"success in running is primarily based on the physiology you're born with"
If you define success as 13:XX for 5000m that is likely true. If you define success as 14:XX you can make up for imperfect physiology with a mixture of the correct training plan, dedication, durability and a long term outlook. The right mixture of those four can get guys with fair physiology to 15:XX and even bad physiology to 17:XX.
A running partner of mine didn't run in high school or college and ran 2:24 at Chicago when he was 31.
Growing up in W.PA in the 70's during all the steel mills layoffs, local schools felt it, and many sports were cut. No track, XC, as if any of us cared. We all wanted to play football, and that would never go away in that part of the country. Being too skinny became a factor after 9th grade, or freshman football.
After high school I began to run occasionally just to try to stay in shape. Soon, I saw signs for local races. Showed up and was amazed at how much I was destroyed. I mean ladies, older men, the whole bit.
I trained and ran better and better. Soon, I was competitive. By then I decided to go to college (in my 20's),
And, on a daily run was seen by the XC coach. He later called me and asked me to run on the D2 XC team. I did. Became Team MVP at 26, and graduated next year.
It was fun. Nothing great.
I progressed in my running after that. Broke 2:30 for the marathon, broke 15:00 for the 5k roads, and have done ok for a "local" runner.
You should all check out our biggest race "The GREAT RACE"
Sept 28th. Typically 15k-20k runners
Amended.
I meant we typically get between 15,000 and 20,000 runners.
It's a 10k race.
I started competitive running at 39, no prior experience with endurance sports. By 45 I had a 2:44 road marathon PR which I think is/was USATF age-group elite if there is such a thing, 3:37 trail marathon PR, 3:27 road 50k PR and a 18:12 100 mile PR. Never broke 18 in a 5k.
I became interested when I watched my 14 yr old daughter, who was a competitive swimmer that ran XC, at a adult triathlon. It looked 'fun'. There didn't appear to be but about 5 guys with any real ability.
I never really caught the 5k/10k bug. Starting so late it's possible my aerobic system had a low ceiling for train-ability, not sure. I found I preferred trail running anyway and never dedicated myself to the 5k/10k.
Whiskey, neat wrote:
Unlike skill based sports, success in running is primarily based on the physiology you're born with so picking it up late is certainly possible.
Lol where do you come up with this nonsense? Running successfully success is in no way primarily based on the physiology you are born with. It is primarily based on preparation.
How about this guy? M60 World Record holder in marathon.
http://www.runnersworld.com/masters-profiles/day-after-day-with-yoshihisa-hosaka?page=single
Abdi didn't start until he was in junior college.
Tergat also started after high school.
Dennis Kimetto started in his 20s.
I started off as a swimmer...most summers I had 3 hours in the AM and 2.5 hours in the PM for about 20-25km (all interval training). Unlike many of my teamates, I was not olympic caliber, and thought triathlon looked pretty cool. Took that up as a high school senior.
By the summer after my freshman year of college I ran 34.xx 10K to close out a triathlon, and by my senior year of college I put in a 31.xx 10k to finish a triathlon...didn't run any JUST 10k races.
That said, years of training as a distance swimmer build a HUGE aerobic capacity, and relative to other sports, it's not like running technique it complicated.
YMMV
kamcfi9q4 wrote:
"success in running is primarily based on the physiology you're born with"
If you define success as 13:XX for 5000m that is likely true. If you define success as 14:XX you can make up for imperfect physiology with a mixture of the correct training plan, dedication, durability and a long term outlook. The right mixture of those four can get guys with fair physiology to 15:XX and even bad physiology to 17:XX.
But the difference between a 13:xx guy and a 14:xx guy, and a 15:xx guy, and a 17:xx guy who followed similar training plans is genetics, right?
There is also difference in ability to handle training volume and intensity. Some people are born more durable than others.
I don't believe Michael Wardian ran on a team in high school or college.
Thanks for the responses everyone!
It's encouraging to know that people have actually been able to become fast runners without a high school/college competitive background.
Working Stiff wrote:
Thanks for the responses everyone!
It's encouraging to know that people have actually been able to become fast runners without a high school/college competitive background.
^patronizing twit
I don't believe Bernd Heinrich ran in high school or college. He started running in his 30's, and in his 40's, ran a 2:22 marathon, and set numerous records at the 50-Mile and 100K distance. (I think a sub 6:40 at the 100K distance) He set all of his PR's and Records while he was in his 40's.
In high school, I ran 2 seasons of indoor track (4:40 1600 and 10:18 3200.)and ran road races throughout the year from sophomore year. I played soccer year round for school and club, so my run training was all soccer training. I ran a 1:15:01 half marathon my senior year.
I went into the Army, played club soccer and ran for the unit Army 10 miler team twice in the early 90's ( mid 55 low 56 minute range. Pretty sure about the 55 minute part). Ran a 9:00 2 mile during a PT test, but the course had to be short. Probably by 200-300 meters.
During college, I partied and ran road races, independently, in the mid to high 15 minute range for 5k with minimal training. Still played club and intramural soccer, but at 5'3" didn't believe I was able to play intercollegiate level. Also, didn't really like (my perception of) the cliche nature of the cross country team.
Sporadic racing, and almost no run training, in my late 20's and 30's.
Didn't really start running seriously until a torn ACL ruined my soccer days at the age of 36.
Couple years later got my sh- stuff together, moved to Korea and started training to run. Since age 40: 15:45 5k, 33:19 10k, 1:14:34 half and an injury marred 2:53:53 marathon; all PRs.
This makes me competitive for overall and age group honors where I live.
At 42, looking to up my mileage and intensity to go low 32 for 10k, low 70 minute half and sub 2:37:19 for the marathon.
I am currently around 50 miles a week.
Hope this is an example you were looking for. If not sorry for the nostalgic ramble.
wejo wrote:
Silas Kiplagat didn't run in high school:
http://www.letsrun.com/2010/silas-kiplagat-0826.phpHe was a soccer player.
Apart from to school and back every day
Think we need to define competitive on here as well
amused wrote:
Working Stiff wrote:Thanks for the responses everyone!
It's encouraging to know that people have actually been able to become fast runners without a high school/college competitive background.
^patronizing twit
I'm sorry you were offended. I was being sincere.
Since the front page identifies a set of twins, the story of Casey and Patrick Moulton was an interesting story under this category.
Jason Weller
Paavo Nurmi