Hi fellow track enthusiasts,
I am a 26yo male runner with no real injury history. I am 180lbs and am 6ft 2.
I have always been involved in athletics but have never put in more than 3-5 months of consistent training at any stage due to work, travel and other commitments.
I am turning 27 this year and feel like I have a training age of a teenager due to the lack of commitment I have shown as I have had other life obstacles and goals to tackle.
I am keen to improve on my 800m PB of 1.52 to try and enter the world of sub 1.50s but am afraid it won't happen!!!
Achieving a sub 1.50 to me, would encourage a consistent winter (my first real winter of training) and would help me to really commit to achieving bigger things in seasons to come.
Presently my PBs are as follows:
100 - 11.3
200 - 22.3
400 - 49.5
800 - 1.52.4
1500 - 4.00
My current form is:
100 - 11.9
200 - 23.5
400 - 50.0
800 - 1.53
1500 - 3.50 (a lot quicker than my PB!)
So, I know my 1500m has improved due to a quick 1200 time trial recently completed, but I feel as though my 800 is still struggling and I would welcome suggestions to improve this.
Presently I train on the track 3 x per week + complete an interval session on grass once per week.
I also run 2-4 times per week for 6-13km.
The 4+ runs per week I was doing each week has now scaled back to just 2-3 for 6-10km per week as we try to improve my speed and go for a more quality over quantity approach.
I complete run throughs where possible at the completion of my easy runs, have no real gym history and just generally am struggling to improve my 800m.
Having previously been more of the 400/800 type and been able to get away with 1.52-1.55 off 20km per week or less, I have progressively increased my load to 50-100km periodically over the years.
My 800m PR in this time has not changed, my speed has naturally become a little weaker and my 1500m races have become a little easier to improve. I am open to moving up to 1500m possibly if I can improve my 800m first.
My cross country results show that I am quite weak in comparison to others who run similar or slower 1500m times.
I don't race at 100% often and when I do it's usually off a smaller preparation.
I am now at the point where I realise I won't be in the sport forever and would like to ensure I achieve results I can be proud of.
Others with respectable CVs in the sport have made comments that they think I am capable of 1.47 or quicker if I apply myself. This is something I've laughed at until the last 12 months when I started complete training sessions with results that do indicate I should already be able to run sub 1.50.
Besides suggestions to string some consistent training together (which I already know I won't have issues with moving forward), I welcome suggestions to help me to get the competitive edge to become an overall better athlete. I would love to share my improvements with those willing to help as I am now in a position where I can apply myself .
I am posting online as my support crew are often quite busy and I can't always receive the Q&A I feel that I need.
Thanks for your time and thoughts.