Running is my life, but I'm not even good at it.

Honestly, I feel sorry for the OP. I can't imagine feeling passionate about something as mundane as running. Passion should be reserved for things like a life-long intellectual pursuit or a deep emotional connection to another human being.

This is pretty obvious, but sometimes the obvious is best: As the #12 runner, train and race with the #11 runner until that's easy. Then do the same for #10, #9, #8, etc. I anticipate you saying that you have already tried this. But have you? Really? Have you become the #11 runner's shadow? Run so close to her shoulder that you sometimes make contact? I anticipate you saying that you have tried and that she outkicks you at the end. Well don't try, there is no try, just do. Unless your legs buckle at the finish and you puke after the race you haven't gone all out.

Make gradual improvements. Running is a progression. And the progress sometimes is a roller coaster. Talk to your coach(es). Ask them what you can do to get better. They might say improve your form, eating, work ethic, positive self talk, etc etc. Finally, it's possible you won't move up the depth chart. You most likely will improve, but so might your teammates. But if you are doing your best and enjoy the sport that should be enough.

Thanks for all the advice. Hmm I'm new to Letsrun.. I'm guessing OP means original poster?

As for my summer training, I started in July and focused on building mileage with the team. We are now at the stage where we are focusing more on race pace workouts.

I hate to share my last race time because it really is atrocious

Saraswimrun wrote:

Thanks for all the advice. Hmm I'm new to Letsrun.. I'm guessing OP means original poster?

As for my summer training, I started in July and focused on building mileage with the team. We are now at the stage where we are focusing more on race pace workouts.

I hate to share my last race time because it really is atrocious

Mileage dude, mileage. Start racking up the miles and you will surpass the whole team.

You're not good at trolling either.

give me a break wrote:

Honestly, I feel sorry for the OP. I can't imagine feeling passionate about something as mundane as running. Passion should be reserved for things like a life-long intellectual pursuit or a deep emotional connection to another human being.

Oh come on, get off your high horse for a minute. Running is a fine passion, though I agree that there are many other things in life to be passionate about. Running could also occupy that niche until something else comes along. Therefore, dedicating oneself to running is a great way to be prepared to follow future passions when they arise.

gotta say wrote:

You're not good at trolling either.

As I've said many times before, there's novice trolls, accomplished trolls, and master trolls. We have a lot of novice trolls on LR.

Running is my life too... I ran 14:20's and 29:30's in college, barely making the best Women's WR at the time.. then I tried to run 2:15 and never came close.

I'm not good at it, but it's given me purpose and defined who I am... I attack everything in life the way I attack my running.

It will pay dividends in life, just realize genetics and environment are a big deal! Ha!

Eclo wrote:

Running is my life too... I ran 14:20's and 29:30's in college, barely making the best Women's WR at the time.. then I tried to run 2:15 and never came close.

I'm not good at it

~14:20 and 29:30 may not be WC or NC, but it's fvckin fast and 99% of serious runners would love to have it. In addition, those Women's WR holders were juiced to he gills.

"I just feel like I should be focusing on getting better at things that I can actually get better at."

OP, running IS one of those things you can actually get better at. Training will make a huge difference but it needs to be done every day and it can take years.

In something like school, you will work long, hard and smart just to keep up because no one can really give up. In running, if you keep working, you improve because many stop when their improvement slows.

do what ya want wrote:

Chasing after girls and having sex is my life, but quite frankly I'm not that great at it either!

Pathetic- on so many levels.

I watched a documentary once on a guy who was an average runner (meaning 4 hour marathoner) and he did an experiment to see what hard work could really do; he got a coach, dietitian etc. and started training to see how fast he could get, documenting the whole thing on video. If I'm not mistaken he even took a ton of time off work so he could train twice a day etc.

Anyway this guy was actually kind of pudgy when he started the experiment, but in a few months he looked super skinny and eventually got close to 2:30 for the marathon until finally some bad injuries got him.

So yes, working harder than everyone else will do it; just be careful because pretty much everyone gets injured sooner or later and injuries SUCK.

A little inspiration-

http://www.runfanshop.com/product/70000-miles/

do what ya want wrote:

Chasing after girls and having sex is my life, but quite frankly I'm not that great at it either!

Do you chase after them and have sex at the same time?

The DECISION! wrote:

there is no bad sex!

sex that results in pain, disease, unwanted pregnancy, or mental anguish, is bad sex.

uheye wrote:

The DECISION! wrote:

there is no bad sex!

sex that results in pain, disease, unwanted pregnancy, or mental anguish, is bad sex.

i guess then, by definition, all sex is potentially bad

yes all sex is potentially bad, as is all everything.

My first ever 5K as a freshman was 23:09. I got pretty fast later with hard work. Everyone has to start somewhere.

uheye wrote:

yes all sex is potentially bad, as is all everything.

All that is good is bad?