College Running; Doing Everything Right, Results Don't Show...

They're probably happier with their lives than you, and I'm not trolling. Going to bed at 9 and waking up at 6? In college? I'm not saying you have to party dude, I personally don't. But holy shit, try to have some fun. Even the people that don't drink often do things at night. So go out and have a life and maybe the running will follow.

What is your training and how has it changed the last few years?

60-70 miles a week. Long runs are 15 miles (plus or minus a mile every now and then). The training isn't really anything too hard or shocking. I'm doing what my team is doing. I'm told that I'm not racing to my fitness; meaning that my coach agrees that I can race way better. The training is typical I think; threshold work, hill workouts, some speed work, long runs, double runs, recovery runs, etc.

My guess: You are what is called a practice All-American. It's easy do to all the little things and think that you are going to be good. You still have to put on the racing shoes and race! After 16 years of coaching and running at the DI level, I have seen it a hundred times. As someone else said, go have a good time and forget about running for a few days. Next time the gun goes off, don't worry about splits or race plans, GO RACE!

Is anxiety an issue at your races? Come up with a strategy to let all expectations go and let yourself just open up at the race. Be happy with any result if you felt like you gave it what you had.

Also, you could try pacing off of a teammate who you feel you should be running with based off of workouts and see if he can pull you along.

At the risk of sounding like an a-hole...you have probably maxed out your potential and you are not going to get much better.

You all seem to think more training, longer training, harder training all lead to better times. You all forget that your body and genetics are the final and most important factor in determining your top speed.

Is it were that simple some distance runners would run 300 miles a week and win every race. It doesn't work that way.

Could be a variety of factors.

-Are you training too little for 8k?

-Are you training too much?

-How's your diet and iron?

-You probably need to adjust expectations a little. All-American in D2 is still no joke. You're talking about going from mid-27s to mid-24s for 8k and not everyone is capable of that no matter how hard they work. Those two runners are in totally different ball game.

AnonymousGuy12345 wrote:

I have not raced until this September (Nov. '15-Sep. '17 I did not compete). Does this have anything to do with it?

Yes, this does have something to do with it. As you race more, I think you'll see some improvement. But in the meantime, keep training and definitely relax a little bit.

Sounds like you are running your workouts too hard. I suggest that you go read Wejo's article "Why I sucked in college". I had a few teammates like this. They would destroy me in practice, finishing most of their workouts with everything they have. I would always finished workouts relaxed, making sure I finished feeling like I could've run faster. I always beat my teammates in races though.

I too sucked in college

Are you getting fat? Honest question. I don't know, eat more protein or something. Your season has only been going on for a month and you're already throwing in the towel. Have a little grit, man.

Run Doctor wrote:

You all forget that your body and genetics are the final and most important factor in determining your top speed.

You seem to forget that no one knows which genes they have and how much those genes effect running performance.

Joo wrote:

Run Doctor wrote:

You all forget that your body and genetics are the final and most important factor in determining your top speed.

You seem to forget that no one knows which genes they have and how much those genes effect running performance.

That comment makes no sense??

So you think you should be getting better because:

1. you stretch

2. you don't drink

3. you sleep enough

Yup if I made sure to do those things I would expect a ton of improvement too!

AnonymousGuy12345 wrote:

60-70 miles a week. Long runs are 15 miles (plus or minus a mile every now and then). The training isn't really anything too hard or shocking. I'm doing what my team is doing. I'm told that I'm not racing to my fitness; meaning that my coach agrees that I can race way better. The training is typical I think; threshold work, hill workouts, some speed work, long runs, double runs, recovery runs, etc.

There could be plenty of problems. Could be mental. Could be that your potential that is maxed out.

Not knowing anything else but what is in this thread, I have a feeling that your mileage may be too low. When I coached, I preferred having varsity runners in high school run 50-70 mpw, depending on training age and ability. To me, it should follow that more weekly mileage is necessary to better prepare for longer distances. After all, the D2 regional race will be a 10k. And training for an 8k should be more similar to 10k training than high school 5k training.

If you have never done 60-70 mpw before, then it may not be the issue. But if you have done the same weekly mileage before, my guess is that you need a change in the training stimulus to produce a change in the performance. Your body is used to the workouts and mileage; it needs a new stress.

AnonymousGuy12345 wrote:

Also, I went to a community college for a year, I ran mid 27s for 8K in XC. Then they cut the track program, so I transferred to a D2 school, I did not have the right transfer credits, had to do a whole year of academics only. Now I am eligible. So from NJCAA Championships, I have not raced until this September (Nov. '15-Sep. '17 I did not compete). Does this have anything to do with it? You would think that from a 2 year span, one would improve at minimum at least a minute, but this past month I've been running mid28s. I have 1 minute slower slower, not faster...

Any advice?

And to be honest, this could also be the problem: the time off.

Taking 2 years off during your late teenage years allows your body to develop differently than two years of doing 70 mpw. You may be heavier; you may have more muscle mass; you may be less aerobically efficient. These produce slower race times.

People always point out how teenage girls can get slower through high school. Usually it is from their body changing because they are not running consistently or change sports from season to season. Or their training is kept too low.

From my observations, It happens to teenage boys as well. They grow, mature, and gain weight.

Only thing you can do is to be patient and keep training.

Just some quick observations:- My guess is you are one minute slower than your best races over a year ago? Cut yourself some slack - that is a long lay off. Come November, no one gives a damn what you did or did not do in September;- The stretching is virtually meaningless;- Lighten up a bit and enjoy yourself. You were focused enough to get out of the hamster wheel that is JC, so rest assured you have your $hit squared away. Maybe you don't worry so much about "doing everything right" and just train, race and have some fun. "If you're too careful, your whole life can become a f'n grind. - Mike McDermott

AnonymousGuy12345 wrote:

I have not raced until this September (Nov. '15-Sep. '17 I did not compete). Does this have anything to do with it?

Might be worth getting your blood checked

AnonymousGuy12345 wrote:Also, I went to a community college for a year, I ran mid 27s for 8K in XC.

I don't want to sound too harsh, but I feel like someone needs to state the obvious. There's a major disconnect between your mid-27 8k and potential D2 All-American. Put in the work, be patient, and have fun along the way. I'm not going to tell you your goal is impossible, but if that's all you're focused on, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Have some intermediate goals along the way that build your confidence, and then who knows? Good luck!.