Masters Runners: What Running Mistakes Did You Make In Your Teens/20s/30s?

I totally undertrained. Not enough miles and then when I did go longer (12-13 miles) too fast. Had some great track workouts though.

In 1984, I wore a pair of electric blue spandex tights underneath a pair of running shorts. Biggest Mistake EVER.

I quit too soon. I was 29 and ran had run close to 28:00. I think I could have run sub-28 on a good day but it didn't seem like that big of a deal at the time. But honestly, I was kind of sick of the whole training grind.

steeplechase....my knees are f*cked

Dude you are still having some GREAT track work outs and races :o) Oh I got in an 11 miler today!

Looking back I am surprised at how dialed in I was without the benefit of lots of physiological analysis - given my "natural ability" (whatever that is) I probably overachieved with 13:43/28:30 PB's. With that caveat, I'd probably 1) run much much slower 1 or 2 days a week (I was a notorious pusher, running most of my long runs around 5:45 pace, never slower that 6:00); 2) I would have been more aggressive in treating/curing my chronic PF; and 3) would have given the marathon at least one more good whirl, having learned what I did in my first 2 outings ("Wall, meet Squid. Squid, Wall").

I had the great benefit of learning at a young age from someone who had been through the Oregon system (Bowerman era), not to mention great teammates at every level.

My body was strong, flexible, and pain-free, and I took it for granted. I would hammer it with doubles, go to sleep for less than 6 hours, wake up and do it all over again with no problem. I don't regret anything about my running, I just wish that I had more appreciation for the ability of that time. I thought it would always be that way. Isn't there a saying, "Youth is wasted on the young?"

Spikez wrote:

My body was strong, flexible, and pain-free, and I took it for granted. I would hammer it with doubles, go to sleep for less than 6 hours, wake up and do it all over again with no problem. I don't regret anything about my running, I just wish that I had more appreciation for the ability of that time. I thought it would always be that way. Isn't there a saying, "Youth is wasted on the young?"

OH YEAH.

Too much rest between workouts - about a quarter century.

I obsessed so much about getting faster that I forgot to appreciate how fast I was actually running and just didn't realize that some day I would kill to come close to the times I didn't think were fast enough.

1. Alcohol - partying takes a toll. I dont care what anybody else says

2. Every race was a race to the death - and indoor dual meet mile does not matter. Racing your balls off every week is not productive.

3. "I gotta work harder" - when u think that, hold back. When you are young you can go much longer before breaking down. Skip a day if you feel really bad. There are no serious athletes who have a problem w/ training too little.

Pick 1-2 races/season and go balls out (aside from Nats). Everything else is fluff. some people don't have the patience for this. learn to be patient.

Most athletes will NEVER have the "perfect" race where they are in great shape, the weather is good, the field is good etc. So enjoy the process. If you can't enjoy it, then you are merely indulging in self-deprecating narcissism (as Don Bowden described it) at the expense of those around you.

nice summary, good post.

Didn't listen to my wife when I should have. I blew out the ACL in my left knee playing in a street basketball tourney when I should have gone to the 4 mile race with her.

Teens: I actually don't have many regrets, thanks to listening to my coaches.

Twenties: In my early 20s, I tried to be a high mileage runner when my body repeatedly told me 70mpw worked better for me. Finally I had good results when I realized this but by then, college was over and I hadn't achieved my college goals. Another mistake was running my first marathon right when I was really making great breakthroughs at 10K and the 1/2. I think I'd have gotten a good bit faster at the shorter stuff if I'd have waited longer on the marathon. As it turned out, the marathon isn't my best event, probably because I don't hold up too well to the necessary high mileage and I have a bouncy stride which trashes my legs in the marathon. Another mistake was running too many races chasing small amounts of money when I should have raced less and scheduled my racing without regard to money. In hindsight, those few hundred dollars here and there didn't do anything for my long-term financial picture and probably cost me some better racing.

Thirties: Lost focus generally. Let frustration with a drought of PRs get the best of me. I could have kept PRing in the 1/2 and marathon if I'd have focused better. But, like lots of guys I let marraige, job, and kids take priority. I wouldn't call that a mistake at all, but I did sort of use my busy life as an excuse to not focus. Truth is, if you can focus for an hour or 90 minutes a day on running, you can still be an excellent runner. You just need to be a better time manager.

Overall, I don't have too many regrets and still love running but I listed the few things I'd do differently if I could do it over. In your physical prime, you should try to maximize your potential by making good decisions and focusing. You can always goof off more and enjoy running on your own terms later in life, like I'm doing now at age 43

Stopped being neurotic, as runner Mom stated; relaxed, Yoga w/deep breathing, easy days EASY (learned that from an Olympian), drills (2 times a week), wt. (2 times a week), and only 2 hard/speed workouts. More is not always good :) know where you do well and when you break down (e.g., training for a specific race and overall weekly mileage).

Good luck

... not starting until my late 30s. I sometimes wonder how I'd have done if I'd been running during my 20s. But mostly I try to stay away from these "what if" questions and enjoy what I can do now.

dropped more acid

1) too much work on hard surfaces

2) Took too many races too seriously and others not serious enough

3) Sabotaged my races with inappropriate behavior far too often

4) Sacrificed my family more often than I should have

5) Made the mistake of thinking you can be a good coach and a good athlete

6) Thought I was invincible and was far from it

I didn't weight train.