vivalarepublica wrote:
Think you have the talent to make it to the top? Sorry, but Justyn Knight does and you don’t. Period. Stick your age group glory at the local Turkey Trot and quietly retire your elite dreams.
I guess it depends who you are speaking to. Probably some people reading this actually do have the talent to make it to the top. That person isn't me, but that doesn't Knight is the only person with that level of talent. It may be very rare, but it isn't limited to a single individual.
Also, as has been well established, baseline doesn't necessarily indicate potential or lack of potential. A person with a no-training 5k of sub 16 may only go on to run mid 14s or sub 13 after a decade of training. Meanwhile, a person with a baseline of 19 minutes may go on to run 18 minutes or sub 13 minutes after a decade of running.