Am I naturally slow?? Don't react to training??

High School Running High School Training

6 years ago 09/17/2017 10:59pm EDT

I ran a 5:02 mile at the start of sophomore year. Did cross country and finished with 17:49 5k. Then I did winter and spring track and in Spring I ran a 4:31 1500, so a little bit of improvement but not really that much.

I REALLY wanted to be fast in cross country so I ran 628 miles over the summer, far more than anyone else on my team.

We just had our first race and I ran 4 seconds faster than my time last year (same course), got beaten by a freshman who has never done XC or track and just joined, and a sophomore who did soccer last year instead of XC and only did winter track.

I spent so much of my summer training because I wanted to be fast and nothing happened. Can someone please tell me if I should just quit now because I've put in so much work and I'm seeing no improvements. I feel like I've let down my whole team, and everyone pities me because of how much I put into the sport and how little I get out.

Sorry if I come across as whiny.

Any replies are appreciated

6 years ago 09/17/2017 11:54pm EDT

re: depressedjunior

Eh, i'm willing to bet you might of trashed your legs in the build up and you weren't peaking on the day of the race or you were doing junk miles. Anyhow, you are faster than last year so don't trip, just keep at it. If worse comes to worse club the freshmans knee, he can't beat you if he's on the bench *wink* *wink*

6 years ago 09/18/2017 12:02am EDT

re: depressedjunior

Your legs need turnover. Do 30s on 30s off 1min on 30s off without stopping 8-12 times. And you'll be good to go.

6 years ago 09/18/2017 1:27am EDT

re: Rene Magritte

Rene Magritte wrote:
Your legs need turnover. Do 30s on 30s off 1min on 30s off without stopping 8-12 times. And you'll be good to go.

Ironically both men who have responded are correct. I did the same thing in the 1970s and 1980s.

You need variety and recovery from all workouts. Talk to your coach. That is another mistake I made. Even if he is wrong you can learn from his experience and apply new knowledge (your own) to what he says. Certainly he wants you to succeed.

Another thing you need to consider is your race strategy. Perhaps you are taking off too fast due to overconfidence. Let the young bucks do that and outkick them by YOU building it up over the whole race. YOU run even pace and save it for the last mile. This is hard for me to teach by writing about it.

You will still need to keep them close but you let them tire out, then pass them when you know for certain you will beat them!!!

6 years ago 09/18/2017 8:09am EDT

re: depressedjunior

To be anywhere near your potential you need to run a lot. The freshman who beat you did soccer last year, he probably did a lot of fast running during those games, all that fast running he did is worth a lot. Your 628 miles wasn't a waste of time or energy, you really need thousands of miles and lots of fast stuff to reach your potential so just get on with it. Yes you are whining.

6 years ago 09/18/2017 8:22am EDT

re: depressedjunior

My goodness you love to run. Way to go!

How was the hydration over the Summer?

Eat good foods drink water not soda .

And one more thing. Did you happen to do any tempo running ? Or was it straight easy distance. If that is the case step up on the quickening and the base you built will spring you forward. The base will help sustain you throughout the whole season. It'll come around.

As each race comes and go, you may find yourself actually getting faster.

6 years ago 09/18/2017 8:35am EDT

re: Rene Magritte

Stay the course, and do the on-off workout described previously. Don't focus on your teammates and the talent / no-talent argument. Be happy that you have teammates to run with, push you, and perhaps even chase.

First race means nothing at all.

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Am I naturally slow?? Don't react to training??

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