Do I Have Potential?

yes now go run

You absolutely have potential, as shown by your consistent improvement despite several setbacks. Your recent track workout is pretty strong. Your mileage isn't terribly high, although I'd be cautious about it too much. As you move forward, don't neglect speedwork - even as short as 5 * 60 with FULL recovery, as mentioned in a recent thread. Work hard (though not over-train), stay positive, and don't expect everything at once. Performance improvements tend to come in spurts rather than continuously. Wish you the best in the coming season! I think you'll do very nicely.

You definitely have the potential to run that fast. I would say the best thing you can do over the next 2 years or so is just stay consistent with you training. You'll see results over time if you stick with the plan and don't get antsy and try to push too hard too soon. Just stay consistent and the times will come.

Yes. Keep it fun, enjoy the sport, make some running friends, and go to a few track/ XC camps.

Talk to your coaching staff about mileage increase, and continue to build your speed/ turnover simultaneously. I loved doing 6-10x100m @400m pace with 300m jog recovery after a light distance run, once a week, every phase of the year, 1-2mile cool down.

Have a good winter training season, dude!

If you work hard everyday. I mean everyday and when you are hurting you push past it. You will be good.

No. You do not have the raw speed.

Hard truth wrote:

No. You do not have the raw speed.

I haven't seen anything to indicate the OP lacks raw speed. He hasn't mentioned his 10-30m fly, 60m, 100m, and 400m PB. He has, however, mentioned that he has been running since Freshman year, along with a few times and circumstances. On the whole, he seems to have quite a bit of potential.

So regarding speed:

I've never run a 10-30 fly or 60m sprint.

I've never really raced a 100 out of blocks in spikes or anything, but mine is about 13-14 seconds.

For 400 we recently ran an informal TT and I ran 63 (slow I know), but conditions weren't great for sprinting, and I was only 2 seconds behind our best 400 runner (has run 52). I think maybe I could run a 58 right now in a race.

For the goals you mentioned, my opinion is you'll need 55 second 400 speed, which is completely achievable with hard work (without overtraining), smart coaching, and a positive attitude in the time frame we're looking at.

Howdy wrote:

So regarding speed:

I've never run a 10-30 fly or 60m sprint.

I've never really raced a 100 out of blocks in spikes or anything, but mine is about 13-14 seconds.

For 400 we recently ran an informal TT and I ran 63 (slow I know), but conditions weren't great for sprinting, and I was only 2 seconds behind our best 400 runner (has run 52). I think maybe I could run a 58 right now in a race.

Were you guys running across a plowed field into a Hurricane?

speed's not your problem. just gradually build mileage and do a tempo, track intervals, and a long progression every week and you'll drop time consistently.

Well he can be pretty inconsistent, so he may not have been feeling great that day, but I also think the weather did have an effect on how all of us ran.

Ok. Thanks for all the responses. I'll try to increase my mileage over time (maybe 50 mpw by the start of junior year?). Any thoughts on where I should be aming this season? I'm not too concerned with where I am sophomore year, because I know running is a long term thing, but I like to work towards short term goals.

aiming*

typo

Aim ambitiously: 4:45 for 1600, 2:05 for 800. Hard work ahead.

Thanks a lot Max Heart. My last question is about strength training. I'd like to do running specific weight lifting in addition to core, but my coaches don't have us do that.

It might be possible to make it to my local university gym in the evenings or early morning. Do you have any ideas about how to handle strength training under these conditions?

You definitely have potential.

As a freshman I ran 5:20 for the mile, 11:50 for the deuce, and 19:03 for the 3 mile.

Got down to 4:21, 9:18, and 14:42 on only 40-45 miles a week as a senior.

4:16 Full Mile, 8:22 3k, and 24:38 8k as a junior in college after a lot of injury throughout my career.

You can def do it!

It may take a while and there'll more than likely be adversity (injuries and such). Enjoy the process. And as cheesy as it is, have fun.

"Every day is a great day"