When did you realize you had no talent in running?

You know better than t get David45’ed.

I guess you take a deal of pleasure from it in your own way though.

Piano_Man87 wrote:

Talent exists on a spectrum. There are no zero talent people, and there are no 100% talented people.

I'm towards the better than average part for running. Which makes me better than a lot of recreational runners. But not nearly as good as a collegiate runner. I have a crappy VO2max, my feet are too big, hips too wide, and I just don't recover like other people do. That said, I'm pretty proud to be able to run a 36 minute 10K given that I started in the sport struggling to run 9:00/mile.

There are a lot of collegiate runners who can’t break 36. Perhaps most. It’s not just NCAA Nationals out there. There are a LOT of little schools.

It’s weird, I ran mid pack at best in lower and junior high in the PE mile, like 8-9 minutes probably. Then, I went out for xc grade 7 and held my own in practice with the older kids preseason , until a TT of 6:05 in practice early in the season. Ended up running 5:20 that track season

here we go again wrote:

Piano_Man87 wrote:

Talent exists on a spectrum. There are no zero talent people, and there are no 100% talented people.

I'm towards the better than average part for running. Which makes me better than a lot of recreational runners. But not nearly as good as a collegiate runner. I have a crappy VO2max, my feet are too big, hips too wide, and I just don't recover like other people do. That said, I'm pretty proud to be able to run a 36 minute 10K given that I started in the sport struggling to run 9:00/mile.

There are a lot of collegiate runners who can’t break 36. Perhaps most. It’s not just NCAA Nationals out there. There are a LOT of little schools.

Saying they "don't" break 36 is better than saying they "can't." 36:00 in a 10k is achievable by any healthy male who has been running since young adulthood or earlier.

And if anyone disagrees with me, it's because they've convinced themselves that running 60 mpw and being 15% body fat is them working hard and reaching their genetic potential.

calfshrug wrote:

It’s weird, I ran mid pack at best in lower and junior high in the PE mile, like 8-9 minutes probably. Then, I went out for xc grade 7 and held my own in practice with the older kids preseason , until a TT of 6:05 in practice early in the season. Ended up running 5:20 that track season

You are talented in terms of improving from training

I ran 19 miles one day, at 5:14, and called it a day. My VO2 was 79 something. I did the math, and saw a high-2:12 or something marathon, and didn't see a future.

That was a LONG time ago. I still run some, I just run a lot less than a mile in 5:14!

This is swimming bitt...

I thought I finally about to become a bad ass-

Only 16 years old and 4:06 for 400M free

(That is probably like a 4:18 mile).

6 minutes later-

13 year old Kieran Perkins - 4:03

I started running in middle school. By the end of my sophomore year in high school I knew I would never be near the top. People who tried half as hard as me were crushing my times. I hadn't hit my genetic potential by any means but I was working twice as hard for half the results.

It didn't really bother me. I like running in general. Not being the fastest guy out there isn't a big deal.

I ran my fastest 5k end of my sophomore year in 18:34. I did other sports after that as our running teams were stacked with insanely fast runners and I had almost no chance of even placing on JV, the team was really clicky and I had friends in other sports.

18:34 isn't a bad time (I was old for a sophomore though) but not great. I have continued in running mediocrity for two decades now. What is funny is I am considered the fast guy now that everybody is getting older and out of shape.

Your HS team sounds like my school's XC team

Never. Can't realize something that isn't true.

Freshman summer soccer Camp when XC runners joined the team. I tried to hang on but even the coach gave me so 'comforting' words to ease on the pace as I was no runner. Well, years later I gave up soccer and decided to turn to running, still no talent but I proudly say I am faster than my HS self.

This thread certainly makes me feel a little better about myself. The only time I raced a mile was during try-outs in grade 11. Never trained for running before and I ran a 4:55 mile. Ran a 2:05 800m later that summer and 1:55 my senior year. Won a few provincial medals and coach sent me to National a few times where I had the honour of always finishing last in the heats and last in the semi's once .

But the moment I realized I wasn't "good enough" was when I ran 52.75 for 400m a few years back. I was super happy as I always struggled over the one lap race despite my decent 800m times. Just always went out too slow. But with this time I expected big things. 52 is a solid performance, I thought. Then I saw Marco Arop run 47-low and he looked like he was jogging. My fastest 400m time wouldn't even keep up with him for one lap of his 800m. It was the first time I saw what it looks like when a young athlete actually has elite potential.

I always dreamed of racing at the Olympics but how am I suppose to run 1:44 if I can't even handle the pace for one lap? I'm still in my early 20s and training hard, but I know I won't make it. I've seen true elite now. I've trained with it. I'm not good enough. I think I realistically have a shot at breaking 1:50 but it isn't a large chance. I should be happy I'm atleast better than the average shmuck but I still feel devastated that I'm good but not good enough...

It is really jarring when that happens. When I was younger I thought that if I trained as hard as I could I would at least have a shot at being really good.

There was a future olympian on my team though. He was in the same grade as me so I was there as he progressed. I never had any chance. Not even a little. He was a monster hard worker, but I couldn't work that hard if I tried. I would end up injured (and did). His ability to absorb training was nuts.

I still to this day struggle to train as hard as I want. I want to run more miles, push harder but I am extremely injury prone. My body starts to fall apart in the 40-50 mile a week range no matter how slow I build up. Meanwhile my brother could crush me 30 pounds overweight without training for a year.

But as I said before, I still love running. I love the feeling of it. Especially long runs, I wish I could just run for hours.

Nutsack McGee wrote:

You know better than t get David45’ed.

I guess you take a deal of pleasure from it in your own way though.

I was just being honest in telling how not making the HS XC team made me realize I hate little running talent.

When i trained for months for a sub 5 minute 1500m race and got 4:59 in practice.

On race day i ran 5:22...

When I ran 1:15 & 2:40 off of 100mpw.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I believe I have a lot of natural talent that enables me to be quite a good runner.

I ran quite fast , 1:57 800m and 4:01 1500m off the back of playing some American football once a week with friends. Entered the events after being encouraged by a coach at school and won a few races. That was when I was 17.

Unfortunately, I had no work ethic, so quit the sport.

Years later I regret not seeing what I could do with my talent. It’s too late for me now, I’ve pissed it away through years of drinking, smoking and being sedentary.

Moral of the story - talent means next to nothing if you’re a lazy f*cker.

I worked my butt off day and night from the end of sophomore year to the end of senior year to run 2:00 in the 800. My friend got back from a two year break, trained very lightly for a week, and ran 2:03.

I gave up my running dream when I registered a 65.3 VO2 max my freshman year in college. I knew that no matter how hard I trained I would be mediocre at best. Didn't pick my parents correctly! As Peter Coe once said "you can't put in what God left out"!