Hello, long story short I'm a 22 year old senior running at an American University. I wasn't always a 6'0 150-55 pound runner. In fact, heading into my senior year of high school I was a 215 pound offensive lineman on the football team. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school I played tons of pick up / back yard sports. I played football, baseball, and basketball competitively in middle and high school. I was always a lean kid. I bulked up pretty much the summer after my sophomore year of high school for football. Went from 160 up to 190, then 190 to 215. I ate like crazy and lifted like crazy. I ate everything and did every lift in the book.
Anyway, fast forward to early November and I ended football at 190 ( our football team ran a lot, only lifted once a week during season, and I just couldn't eat as much in school and with practice ). I decided to lean out. I ate pretty clean and did plenty of pull ups, light jogging, swimming, push ups, core exercises, and biking. By the end of my senior year I was 145 pounds and was working out twice a day, six days a week. Once on Saturdays. I was addicted to exercising. I'm not sure about mileage ran, maybe 40. My running was usually run as fast as I could, then jog. Basically a fartlek.
I went to community college for two years and ran a ton, up to 100 mile weeks by myself, consistently above 60 mpw all year. No injuries. Still haven't ever been injured. Then I transfered to a university and walked on the team.
I'm in my 3rd year of running competitively, and my final year of college. My personal bests in 8k xc went from 30:0x to 29:17, to 29:47. I didn't compete in track my first year except for a 3k of 1020. Last year I had 3k pr of 10:24 and a mile pr of 5:07. My 1500 went from 5:01 in March to 4:42 in May. Last year and this years 5k's ( 6 of them ), have all been between 17:10 and 17:43. Basically I've been between 70-85 for track every year, and 85-100 mpw for cross country. This year I'm in the mid distance group and specifically training for the mile. We're doing speed work with the usual workouts, 150's, 200's, 300's, 400's, 600's, speed latter, mile repeats, hill workouts. We lift weights twice a week. I usually ride my stationary bike 1-2 hours a week. I love cross training in the summer, I'll ride 3-6 hrs a week and swim another hour then.
Sorry for the long post, if you've stuck with me this far I sincerely want to thank you. I just want some input on what you think of my career running wise. I have a great coach, amazing teammates, and overall just an awesome support system, but it is at times frustrating not seeing many results. What do you think are some things I can do differently to improve both now, and this summer and fall as I transition into a " hobby jogger " / wanna be pro.
Thanks again =)