Base mileages and being slow

every one should run no matter if they run 4 minute miles or 14 minute miles.

hypothesis 33 wrote:

How untalented one could be before you suggest them to give other sports (instead of running) a go??

To me if someone consistently runs 60mpw for 6months and cant break 18mins in the 5k I'll probably let that person know that

while I admire the effort maybe running isnt his forte

I would tell the person that if they enjoy running they should keep doing it regardless of their times. If they don't, then they should find something else that they do enjoy regardless of their times.

I suck at every sport I've ever participated in. Should I stop running/cycling/golfing/skiing and just sit on the couch and get fat?

The most important thing when it comes to running is being consistent. Six months is not long enough, some people are hard responders. There are a bunch of stories of people who sucked, but kept at and eventually became world class.

hypothesis 33 wrote:

How untalented one could be before you suggest them to give other sports (instead of running) a go??

To me if someone consistently runs 60mpw for 6months and cant break 18mins in the 5k I'll probably let that person know that

while I admire the effort maybe running isnt his forte

Everybody I know that went sub 18 after a year were doing other aerobic activities first (especially soccer athletes). I've also known a lot of good runners who couldn't break 22 in their first year that went on to be sub 17, some sub 16, but they weren't aerobically developed (and/or weighed too much) when starting. It takes time to develop for mid distance running.

144 week plan to Olympic qualifying standard:

First twelve weeks: train to do a mile in 5 minutes, average 60 miles per week in this time.

Second twelve weeks train to do 3k or 2 miles at a 5 minute pace, average 75 miles per week in this time.

Third twelve week period: do a 5k race at a 5 minute pace, average 90 miles per week in this time.

Fourth twelve week period: train for a 5 mile or 8k race at a 5 minute pace, average 105 miles per week in this time.

Fifth twelve week period: train to do a 10k at a 5 minute pace, average 120 miles per week in this time.

Sixth twelve week period: train to do a 15k or a 10 miler at a 5 minute pace, averag 135 miles per week in this time.

Seventh week period: train to do a 20k or half marathon at a 5 minute pace, average 150 miles per week in this time.

Eighth week training period: train to do a marathon at a 5 minute pace, average 150 miles per week in this time.

Keep repeating the seventh and eighth 12 week training block until you run a 2:19:00 marathon.

*rolls eyes*