Okay. So the chances of someone like you ever making a medal at USA's is tough, let alone world championships, or even unthinkably the Olympics.
SOOOOO? If you live your life because of what other people are doing, then you are absolutely a fool.
Is it unfair that people dope and get away with it? yes.
Will it probably never fully be dignified and a clean sport? Nah.
Is it unfair that an innocent child born with a walking defect can never walk or experience running like you have? absolutely. That's Life.
You have been given a gift man. I am sure you have been held to the standard of a running hero in your family and community. There are kids and adults who would absolutely do anything to run or walk a mile or just have the freedom of choice, yet they are locked up inside a hospital with disease and illness for the rest of their short lived lives.
Retiring from the sport is a choice we all must make, whether we like it or not. Quitting could be the biggest regret of your life, Or it could be one of the better things that have happened. You, Me, They... just don't know. Until you have fully come to terms with how fast you want to be and until you could actually say you are vying for an Olympic medal(since that's when running against doping would matter most to you), then I say keep pushing barriers.
When I was in High school. (2004-2008) I had no official coach and no idea how to train. Hell, we don't even have a track at my high school... I emailed Weldon Johnson back in 2004 because I saw his success story. it looked like a conservative approach. I asked him what was a long run? what is a fartlek? how far was one lap on a track?....
I was a 4:08 miler and a 14:51 5k guy as a senior in college at a smaller D1 school in Louisiana.
I just ran my first marathon at the Olympic trials, and just a year before I ran 1:49 800 and 3:59 mile. 4 months after running 1:04 in the Half..
Fast times? No, Not at this level anymore. But this is all for me and my family and my community. Set your own goals and you never know how far you will go. especially if you are " under trained"
EVERYONE that has given me the most motivation and positive outlooks besides my family, has been people that are faster than me, and might always be!
The most negative comments I have heard about my career has come from :
* People who think they know everything and people who never amounted to what they COULD have been given the right choices.
There is always going to be someone telling you how you should live your life.( just like I am now haha)
It is ashamed to waste a gift on the presence that "you'll never win an olympic medal". Have some damn dignity in what you do and what you stand for. If everyone around you was an Atheist, yet you are a Christian, then given your attitude( not just you, but most of the free world in your position) towards this; it looks to me you would jump ship. Let your struggle of never being able to win anything clean be apart of your journey. Modification will happen in this sport. In our competitive times? maybe not. but train and live like there will be alterations.
This world is too short and unfair; as we are told from birth. Do what you love and love what you do.
Jarrett LeBlanc