OK, despite good intentions for my university running career, things have slid considerably. I was injured over the summer (late June - August), and haven't been able to get back from it. I've made some mistakes, drank a lot and abused other substances. I've become a waster, in short. I go out a few nights a week, drink and smoke when I stay in, and sleep in way too late every day. I've burnt through most of my money, and to be honest I'm pretty gutted about the whole situation, mainly because it is totally my fault.
However, things are about to change. I'm seeing a physiotherapist and apparently I have horribly caught up fascia on my shins and calves and it's causing me all kinds of trouble as far as my running is concerned. That should get me back on the road to fitness again, as I'm getting very fed up with being out-of-shape and not racing at all. I've realised that while going out, getting drunk and chasing girls seems fun, I'm actually wasting my time (and money). I would much prefer to spend £30 a week on physiotherapy and other training costs than £20 - £40 quid on drink and weed. My main issue is that my closest friends are big stoners, and will no doubt be affronted when I tell them that I don't want to stay up to 3AM every night getting wrecked, and the rest of my friends are really into getting wasted and going out to nightclubs.
Has anyone else had to kick these habits and find their way back to fitness without alienating their friends?
Anyway, once all that is out of the way, I have until August to get into shape (I have about 16 weeks until my biggest race of the season, where I hope to run under 4:00 for 1500 - currently in 4:15 - 20 shape based on a 4:16 indoor in February). After that I plan on having a decent (2 or 3 week) break and then building my mileage up and making big gains. I hope to be in c. 32:30 10K shape by November, and by next summer (2016) I hope to be running in the low-3:50s for 1500. From there I hope to build my fitness and get into sub-3:50 1500 territory by summer 2017 (my final year at university).
After finishing university in Britain, I hope to do another year or two of university in America, hopefully running at a school where there is a good running set-up to really test my limits and see how far I can go. What schools can one get into with a 1500 PB around 3:48 - 3:52, as a 21-year-old graduate?
Perhaps this is a case of me overthinking my running (I've been guilty of it before) but I really need a solid long-term goal to pull me through the rough process of getting back into shape that surely awaits me the next few weeks and months.
I'm sorry if this is way too long I started writing and after the first paragraph it all came spilling out... Any responses would be appreciated, if you're going to troll please make it funny.