American Distance Project prerequisites? Post-collegiate running

Last I heard Simmons wasn't accepting any more athletes

former ADP runner wrote:

Last I heard Simmons wasn't accepting any more athletes

Man, that's too bad. Looks like an awesome group.

Look into other groups. A lot of fast guys get into no group at all and have to train on their own around a job.

Look into other groups. A lot of fast guys get into no group at all and have to train on their own around a job.

What he said. Or, if you're truly dependent on the social consideration, you could always attempt to form your own squad. If that strikes you as too difficult, consider relocating to a place where other fast runners reside (Flagstaff, Mammoth, Boulder, etc) and befriend them.

If that's unlikely or unfeasible, hire a respectable coach and be held accountable for your actions, while holding he or she responsible for theirs and the information handed down to you. At the elite level, or when shooting for that level, it generally helps to have more than just yourself involved. If I were your age and in your shoes, I'd be saving to head to Iten. A few months there can pay back huge dividends, and such a trip is inexpensive when compared to living Boulder or Mammoth.

Here in North America, outside of the school level, running at a high level tends to be a solo endeavor. Yet it's never been easier to learn what it takes to succeed (despite the prevalence of misinformation) or to meet other like-minded individuals, thanks to the Internet.

If you truly want to be elite you've got to:

1) Learn to train like an elite and indeed start to train like one, and...

2) Make the sacrifices necessary to do so

These considerations are even more imperative if you're less talented and not already winning your collegiate races, though they're critical in ANY sense. Running is a competitive sport; you'll need to outwork everyone before you. This should excite you, and scare the hell out of you.

There are groups in Flagstaff that will let you in as long as you're willing to make the move.

Thanks for replying you guys. Really good information.

Breathe in breathe out wrote:

There are groups in Flagstaff that will let you in as long as you're willing to make the move.

I'm a little curious. Care to name any groups you know about? If not, I can always google them...

You don't want any part of Simmons. He is fickle and will drop you like a bad habit if you are not helping his career. Talk to anyone at Vic other than Cabada, talk to queens college, this guy has a pattern. You really want to give this a try? Move to iten dirt cheap cost of living, walk into Kerio view and literally ask a coach like canova to guide you, you'd be surprised.

cbenson4 wrote:

Thanks for replying you guys. Really good information.

Breathe in breathe out wrote:

There are groups in Flagstaff that will let you in as long as you're willing to make the move.

I'm a little curious. Care to name any groups you know about? If not, I can always google them...

Check this out

I've met guys not much different from you from Flagstaff. Just giving it a shot to see if they can get to the next level.

You could also consider Boston, between BAA, GBTC and several smaller clubs you could find a good training group. Lot's of guys running around your level of 14:40-15:00.

Bummer