brought up Ryan Shay in a very offensive way. I'm sure Ryan Shay would have gladly given up competitive running if he knew it was going to kill him. Geez.
Having running goals - great. No problem. It is generally a very healthy exercise. Don't let it become an unhealthy obsession. Steve Way is very much an outlier, fun to think about and on a level to strive for, but very unrealistic for most, even very good runners.