My question is simple. Is there an ideal plan to progression through distance races for a new runner?
Not an incoming freshman on a xc team, I mean an adult who is getting into the sport in their late 20s.
My question is simple. Is there an ideal plan to progression through distance races for a new runner?
Not an incoming freshman on a xc team, I mean an adult who is getting into the sport in their late 20s.
Dean Karnezes started out running an ultra, ran a few Marathons (50 in 50 days) and then continued runner longer distances again - once even from coast to coast. Obviously, not everyone's got the talent of the greatest ultra runner of all times but it tells you something.
Most of the MB readers did or do run for official school teams until they no longer have that option. Accordingly, they will say run middle distance races, 1/2 mile to 2 miles in your teens, 5-10k in college, then 1/2M and M later.
I think that's ridiculous. That advice only comes from someone who can't pull off training and racing on your own when the school/coach/team option exists. There is no real treason events have to get gradually longer as you get older. A 15yo marathoner and a 50yo miler are both doing the right thing if they're competing at the event that they're best at.
So that's it. Find you ideal distance. I started at about 14 with 10k and that did turn out to be a decent event for me but I soon realized that 15k-1/2M was actually my ideal distance. Did a few 20 mile and marathon races in mid teens and realized I wasn't as good there as a little shorter. You can do the same thing. Try a 10k, a 5k, something a little longer, see which ones you like best. Now in middle age, I am beginning to like training for 10k (one notch down from my favorite range) part of the year then for marathon for part (longer than my ideal). You can do the same. mix it up. You will stumble across your favorite distance and maybe pick a couple to focus on in different seasons.
BTW, this is what I would've said if youu WERE a HS freshman. Everyone else here would have said: 'Join the team.'
Try the 100m. If you find you're too slow, move up in distance.
repeat until you find your niche.
Alternately, you could just jog a lot and enter races of various distances for fun. Stick with the races you like the best.