Usually people who are obsessed with something actually love that thing. I'd say I've always been obsessed by running and never got close to this guy's 5,000 time, which is a time maybe 99% of the people running 5,000s can't run and even against a background of nothing but D1 runners is much faster than most of his competitors. Most importantly I think, is that when he's middle aged or older and is sure his best days are behind him he isn't going to regret not knowing how good he could have been at something he loved because he never put everything he had into answering that question.
That’s a lot of talk from someone who never lettered. You and OP are just jealous that you both lacked the ability, grit, and determination to be varsity winning lettermen.
So I recently saw the social media profile of a D1 college runner and went down the rabbit hole of researching him and it left me feeling a little depressed.
So this guy appears to have been running super high mileage from a young age, with a 5k time of around 15:10 at age 14. He then stagnated, failing to improve at all over the next 2 years. Fast forward a couple more years and he's improved slightly, and gets a scholarship to a D1 US college.
He seemed to be doing pretty well there, got a 14:10 5k in Spring 2024. But the thing you need to know about this guy is that he is OBSESSED with trying to maximize his running performance. He runs 100 miles a week, does all the popular fads (double thresholds, lactate testing), and reads all the academic literature. Recently he made an instagram post detailing a workout he did and said he took bicarb before the workout, go figure. He is totally maxed out. There is nothing else he can do to improve his performance.
In spite of all this, his best result was only around 14:10 again in the 2025 outdoor season. He still has two years of college left so has time to improve, but imagine the pressure this kid must be under. Especially from the college and coaches that have invested tremendous resources in him. And of course he is majoring in EXERCISE SCIENCE... because why have a backup plan when you are hellbent on becoming a career athlete?
He made another post on instagram recently talking about all the work he's put into the sport and how it might not pay off now or in a year but that it will pay off 'eventually'. It feels like he's in denial and trying to cope with his situation.
It just put things into perspective for me that there are hundreds of kids just like this guy who are convinced they are going to become Olympians but then hit their ceiling midway through college and the money eventually dries up and they are dumped on their asses after graduation, left to fend for themselves in the civilian world.
I’d be thrilled to run 100 miles per week, bicarbonate, strength, double T and end up at 14:10. That’s an awesome time. I don’t think it’s a problem that he ran 15:10 as a youngster.
This is how everything in life works for everyone. If your only definition of success is being the best at something, you will be bitterly disappointed for the rest of your life. I didn't have the best college coach in terms of his training but I came away from college understanding that there are many ways running (and life) can be rewarding and meaningful that don't require being better than everyone else.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned that exercise science is an actual major. You have to take chem, bio, and all the other classes stem majors take. And there are really solid career prospects as well.
So I recently saw the social media profile of a D1 college runner and went down the rabbit hole of researching him and it left me feeling a little depressed.
So this guy appears to have been running super high mileage from a young age, with a 5k time of around 15:10 at age 14. He then stagnated, failing to improve at all over the next 2 years. Fast forward a couple more years and he's improved slightly, and gets a scholarship to a D1 US college.
He seemed to be doing pretty well there, got a 14:10 5k in Spring 2024. But the thing you need to know about this guy is that he is OBSESSED with trying to maximize his running performance. He runs 100 miles a week, does all the popular fads (double thresholds, lactate testing), and reads all the academic literature. Recently he made an instagram post detailing a workout he did and said he took bicarb before the workout, go figure. He is totally maxed out. There is nothing else he can do to improve his performance.
In spite of all this, his best result was only around 14:10 again in the 2025 outdoor season. He still has two years of college left so has time to improve, but imagine the pressure this kid must be under. Especially from the college and coaches that have invested tremendous resources in him. And of course he is majoring in EXERCISE SCIENCE... because why have a backup plan when you are hellbent on becoming a career athlete?
He made another post on instagram recently talking about all the work he's put into the sport and how it might not pay off now or in a year but that it will pay off 'eventually'. It feels like he's in denial and trying to cope with his situation.
It just put things into perspective for me that there are hundreds of kids just like this guy who are convinced they are going to become Olympians but then hit their ceiling midway through college and the money eventually dries up and they are dumped on their asses after graduation, left to fend for themselves in the civilian world.
You could add 5 minutes to all the times you listed, and it will still be less depressing than making an anonymous post like this.
Look this guy up, it sounds a lot like Matthanso/Matthew Hansen
I assumed this was who it’s about as well. Obviously I don’t know him, but he seems like a well adjusted guy who’s super into running. Makes some good content that provides actual training advice which I think is useful in the crowded running influencer space filled with many who clearly know nothing about running. No good reason to hate on him.
So I recently saw the social media profile of a D1 college runner and went down the rabbit hole of researching him and it left me feeling a little depressed.
So this guy appears to have been running super high mileage from a young age, with a 5k time of around 15:10 at age 14. He then stagnated, failing to improve at all over the next 2 years. Fast forward a couple more years and he's improved slightly, and gets a scholarship to a D1 US college.
He seemed to be doing pretty well there, got a 14:10 5k in Spring 2024. But the thing you need to know about this guy is that he is OBSESSED with trying to maximize his running performance. He runs 100 miles a week, does all the popular fads (double thresholds, lactate testing), and reads all the academic literature. Recently he made an instagram post detailing a workout he did and said he took bicarb before the workout, go figure. He is totally maxed out. There is nothing else he can do to improve his performance.
In spite of all this, his best result was only around 14:10 again in the 2025 outdoor season. He still has two years of college left so has time to improve, but imagine the pressure this kid must be under. Especially from the college and coaches that have invested tremendous resources in him. And of course he is majoring in EXERCISE SCIENCE... because why have a backup plan when you are hellbent on becoming a career athlete?
He made another post on instagram recently talking about all the work he's put into the sport and how it might not pay off now or in a year but that it will pay off 'eventually'. It feels like he's in denial and trying to cope with his situation.
It just put things into perspective for me that there are hundreds of kids just like this guy who are convinced they are going to become Olympians but then hit their ceiling midway through college and the money eventually dries up and they are dumped on their asses after graduation, left to fend for themselves in the civilian world.
Ahhh....
The reality of being (or trying to be) an elite runner. It ain't easy, and if it was, everyone would be doing it.
Different than D1 for sure, but I had a D3 friend that would always run between 3:58-4:03 and 14:48-15:10 no matter where he was in his training cycle. Indoors/outdoors/ in the middle of XC. He trained hard and suffered through a stress fracture his junior year, but he was extremely consistent and periodized, etc. It was just uncanny. I don't think he ever got any faster, either. I think he ran a 2:27 years later, so there's that. But he trained real hard and that was the best he could do.
Usually people who are obsessed with something actually love that thing. I'd say I've always been obsessed by running and never got close to this guy's 5,000 time, which is a time maybe 99% of the people running 5,000s can't run and even against a background of nothing but D1 runners is much faster than most of his competitors. Most importantly I think, is that when he's middle aged or older and is sure his best days are behind him he isn't going to regret not knowing how good he could have been at something he loved because he never put everything he had into answering that question.
Didn't you make a post saying you require a walker due to running injuries
So I recently saw the social media profile of a D1 college runner and went down the rabbit hole of researching him and it left me feeling a little depressed.
So this guy appears to have been running super high mileage from a young age, with a 5k time of around 15:10 at age 14. He then stagnated, failing to improve at all over the next 2 years. Fast forward a couple more years and he's improved slightly, and gets a scholarship to a D1 US college.
He seemed to be doing pretty well there, got a 14:10 5k in Spring 2024. But the thing you need to know about this guy is that he is OBSESSED with trying to maximize his running performance. He runs 100 miles a week, does all the popular fads (double thresholds, lactate testing), and reads all the academic literature. Recently he made an instagram post detailing a workout he did and said he took bicarb before the workout, go figure. He is totally maxed out. There is nothing else he can do to improve his performance.
In spite of all this, his best result was only around 14:10 again in the 2025 outdoor season. He still has two years of college left so has time to improve, but imagine the pressure this kid must be under. Especially from the college and coaches that have invested tremendous resources in him. And of course he is majoring in EXERCISE SCIENCE... because why have a backup plan when you are hellbent on becoming a career athlete?
He made another post on instagram recently talking about all the work he's put into the sport and how it might not pay off now or in a year but that it will pay off 'eventually'. It feels like he's in denial and trying to cope with his situation.
It just put things into perspective for me that there are hundreds of kids just like this guy who are convinced they are going to become Olympians but then hit their ceiling midway through college and the money eventually dries up and they are dumped on their asses after graduation, left to fend for themselves in the civilian world.
Seems like there is simply too much over-thinking on your part. When you are that age you are simply in the moment. I entered D1 as a high potential as I medaled at U20 USA and earned a full scholarship. My freshman year was a super slow start as I adjusted to the training, but by the end my talent and competitiveness put me 2nd on the team. I only got better from there, learning day after day week after week month after month, racing NCAA Champions quite competitively all while enjoying college life and big miles (110m peak). I never got to run in super shoes or test with lactate meters or have bi-carb, but my times hold their own and now I still run at a competitive level while working an F100 job. There's nothing like your high school and college experience. You are young, can recover, can hammer and can dream.
That's the best way to do it--still kill the local elites on the road but make 100k or more in LCOL or 250k or more in MCOL, etc. areas. STEM is where it is at.
Different than D1 for sure, but I had a D3 friend that would always run between 3:58-4:03 and 14:48-15:10 no matter where he was in his training cycle. Indoors/outdoors/ in the middle of XC. He trained hard and suffered through a stress fracture his junior year, but he was extremely consistent and periodized, etc. It was just uncanny. I don't think he ever got any faster, either. I think he ran a 2:27 years later, so there's that. But he trained real hard and that was the best he could do.