D1: I can run a 3:56 for the 1500 but can barely break 27:00

lose some weight

what's your shot put PR?

I was almost identical to your times in college. I only ran 26:37 for 8k. Sucks, dude. I tried everything. Long runs, long tempo runs, normal tempo runs, etc. Nothing. I really think it has to do with muscle fiber composition.

your 800/ 1500 times are excellent. it takes many guys YEARS to get to that level! (I was consistently under 26' for 8k, but only ran under 4:00 for 1500 twice, and i was 2 years out of college!)

when your mileage goes up to the 80's for a significant amount of time, i bet you'll be in the 25:50's, and low 3:50's/ high 3:40's. Be patient and continue to talk and work with your coach.

With your 5k time, I don’t think it’s that surprising. Your longer distance times are significantly worse than your shorter times. Maybe you haven’t run enough mileage in the past, or maybe you just aren’t as good at the longer distances. Sometimes that how it goes.

fatBurger wrote:

what's your shot put PR?

I'm pretty skinny and I've never tried shot put.

the answer is obvious wrote:

lose some weight

Yes but how does one do that if running 65 mpw isn't doing it? I eat rather healthy by the way. Never drank either.

bearcatRun1998 wrote:

the answer is obvious wrote:

lose some weight

Yes but how does one do that if running 65 mpw isn't doing it? I eat rather healthy by the way. Never drank either.

Maybe try drinking, I never came close to breaking 4:10 for 1500m but broke 27 many times for 8k. I dank a lot in college.

You should be in the 24:xx. Get there and you can get down around 3:50 for the 1500.

Maybe some blood work for anemia.

Buy a bike and a Speedo.

What school? Is it Juco D1?

What’s you mileage at?

Lose 5-10 pounds

You need to be running 80MPW as a Soph in college if you want to get in the 25:xx range

As more of a Mid D guy myself, I can tell you that the primary thing you need to do is lose weight. I typically lose about 10-15 lbs between track and XC so I can be at a better race weight. At the moment I am 6'2" and about 155. Lugging 20 extra lbs up a large hill isnt exactly going to help your XC times.

bearcatRun1998 wrote:

the answer is obvious wrote:

lose some weight

Yes but how does one do that if running 65 mpw isn't doing it? I eat rather healthy by the way. Never drank either.

run more than 65 mpw. ramp up to 80-90 in a sensible way. keep doing tempos and long runs to increase your aerobic capacity.

Your mpw is low but it might not make much difference. In college I ran with guys that could blow me off the track in the 800/1500 and even though they ran 70+mpw, I could easily beat them in cross country.

Man, your 5k really drops off compared to your 1500.

What's your 400 pr? It's possible you're more of an 800 guy, given your size. I'd suggest running an 8 fresh during your next track season to see what you can do.