5k/800m goals
Okay so I’m writing this after competing at the sectionals meet today and yesterday. At sectionals I unfortunately did not make state. I’m writing this so I can maybe get a prediction of what 5k time I can run this xc season and what 800m time I can run next track season. Right now my goals are sub 18 and sub 2. (May be a little ambitious but idc)
So I started running January 2020. I was a freshman and was having my first track season. I didn’t really care about track at all. I ran a 5:39 1600 and a 59.48 400m in the 2 or 3 meets we had.
May 2020 is where I started running more. I decided to do cross country and probably averaged 20-25 mpw in June on all easy runs. July we started doing workouts. Later in the season, I started getting a little more serious and probably averaged ~30 mpw in October/November. My pr for the season was 19:36 (on milesplit it says 18:46 but we learned that that course was 200m short so I don’t count it). I also ran a half marathon in 1:51 a week after the season ended. It was a trail run and involved running through a lot of water and mud.
Over the winter I just wanted to build up a good mileage base. I peaked at 45 mpw in early January with a long run of 14 miles. My run paces were mostly 8-8:30. I didn’t really do any workouts and no speed, I only really did strides every once in a while.
During track season mileage was pretty low. If I had to guess it was ~20 mpw. I trained with the distance guys which I think might not have been best for me. Also near the end of the season I could not do long runs fast any more. My long run pace was ~9:10 the last few weeks (long runs were no more than 5-6 miles last month of season). My pr for the 800m was 2:10.55 (although I ran a 2:07 relay split). Other prs: 3200: 11:42 (ran once) 1600: 5:15 (ran once). I also ran a 5k road race in February and ran 20:51 (it was the morning after a night meet where I ran the 800/1600 and it wasn’t 100% effort).
This summer I want to get to around 50 mpw while also doing speed work and other things to keep me trained for the 800. I’ve researched a lot of 800 training and I think I have a pretty good idea of what to do.
Anyways, are my goals realistic? Sub 18 and sub 2? I just want some feedback. Thank you in advance.