When should a 3:38 guy give up the dream?

Hardloper wrote:

Hardloper wrote:

Over 20? Just how many Americans (Lagat included) broke 3:38 before turning 20????

I'll answer that for you. Jim Ryun, Tom Byers, Alan Webb by conversion. GF by generous conversion. That's it, no one else will be a great 1500m runner.

Dub Myers from Oregon was 19/20 in 1984 when he ran 3:37 to place high at NCAAs and the Olympic Trials.

He's a guy who could have been one of the all-time great U.S. milers if he hadn't gotten injured, married, and moved on with his life.

i Think it depends on how much he is training at the moment and if he feels he can improve. i Think its all about indivdual progress. going sub 4 for the 1500 can be as noble as goal as goin under 3.35. it doesnt matter. as long as the guy has financial support and the love for the running i Think he should go for it. and whats the Dream anyways? you americans alsways talk about the "Dream". but the struggle is whats its all about. Eye of the tiger. remmember that Movie? Hollywood. to keep pushin. desire.

Hi, i am 27 now and i haven't run for 10 years for now..but i used to run 800 at 2:05 at age of 16...schools, collages and works took my last 10 years .i am not a active runner or not active in any sports,even i had put lots of weight and recently i had a thought something is missing in my life, i was out of shape, so started motivating myself and started going for GYM and reduced my weight and and am fit and feels 10 years younger now. I was training all old school days training. I recently got a chance to hit a track recently, not a race. i wanted to see myself whats i have got in me. but to my surprise i clocked 800 inside 2 min and 1500 in 3:45. Do i have any chance if i get a professional training ? I am a hard working guy and have a attitude to never give up? Suddenly running have become my passion at this age..Do i have a chance to make it Big...?

notme wrote:

When should a 3:38 1500m guy give up and start a career outside of running?

LetsRun.com Update: We have written an article on this topic showing that the oldest first-time Olympian in the pro era for the US is 27-year old Jason Pyrah in 1996: When Should You Give Up

The (Olympic) Dream? We Tell You - The Oldest American First-Time Olympians Revealed

Funny that Pyrah was brought up.

In 1996 I ran 3:42 to qualify for the Olympic Trials.

I was out after the first round. I was about to turn 26 and I knew I had run my last race with full time training.

I gave it up.

On the morning of the 1500m finals, I ate breakfast at the table with Jason Pyrah and Jim Sorenson.

Pyrah said "I barely slept last night." and Sorensen responded "You slept?"

I thought- these guys are going to run terrible today.

Well, with a mad dash and diving at the line, Pyrah finished third and Sorensen second.

All heart, for both.

Pyrah went on to get the Olympic standard and compete in the Olympics, while Sorensen fell short, giving Brian Hyde the third spot.

Sorensen was 29, by the way - so he would have been the oldest first-time Olympian.

He ran 3:38.65 in pursuit and needed 3:38.00.

Here's the race: