People seem to treat talent as a binary -- you're either talented or you aren't, and the threshold is somewhere between good college runner and pro. The reality is talent is a spectrum with a normal distribution. Being in the 80th percentile isn't worth sh*t if you're trying to be competitive in college, so in that context you aren't "talented". But it does make you way better than most people at running, so in the context of a hobbyjogger 5k, you're among the most talented.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that people who participate in some form of organized, competitive running e.g. NCAA, clubs, etc are not a representative sample. It's a group that self-selects for talent. But your local charity race is a much more representative sample; likely close to half of them are less talented than average. So saying you have no talent in the context of NCAA and then comparing yourself to the unwashed masses isn't apples to apples.
I think the bulk of runners who show up at races have never really pushed themselves or don't like the discomfort of a hard effort. At the local turkey trot this year, I asked my wife to REALLY RED-LINE the race. Like, start right from the gun running like you can only make it to the corner and even then you might die. (I was spectating). I cut over to see her at the corner and she was jogging and smiling and waving to me and I just knew it's never gonna happen. She doesn't get "hard effort."
I think that pushing ourselves beyond the pain threshold is part of what makes us good runners. We understand that to be fast, you have to be willing to suffer. And maybe even enjoy it...
You nailed it. Hobby joggers are slow because they don't want to push hard during a race.
I'm surprised at how unpopular of a view that is. Thought most people on here would know better.
I agree, this should not be an unpopular view. It is logical. Plenty of people are perfectly happy to train and compete at a low gear. Nothing inherently wrong with that for adults.
I would argue that young people should be asked to practice the skill of suffering in the short term in order to achieve a goal in the future.
This point has only been brought up by one other poster, but 5+ years of structured training as a child/teenager pays enormous dividends in running ability down the line. You lose fitness with time, but the biomechanics and mentality needed to run fast don’t completely vanish.
Most people who pick up running for fitness later in life don’t have that background. They’ve never done a structured workout or run more than a mile below 7 minute pace. They’re not going to run a 20 minute 5k off 20 mpw of easy running without something like competitive track/soccer/basketball training in their past.
Also: a 5 minute mile doesn’t reflect significant running talent by any means. But it’s still solidly in the top top ~10% of times nationally for high school boys in any given year. I think runners tend not to realize how hard running is for people who don’t train regularly.
This whole post sounds like you're just stroking your ego. "Look at me, I barely train and have no talent, and yet I'm better than 90% of the population."
What's sad is your need to feel superior to others who may have different goals and priorities. If feeling better than others with your 20:47 5k is the only thing that makes you happy in your 30s, then I feel sorry for you.
This point has only been brought up by one other poster, but 5+ years of structured training as a child/teenager pays enormous dividends in running ability down the line. You lose fitness with time, but the biomechanics and mentality needed to run fast don’t completely vanish.
Most people who pick up running for fitness later in life don’t have that background. They’ve never done a structured workout or run more than a mile below 7 minute pace. They’re not going to run a 20 minute 5k off 20 mpw of easy running without something like competitive track/soccer/basketball training in their past.
That does make a bit of sense, unlike most of the posts on here. Perhaps muscle memory combined with motivation is sufficient to explain the slow hobby jogger times.
This whole post sounds like you're just stroking your ego. "Look at me, I barely train and have no talent, and yet I'm better than 90% of the population."
What's sad is your need to feel superior to others who may have different goals and priorities. If feeling better than others with your 20:47 5k is the only thing that makes you happy in your 30s, then I feel sorry for you.
If I wanted to stroke my ego, I would have posted this on a hobby jogger site and not on a site filled with 13-14 minute guys who can beat my PR with no training whatsoever.
Best thing I ever did was to stop running for times. Just run for the fun of it. Haven't brought a dumb watch to a run in years. Who cares if anyone is over 30 running under 20 mins. No one! I now laugh at those runners going all out at Turkey trots and taking out others in a move to knock one second off their time.
People run for different reasons. Many do it for social and fitness reasons.Some who have talent and show some drive tend to try to go fast.A 5 minute mile is something very few achieve in their life.. Certainly more could.But even among runners it is not that common. This is proven in high school track meet results.
At your local road race only about 10% of the runners actually do any training. The rest just jog a few days a week. Like you. So because you once ran a 5 minute mile and hold that muscle memory, you are able to beat most of the completely untrained. Congratulations.
I'm in my mid 30s and haven't run more than 10-12 mpw since 2012. No workouts, no cross training, and barely any racing.
I ran a 5K a few weeks ago, got a 20:47, and easily finished in the top 10% of all men.
My question is, why is everyone else so slow? Many of them are doing more training than I am, and it's not like I'm a talented ex-track star either. I wouldn't have been able to walk on to any college with the possible exception of the absolute worst D3 schools. And even then, I'd probably be the slowest guy on the team (my lifetime 1500 PR is 4:40 set in 2011, and that's my best event).
Is everyone else just stopping at the first sign of discomfort or something?
at most races, only 10-15% of entrants are actually racing. everyone else tends to treat them as running events, looking forward to the finish line party and their participant award. 5ks are especially guilty of this.
at most races, only 10-15% of entrants are actually racing. everyone else tends to treat them as running events, looking forward to the finish line party and their participant award. 5ks are especially guilty of this.
Another plausible explanation. I've seen people hold full conversations while "racing" a 5K, so you may be right.
People start threads on here from time to time asking how to break 20 minutes in a 5K. I always think....ummmm....just like....ummmm.....do it? I broke 20 as a little 10-year-old kid with basically random nonsense training of 5 miles per week.
Exactly! The only able-bodied men who should have difficulty breaking 20 are those with minimal training, the severely obese, and the elderly. It's 19:59, not 14:59.
The military PF Test are good examples of what young able bodied men should run. I would say most are around 24-27 minute 5k equivalents.
Sometimes people just do stuff for fun? Maybe they don't care about placing. They just want to exercise and meet a few people. A5k is ready like that. Congrats on being fast without trying.
Fishing is a great hobby and provides you with cheap fresh fish. Fishing gear can be purchased cheaply and you tube has lots of info on how to get started. I catch lots of my families food and it is great exercise. I catch fish while I am walking my dogs and I live in the suburbs of a major city. There are lots of clubs where you could meet like minded people and can learn all the rules. Jogger
As well as getting out of the house, what makes running interesting for me is trying different things and seeing if my fitness improves. The problem with smart watches and strava is it starts becoming a comparison game.
I'm in my mid 30s and haven't run more than 10-12 mpw since 2012. No workouts, no cross training, and barely any racing.
I ran a 5K a few weeks ago, got a 20:47, and easily finished in the top 10% of all men.
My question is, why is everyone else so slow? Many of them are doing more training than I am, and it's not like I'm a talented ex-track star either. I wouldn't have been able to walk on to any college with the possible exception of the absolute worst D3 schools. And even then, I'd probably be the slowest guy on the team (my lifetime 1500 PR is 4:40 set in 2011, and that's my best event).
Is everyone else just stopping at the first sign of discomfort or something?
I can sense this air of superiority from others when I swim in the pool and every last person regardless of age, size, technique or physical ability is lapping me.
Hobby joggers are the worst! They suck. I mean, right?
We are so superior to them. LOL.
I spend most of my waking hours in a park with binoculars watching hobby joggers and wondering how and why they do what they do. How is even possible to run that slow? At night I dream of how stupid and ridiculous hobby joggers are.
I couldn't run over an 8 minute mile if I tried. Is that even "running"? I mean, I have been superior to those fat waddlers since 6th grade.
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