Do I move on from Track / running?

Just quit, you posted this before and it is ultra boring. I was top 6 nationally and now can barely walk, boohoo.

Maybe you could give yourself a fresh start. Instead of bogging yourself down with comparisons to your former self, you could look at running from a fresh perspective.

How about an entirely different type of running? Were you a sprinter? Ok, maybe train for 5K -- you could alternate between road races and track.

Did you run distance on the track? All right, maybe train for 10-15K trail runs. The training and skills are different enough that it would be a whole new sport for you.

Or, go longer than before. You could find a new challenge at 50K, 100K, or other ultra distances.

Good luck to you :)

After college many runners lose the drive to train competitively due to focusing on their career, getting married, having kids, etc. You won’t be in that structured environment with a coach or having teammates to join you on every single run. You can get back into good shape. You will need to make it a priority though and maybe find a local running club where you can run long runs/workouts with people at your level. You may still not be able to touch your shorter distance PRs, but maybe set your sights on a new challenge like half marathons and full marathons. Since you’re only 24, I doubt you have run many fulls.

I personally got to a point where I didn’t think I could touch my PRs at and below 5k so I trained for fulls. Once so reached my potential with fulls, I quit competitive running and haven’t regretted it.

Yeah you are 24 and you are old.

Come on, your track times are over but you are just 24.

I started running when I was 20, never did track, but I had a remarkable running career as a mid pack runner. There are so many possibilities out there. Just start with one and keep running.

There is orienteering, trail running, ultra running, ultra trail running, adventure stage racing. So many options and not enough time for all of them.

Just pick one for now and keep moving.

Givetallugot wrote:

After college many runners lose the drive to train competitively due to focusing on their career, getting married, having kids, etc. You won’t be in that structured environment with a coach or having teammates to join you on every single run. You can get back into good shape. You will need to make it a priority though and maybe find a local running club where you can run long runs/workouts with people at your level. You may still not be able to touch your shorter distance PRs, but maybe set your sights on a new challenge like half marathons and full marathons. Since you’re only 24, I doubt you have run many fulls.

This post, and the one that follows it, pretty much sums up my competitive running experience. However, I had no interest or desire to run marathons or even half marathons so I didn't go down that avenue.

At 24, a return to peak fitness is going to come much faster than it will in your 30s or 40s, but these feelings of reliving your "glory days" aren't going to go away. You can either suck it up and realize running isn't going to be fun for some time, try a new sport, or keep moping for the next decade or so. I really don't care. Running doesn't require some special motivation, its just doing it.

Kvothe wrote:

At 24, a return to peak fitness is going to come much faster than it will in your 30s or 40s, but these feelings of reliving your "glory days" aren't going to go away. You can either suck it up and realize running isn't going to be fun for some time, try a new sport, or keep moping for the next decade or so. I really don't care. Running doesn't require some special motivation, its just doing it.

I think hoping for a return to "peak fitness" whatever that means is the wrong approach.

I see running more as part of an active lifestyle. It includes good nutrition and other good healthy choices as well.

I guess some elite runners might have a problem with the fact that they can't be upfront anymore. But I don't think that should matter much. If 24, you still have at least 2 times 24 years left to live. So you better make good choices.

And based on my personal experience, I think the choice you make as a young adult are the most important once for the rest of your life. These decisions will shape big parts of your life.

Of course decision making will never go away but I think you set up your personal trajectory until 30 or so.

There are a lot of great hobbies around and it doesn't have to be running. But the great thing with running is the ability that you can do that until the end of your life. It's cheap and you can fit it in, in any kind of life situation. Sometimes you run more, sometimes you run less.

Volunteer somewhere as a track coach and go help some kids. It's just as fulfilling watching them succeed. Alternately, become a track official. We are suffering a critical shortage of officials in my area.

Hmm, sure everyone should live an active life. For some that can just mean going to the gym, yoga, hiking, whatever. For people like op, I don't think its a question of needing motivation to get off the couch; I don't see that as being what this thread is about. Some people need to chase goals and not just let them go in order to be happy.

I believe at 24 someone who hadn't competed since 18 could still pr with the right training. This is probably a better trajectory for op than just trying to find ways to make running fun, ie running will never be fun unless op believes she is in peak shape or approaching peak shape in a way that it can be achieved in the next season or 2.

Givetallugot wrote:

After college many runners lose the drive to train competitively due to focusing on their career, getting married, having kids, etc. You won’t be in that structured environment with a coach or having teammates to join you on every single run. You can get back into good shape. You will need to make it a priority though and maybe find a local running club where you can run long runs/workouts with people at your level. You may still not be able to touch your shorter distance PRs, but maybe set your sights on a new challenge like half marathons and full marathons. Since you’re only 24, I doubt you have run many fulls.

UK running isn't based around colleges but open clubs which people join at school age and can stay with as long as they have the desire. Almost all the guys in my training squad were working full time and running fast times too.