When will I plateau?

Training Advice/Discussion 5k/10k

3 years ago 01/24/2021 9:11pm EST

I’m a 24F who has been running since summer 2019. That summer I did a 10k time trial in 54:55. Today, I did a 10k time trial in 40:40...and I honestly think that if I had the pressure of a race I would’ve gone sub 40. In November I did a half-marathon time trial in 01:31:53 and I think I’m in better shape now, and I’m working on racing strategies.

I seem to improve consistently every month and I have not hit anything that would resemble a plateau. Ive worked my way up to about 50 MPW, with consistent long runs, tempo runs, fartleks, interval sessions, and easy runs. My question is this - when am I going to hit a wall and stop improving? It’s gotta happen eventually...approximately what 5k/10k/half marathon times will I get to and then this consistent improvement will just stop? Lol

3 years ago 01/24/2021 9:18pm EST

re: runninggirl1996

Soon enough.

Don't worry about it. The nice thing with running is that you have a steep learning curve in the beginning with a lot of nice PRs. You might get under 40 minutes for 10k with not to much effort but you might never get under 39 minutes or 38 minutes.

Make sure you listen to your body, not race to much after covid ends and give your body a break after each season.

Good luck.

3 years ago 01/24/2021 9:36pm EST

re: runninggirl1996

runninggirl1996 wrote:
I’m a 24F who has been running since summer 2019. That summer I did a 10k time trial in 54:55. Today, I did a 10k time trial in 40:40...and I honestly think that if I had the pressure of a race I would’ve gone sub 40. In November I did a half-marathon time trial in 01:31:53 and I think I’m in better shape now, and I’m working on racing strategies.
I seem to improve consistently every month and I have not hit anything that would resemble a plateau. Ive worked my way up to about 50 MPW, with consistent long runs, tempo runs, fartleks, interval sessions, and easy runs. My question is this - when am I going to hit a wall and stop improving? It’s gotta happen eventually...approximately what 5k/10k/half marathon times will I get to and then this consistent improvement will just stop? Lol

It takes 10-15 years to fully develop the aerobic system for running.

The reason the Kenyan's and Ingebrigtsen are already so good at 19/20 is because they start running so early in their life and build the aerobic miles. At 9 Ingebrigtsen was setting youth records, and Kenyans are already logging plenty of miles running to school and back each day.

This is good news for you - you can get faster and faster, there are no limits. How fast you get depends mostly on your talent level and also how much time you are going to devote to running. Also motivation is a key factor, lots of people make rapid progress at the start but when it gets harder to progress give up or become inconsistent. You also need to be prepared that there will be periods of time where you won't progress, but even then you need to keep running and eventually all things will fall into place again and you will set new PRs.

Example of famous female late bloomers are Priscilla Welch and Sinead Diver.

Good luck on your running journey!

3 years ago 01/24/2021 11:25pm EST

re: runninggirl1996

As others have mentioned, if you keep training hard/smart and stay injury free, you could continue to improve for another decade. But, the largest improvements are of course at the beginning. The improvement will be smaller every year, until you might be just trying to PR by 5 or 10 seconds in the 10k in a season.

3 years ago 01/25/2021 12:12am EST

re: runninggirl1996

In your mid to late 30s.

Reply Replying to

Username

Password

Leave the password field blank to post anonymously.

Post Preview

By posting you acknowledge that you have read and abide by our Terms and Conditions.

Remember me on this device.

When will I plateau?

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

You have been subscribed.

When will I plateau?

Follow runninggirl1996

Block runninggirl1996

Follow LateRunnerPhil

Block LateRunnerPhil

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

Reply Replying to

You have been subscribed.