Former collegiate runner. Can't decide what distance to train for?

Where do you live? do you have a group to train with? That can make a big difference.

It doesn't matter, you won't stick to it for more than a month anyway. If you haven't trained in 9 months you're not a self-motivated runner, period. I've seen many like you habitually claim they'll "get back into it" but it never happens. Best case scenario is you hobbyjog a couple marathons so at least you have a PR that's within reach.

I would think your a 10k kinda guy based on the 4 mile tempo

Who cares, you're a hobby jogger.

browski wrote:

Where do you live? do you have a group to train with? That can make a big difference.

I live in Charlotte, NC. There is a running group around here I believe but I don't know much about them. I have a friend who was on the team in the area, we might get train together every now and then depending on our work schedules.

Speaker of hard truths. wrote:

It doesn't matter, you won't stick to it for more than a month anyway. If you haven't trained in 9 months you're not a self-motivated runner, period. I've seen many like you habitually claim they'll "get back into it" but it never happens. Best case scenario is you hobbyjog a couple marathons so at least you have a PR that's within reach.

Whoa there man, what's wrong with an extended break after 5 years straight of running in college? lol

juzkeeprunnin wrote:

I would think your a 10k kinda guy based on the 4 mile tempo

You're probably right man as much as I hate to admit it. I think I'll probably training again as if I were to be competing in a 5k, I'm going to focus on quality paces opposed to running super long. So maybe 50-60 miles a week for now.

10k to half-marathon.

fyi intervals necessary for 800-1500 will be more time consuming than heading out for 10-15 milers and long tempos.

100-400. You'll get hella PRs for a while. Get that speed down before you move back up to the 800. You'll be surprised by...well I don't know what. You may surprise yourself or you might just find out you have no wheels.

I say train for the ultra, that's what the kool kids do these days. Speed doesn't matter, it is all about the length (

Train for what you want. You don't have a coach telling you what to do or what you should run, so train for what motivates you, regardless of your ability.

I wouldn't listen to the guy saying you will quit again. I've had two "retirements" with one about three years long but I went on to run my college 10k pace for a half-marathon almost ten years after graduation.

Find some people to run with at first to help make it a habit and take your time figuring out where you want to go with it.

yo yo here you go wrote:

I say train for the ultra, that's what the kool kids do these days. Speed doesn't matter, it is all about the length (

marathon maniacs, they don't care much or at all how fast it is, it's all about how many. they call those that do 20-30 a year slackers. Whoo hoo.

Run long, my friend, and you will improve at all distances.

So I am running a 1500 on April 18th. I've been running 30 minutes a day on and off for the past week. Going to add strides in after each run this week and also 6x200m twice this week as well as next week.

I am in terrible shape, this race will be for shits and giggles to see how bad my fitness is. Hoping to run faster than my girlfriend's 4:40 pr.

Any last minute suggestions?

Just as I predicted, you didn't have the discipline to actually stick with it. Why bother.

My suggestion is to focus on the 5k. There are plenty of road races at that distance and your PR might allow you to sneak some local road wins and age group wins.

Although you have a career, it isn't hard to rack up decent mileage running 6 days a week just on 60-70 minute runs, tempos, and fartleks. And that will be a solid base if you ever want to move up to a half-marathon or marathon program.

As much as I value weightlifting in a training program, that assumes weightlifting on top of regular mileage. If I had the choose between running or weightlifting, it is running every time. If you had an injury history or were a masters runners with a backlog of aerobic development, then I can see the benefit of reduced mileage and adding weightlifting.

My concern is more how the physiological and psychological play out. If your mileage isn't high enough because you are weight lifting, how much does your 5k ability diminish? If you are running 16:30s instead of 15:30s, will you still be motivated to run and race? Or do you call it quits and be a bro and go to Crosscult, er, I mean Crossfit?

And it seems like every former college runner that I have seen take up weightlifting gets enamored with the novelty of getting big. Then they get too big and can't race fast anymore. Then they quit running because they are slower. Then they gain fat weight because they aren't running anymore.

I second the poster who says just run whatever event gets you excited to train. I spent 3 years trying to run mid distance races because I was a mid distance runner in college. I was running 1500s in about my mile time.

I decided to switch to the marathon and it has made all the difference. It also doesn't take up as much time as someone else mentioned. Lastly, people care if you're running a marathon. Your family and friends will come to your races. No one cares if you cut 2 seconds off your 800 time at a D3 college meet.

800/1500 with the occasional road 5K or XC in the Fall. How old are you?

KomLazer wrote:this race will be for shits and giggles

Welcome to the old man club. Every race is for shits and giggles. Your time, place, and event selection don't count for anything beyond personal amusement (not that there's anything wrong with that).

So, pick something that sounds fun.