Give it up when you no longer enjoy running.
Give it up when you no longer enjoy running.
I gave it up at 21 as a senior in college when I had put in 80-105 mile weeks for 4 years, was in the best shape of my life to that point and watched a supremely talented soph teammate (and former 8:43 HS 2-miler, there's a hint) who was coming off an injury that kept him from running a step for 6 weeks. He got past the injury and after 6 weeks off, basically jogged around on it for a week with a few easy striders thrown in. At the end of 1 easy week back, he ran an indoor 2-mile in 8:51, just following the leader, then kicking and blowing by him on the last lap and smiling as he crossed the line for the win. I wasn't in the race, I was watching it at the time. My best ever at that point was 9:03. I knew I could train my guts out forever and I was never going to beat someone as naturally gifted, hard-working, and competitive as my soph teammate. After graduating college, I got a real job, and while I set a few bests in my mid-20's, I never kidded myself into thinking I should dream about the Olympics/Worlds or anything like that. My goals became more modest and achievable and they were still fun to pursue. I went to that nationally-ranked program in college to find out how good I could be, improved by leaps and bounds and was very happy about that, yet discovered that some dreams were simply unrealistic for me. I was not going to be "great", at least as a runner.
prefan wrote:
I gave it up at 21 as a senior in college when I had put in 80-105 mile weeks for 4 years, was in the best shape of my life to that point and watched a supremely talented soph teammate (and former 8:43 HS 2-miler, there's a hint) who was coming off an injury that kept him from running a step for 6 weeks. He got past the injury and after 6 weeks off, basically jogged around on it for a week with a few easy striders thrown in. At the end of 1 easy week back, he ran an indoor 2-mile in 8:51, just following the leader, then kicking and blowing by him on the last lap and smiling as he crossed the line for the win. I wasn't in the race, I was watching it at the time. My best ever at that point was 9:03. I knew I could train my guts out forever and I was never going to beat someone as naturally gifted, hard-working, and competitive as my soph teammate. After graduating college, I got a real job, and while I set a few bests in my mid-20's, I never kidded myself into thinking I should dream about the Olympics/Worlds or anything like that. My goals became more modest and achievable and they were still fun to pursue. I went to that nationally-ranked program in college to find out how good I could be, improved by leaps and bounds and was very happy about that, yet discovered that some dreams were simply unrealistic for me. I was not going to be "great", at least as a runner.
Weak.
What's your problem, ksosi?
prefan wrote:
What's your problem, ksosi?
Weak people like you
Prefan, I thought your post was very good. Ignore ksosi.
An injury senior year of college forced me out of competitive running. This is a sport of attrition and I think injury is what kills the dream for most.
If I hadn't gotten injured I was still limited by lack of finishing speed. At best I could do a 60 last lap for 5k/10k, so no realistic hope of making a U.S. national team. A realistic goal might have been a few years ranked top-10 in the U.S. at 5k/10k. Not much money for that level of runner so it is hard to justify chasing the dream unless you have wealthy parents who can subsidize you, or you like poverty.
webfoot wrote:
Prefan, I thought your post was very good. Ignore ksosi.
An injury senior year of college forced me out of competitive running. This is a sport of attrition and I think injury is what kills the dream for most.
If I hadn't gotten injured I was still limited by lack of finishing speed. At best I could do a 60 last lap for 5k/10k, so no realistic hope of making a U.S. national team. A realistic goal might have been a few years ranked top-10 in the U.S. at 5k/10k. Not much money for that level of runner so it is hard to justify chasing the dream unless you have wealthy parents who can subsidize you, or you like poverty.
No, you're just another weak person. You were not limited by finishing speed. There's no such thing as finishing speed. If you are running significantly slower than your fastest pace, then you will be able to have a fast last lap. If 60 is your top 400m ability, then do some sprint work and get faster.
Also, being able to run faster than 60 seconds for a last lap is in no way a requirement to make a national team or to be a successful runner.
Wheni read this this morning and realized i'll be over 28 in 2016:
at least i went sub-4.
ksosl wrote:No, you're just another weak person. You were not limited by finishing speed. There's no such thing as finishing speed. If you are running significantly slower than your fastest pace, then you will be able to have a fast last lap. If 60 is your top 400m ability, then do some sprint work and get faster.
Yeah, I guess I'm weak because after running a 10k at 4:30s pace I could only manage 60-62 for a last lap.
Please share with us how you ran sub-28 with a 56 last lap.
ksosl wrote:
Also, being able to run faster than 60 seconds for a last lap is in no way a requirement to make a national team or to be a successful runner.
My definition of success is different from yours. Some may think sub-29 is successful. My definition is sub-28 and a U.S. national team.
The day I discovered this web site.
overwhelmed wrote:
The day I discovered this web site.
Same here; and not just running, but life in general. I ran 14:30 for the 5000, have a 130 IQ, make 175,000/year, and have a fairly attractive wife. I just can't put up with the studs here.
It would occur to me every time I ate McDonald's.
webfoot wrote:
ksosl wrote:Also, being able to run faster than 60 seconds for a last lap is in no way a requirement to make a national team or to be a successful runner.
My definition of success is different from yours. Some may think sub-29 is successful. My definition is sub-28 and a U.S. national team.
You have no idea if my definition of success is different than yours. Whether it is or isn't, running 60 seconds for a last lap is not a requirement to be sub28 and on a national team. You're just weak.
Calf strains.
overwhelmed wrote:
The day I discovered this web site.
Good one!
My life, or at least career, definitely hit a plateau after finding letsrun. And my faith in humanity has crashed. Plus I now hate runners at the elite-sub elite level because of this place. What a bunch of a-holes in here.
But like watching a train wreck, I can't look away.
Anyway, I'm a lifer as a runner and the revelation came to me a few times.
High school, was very mediocre and a late bloomer and I never thought I'd be even average.
College, put in a few years of hard work and realized that I wouldn't even make baby nationals.
Post college, harbored some delusions of making OT marathon qualifier after a respectable debut but got injured within 6 months. So began a life one who isn't great but just likes to run.
Masters goal: age grade 90%. Obviously that's weak to most of you but that would be okay by me.
ksosl wrote:
You have no idea if my definition of success is different than yours. Whether it is or isn't, running 60 seconds for a last lap is not a requirement to be sub28 and on a national team. You're just weak.
Find an example of a race in the last, say, 20 years, where someone made a national team and didn't run under 60 seconds for the last lap.
ksosl wrote:
Also, being able to run faster than 60 seconds for a last lap is in no way a requirement to make a national team or to be a successful runner.
You're an idiot. Seriously, you have no idea what you're talking about.
sub 340 guy?? wrote:
Wheni read this this morning and realized i'll be over 28 in 2016:
http://www.letsrun.com/2014/01/give-olympic-dream-tell-oldest-american-first-time-olympians-revealed-2/at least i went sub-4.
What is your 5k PR? Maybe you should move up.
Congratulations on your sub-4 accomplishment. Even non-runners can relate to that. Running sub-29 or sub-14 doesn't carry the same prestige.