Hey guys, John here.
Now this is an interesting question, and one I have enjoyed reading the answers too. So, I figure I might give a little perspective from the “good-old-days”.
When I got out of school, of course professional running as we understand it now meant something different, and the concept was still in its infancy. I kept running for the track club named after the school, a lot of guys did that, and then moved around a few of the Mass clubs. I was never a “pro” but I was on the scene, was given a lot of shoes and t shirts, and had the chance to race all over without a lot of burden on my finances.
I worked odd jobs while sticking with the game. Another thing you have to understand is the job opportunities just weren’t there during the first running boom, which left so many of us kids wayward. Some of us found purpose in running, others, well, think of a film like “The Warriors” (go pats!)
I was competitive until about the age of 37, but I still registered a few 51 or 52 minute 10 milers into my mid forties, and surprised myself with a late career 30:15. All this to say, we didn’t ever really hit a hard stop, the same goes for guys a lot faster than me, like Bill, who was still racing in the 90s.
But, by the time I was “done”, my wife and I were ready for kids, I was ready for more stability and a feeling of comfort. So in “retirement” I really started my career. And at first it wasn’t all that, I did retail odds and ends, worked at the old pig factory in Waltham, even went back to the gas station I worked at in high school. All in all happy to raise a family, watch Cheers, and go out near Falmouth in the summers.
Finally I decided to try my hand at putting my old degree to use (I hadn’t previously because of confidence issues), but I digress. Thank the good lord I did because now I am winding down that career, and looking at retirement — for real…
Pro or not, keep trying a few years after college.
All the best,
John