zombiedonkey wrote:
At the d1 collegiate level you will not get ANYWHERE half decent in distance without talent. Sometimes I find it nearly sad when I view others trainings, some can try so hard and just get no where. So many runners will be doing 80+ MPW to get 100th at a conference cross country race, that’s not even getting started on the mile-3K. If you didn’t run sub 4:15 in HS. Unless you are an extremely rare case good luck ever getting near sub 4. It’s understandable why coaches recruit internationally. Coaches know this and there simply just isn’t enough talent alone in the US to recruit and make a successful team. (unless you are 25 year olds attending BYU.)
Talent is a huge factor, but it isn't the only factor. There have been 4:20 milers who have gone up to the longer distances and have been extremely successful. The 3000m down is for sure requiring more talent, but for NCAA kids stacking consistent aerobic weeks, they can have real success 5k up.
