Why do I suck?

Or is LR just like the top 2% of runners in the nation?

Because you're a Republican?

For any quality answer you need to add way more details of your training. Maybe you didn't recover enough if you worked hard in all practices. Maybe it's genetics. But we need an idea of your training

Monday - Distance Day - 6-11 miles (low 7s)

Tuesday - Track Day - 2 WU, 6x800 or 10x400 (or something along those lines), 1 CD (High 5, High 4)

Wednesday - Easy Day - 6-9 miles (low 7s)

Thursday - Fields - 1 WU, ~8x1000 (loop along XC course), 1 CD (Low 6s)

Friday - Easy Day - 5-8 miles (High 7s)

Saturday - Race

Sunday - Off

It's been a while but I think this is pretty close some of the paces could be screwed up.

I don't think its genetic though because I was pretty good compared to everyone else I raced. Like it wasn't just me. I always placed well in meets. I didn't win but I as normally top 10%.

If you are awful at short distances, I would suggest getting better at them. You may not ever run a 50 second 400m, but don't fall into the trap of "I can't break 60 for a 400m, but I can run 3 hours no problem."

The idea that you can just run easy miles and pop off a quick time is a fallacy.

OP wrote:

Monday - Distance Day - 6-11 miles (low 7s)

Tuesday - Track Day - 2 WU, 6x800 or 10x400 (or something along those lines), 1 CD (High 5, High 4)

Wednesday - Easy Day - 6-9 miles (low 7s)

Thursday - Fields - 1 WU, ~8x1000 (loop along XC course), 1 CD (Low 6s)

Friday - Easy Day - 5-8 miles (High 7s)

Saturday - Race

Sunday - Off

Okay, this looks pretty similar to the anaerobic phase of Lydiards training. I'm curious to see the rests of the intervals but not to important. The deal is if you're looking to get a good 5k time, you can stay in this phase or peak then restart training. Peaking would include making the intervals faster and shorter, and adding some sprints. Then you'd race, then restart building your base. I'd suggest peaking then building your base again if you really want to get faster in the long term, how long has your training looked like this? Also don't be afraid to slow down on easy days, the point is recovery so going at 8:30 pace on a day you're tired isn't a bad thing.

Yeah the "I can't break 60 for a 400m, but I can run 3 hours no problem." Fits me perfectly. I've moved to Marathons now and I'm probably going to run a 50 miler (probably going to get some hate for this) late this fall. I don't have a lot of interest in 5Ks now and I'm guessing after I'm done "pushing the limits" or whatever I'm doing now I'll settle into Halves or Fulls (Not that they are any better than 5Ks, just different). So the inability to break 60 isn't really an issue to me (I think I could if I really tried but I never did). I know that's my weak point and I probably should work on it but for my current goals it isn't too important. I'm just curious why an entire region is so bad besides like 5 runners.

That was basically the entire school year with very little variation besides a taper right before regionals/ state. So I'm guessing that's where the issue was. weeks became very predicatable by the end and it was the same every year. Over the summer it was pretty similar except shorter distances/ fewer intervals.

Just to clarify, I've been out of this for a while now and focusing on much longer distances. I just now found LR though so it made me curious as to why a time that seemed pretty good in one area would seem so bad compared to others.

I'm just curious why an entire region is so bad besides like 5 runners.

Not uncommon... Mostly shitty coaching but can also be lack of talent/will.

OP wrote:

That was basically the entire school year with very little variation besides a taper right before regionals/ state. So I'm guessing that's where the issue was. weeks became very predicatable by the end and it was the same every year. Over the summer it was pretty similar except shorter distances/ fewer intervals.

Just to clarify, I've been out of this for a while now and focusing on much longer distances. I just now found LR though so it made me curious as to why a time that seemed pretty good in one area would seem so bad compared to others.

Yeah, there should be a pretty big amount of variation in/out of season. Probably were doing to many intervals, and not building enough of a base. Also lack of strength training could limit some runners.

The size of the population has a lot to do with it. If you are talking about small high schools, there will be fewer runners with high talent levels.

I think part of it was bad coaching. Every workout was moderate to high intensity besides the day before the race. With little variation between weeks and very poor weight training.

The school was fairly large as far as I know. close to 2K students. I don't know what national averages are or anything like that I know there are definitely some with a lot more and some with a lot less.

OP wrote:

Monday - Distance Day - 6-11 miles (low 7s)

Tuesday - Track Day - 2 WU, 6x800 or 10x400 (or something along those lines), 1 CD (High 5, High 4)

Wednesday - Easy Day - 6-9 miles (low 7s)

Thursday - Fields - 1 WU, ~8x1000 (loop along XC course), 1 CD (Low 6s)

Friday - Easy Day - 5-8 miles (High 7s)

Saturday - Race

Sunday - Off

Before leaving the house for a run, I would think to yourself, "I am doing this run because: _______"

If the answer is "because I need to get to 50 miles this week" or "Because this the workout that (insert name of runner) does", that's not good enough.

Your training looks like that of someone who believes that they must get stronger/faster with every run. Sometimes you are just lacing up your shoes and running short or slow or both because it is better than not doing anything at all. It's not to gain any endurance, it is to stretch your muscles and help recovery.

Train with a PURPOSE in mind.

Bad Runner wrote:

...so are all the coaches in this area (KY, OH, IN) that bad?

Yes. It's a your coaches fault and has absolutely nothing to do with your genetic inferiority. We all know coaching is responsible for 100% of an athletes accolades.

Relatively low air pressure inside your mouth.