How is it being sub-elite?

If you really want to do it, and you're not getting into debt, go for it.

Try the runner's world forum.

only elites here wrote:

Try the runner's world forum.

Don't they think sub 20 is elite for 5k over there?

do you love running?

if yes go for it, chase your dreams. why not?

If you're really serious, move to Iten. Find an agent. You'll be elite in six months.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iten

Watch Into the Wild. It convinced me. I am considered by most as sub elite. I don't pay for anything running related and only work 20-25 hrs a week at a desk. I'm allowed to pick and choose by races and training. It's the best choice I ever made. For reference I live in Northern California.

go for it wrote:

do you love running?

if yes go for it, chase your dreams. why not?

chase your dream of being top 30 at the expense of career and family? and don't say it won't take away from those. and it is nobody's dream to be top 30

Sub-sub-elite is where it's at.

go for what? wrote:

go for it wrote:

do you love running?

if yes go for it, chase your dreams. why not?

chase your dream of being top 30 at the expense of career and family? and don't say it won't take away from those. and it is nobody's dream to be top 30

Most people hate their jobs and regret having kids. They would trade it for sub-elite skills in a second.

Since this is a running forum, choose running.

To be serious for a second, read this article.

http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/they-might-be-ryans-talented-young-runners-look-to-prove-themselves

It's worth it.

Anyone who isn't an Olympic Champion is working real hard and falling short.

The challenge for anyone is to find out how fast you can run.

So it doesn't matter how you place because you can't control how good the competition is.

It's a great journey to seek your limits.

And sub-elites are needed to fill fields and push elites.

The sport needs runners at all levels to exist.

Hey lady, throw caution to the wind and roll with it! This is your chance to do something bigger than you've ever believed and get on TV!

Im in the same position, in college i ran sub 14/29 and have since mostly moved on to HM where I have gone slightly under 1:05.

I have a full time job so fitting in the 100+mpw that is needed to maintain and improve is hard. Sometimes I wonder how good I could get if I quit my job

What's it like being a middle manager? I mean, not an executive, but not bottom rung staff. Maybe a senior level manager --- like I work 50 - 60 hrs a week until I'm so exhausted that I don't enjoy the other aspect of lives, but at least I'm a senior level manager, right?

I was in your same position a few years ago....and then one day I woke up and said, "wtf is sub elite?" the phrase itself is defined by what you aren't (elite) rather than what you are. why strive for recognition of what you can't be (elite) rather than what you are.

Do what you love. Don't do it for a title or for someone to look at you and say, "wow, that person just finished 20th at Falmouth!"

I, personally, found that having a job itself or "working" on a graduate degree isn't in and of itself detrimental to your running performance, if you are single, and in some cases may even benefit you. Same is true when you don't need money to support a family. Let's say you work 7-9 hours a day, but have nothing else to do...how difficult is that time-management-wise. The situation becomes challenging when you move running to take a back seat because of limited time due to family, and work (not talking part-part time "work"). That is, when there must be a trade-off between time spent on x versus y.

Outside of the top paid professional runners everyone is sub-elite by definition (they cannot rely on running as their only source of income). So what is really interesting is what those that are not paid running professionals sacrifice to be able to run and why. Because to cultivate meaningful relationships, work, ensure spiritual growth, have free time, be involved in the lives of your children take lots of time.

Lot way of saying, perhaps it is a good idea to "focus on training" until you should not any more. You know best when that time comes. Just don't try to impress anyone...

Look, OP. You generally have until about 32 to do some impressive 1500-10k performances and you have until ~70 to work yourself to death. Not that you have to chose one or the other- many great runners in the 60s and 70s held steady jobs.

But if this is something you've dreamed about as a kid and still think about now, I think you owe it to yourself to at least go for it. You aren't missing out on family- you will have ~50+ years to do that shit. You will miss out on a career for a while, but who said that the price of chasing your dreams is cheap?

Anyone who tells you that you're a fool for doing this is either just scared and timid or doesn't understand. It literally is now or never- you will never be in this shape ever again.

You have the rest of your life to work. You don't have the rest of your life to be in the top .01% of fastest human beings to ever run the planet

Iten population 5k

Professional Runners in Iten 3k

Iten population 5k

Professional Runners in Iten 3k

Fairness Matters wrote:

To be serious for a second, read this article.

http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/they-might-be-ryans-talented-young-runners-look-to-prove-themselves

Thanks for posting the link, there's a lot of good insight into that kind of life in here!