I don't have any expectations of being a world beater, or even a good amateur runner, but how do I adjust my mindset to deal with being absolutely bereft of any talent in an activity that I really enjoy? For example, my best 200m time is barely any faster than what decent high school girls would split in the opening 200m of a 600 or 800.
Just run, baby
I guess maybe you don't enter 200 meter races.
we need some details. Weight, height? Age?
From my experience
1st you need to lose some of that er 'weight'?
2. After you drop the 40 lbs load up on the miles. Start with 15mpw, then work your way up to 100mpw. But take at least 1 day off a week.
3. You are probably a weakling as well so lift weights 3 times a week.
4. And you are probs very slow too no doubt. Do some strides or build ups or diagonals at least 2 times a week. Start with a jog and build up to a full jog, i mean sprint.
5. Next do some hills, I think 2 days a week maybe 100m hills?
6. If you are lazy as I suspect watch some Goggins videos on youtube you need the come to jesus talk.
Oh and Every 4th week take 3 days off to recover.
Do this plan for 2 years then report back to the forum.
david45 ...
How do I deal with it? I just accept that I'm a no talent and carry on. Really that simple mate.
All burrito diet.
flyingfrog wrote:
we need some details. Weight, height? Age?
From my experience
1st you need to lose some of that er 'weight'?
2. After you drop the 40 lbs load up on the miles. Start with 15mpw, then work your way up to 100mpw. But take at least 1 day off a week.
3. You are probably a weakling as well so lift weights 3 times a week.
4. And you are probs very slow too no doubt. Do some strides or build ups or diagonals at least 2 times a week. Start with a jog and build up to a full jog, i mean sprint.
5. Next do some hills, I think 2 days a week maybe 100m hills?
6. If you are lazy as I suspect watch some Goggins videos on youtube you need the come to jesus talk.
Oh and Every 4th week take 3 days off to recover.
Do this plan for 2 years then report back to the forum.
150 lbs
5'10
28
1. I'm more interested in the short-distances (though I have a fascination and tons of respect/appreciation for long distance running events and the awesome athleticism displayed by professionals in them)
3. You're probably right on the weakling thing: the only access I have to weights are a set of adjustable dumbbells that go up to 180 lbs (in total) that I sometimes do squats and dumbbells with (so there's no more room for progression here), but I've read that sprinters can easily handle twice their bodyweight with these lower leg lifts.
4. Very true on this point. 200m time is barely scratching under 27. I'm looking for a training plan since I'm clueless on how to train aside from doing some top speed work once every two weeks or so.
5. Will incorporate the hills; think they might help for acceleration?
6. This could be an issue too, though I certainly feel like I've been willing to put in the work lol.
not this all over again is it wrote:
david45 ...
Was totally expecting this: knew I should have put a disclaimer in my OP about this lol
Is this guy rarded- I really hope I can adopt that kind of thinking :/. Would make running much more stress free
Let it Rupp wrote:
All burrito diet.
You know, eating the burrito was only an excuse for Houlihan's positive test. If the OP wants to cheat, he needs to buy the real stuff and collect receipts for burrito purchases in case he gets busted.
First are you in the right event - for example, someone who can't sprint a solid 200 probably won't excel at the 800
Secondly, the way to deal with it is to run more and outrain everyone. You'll still get beat by super talented highly motivated guys, but you'll beat a lot more people if you just run substantially more mileage than them in training. You have to be doing the right training though - not just easy mileage.
Do just like the brojos and bag on any and every more accomplished runner, including any perceived advantage like shoes, contracts, etc.
Everyone (even the pros) has a range of the best they could do to the worst they could be.
The goal is to try to maximize your abilities. How do you do that? Try a range of races and see what you like, then find a training plan and try to get better.
Learn to find enjoyment in the process itself. Look inward instead of outward. Forget comparing yourself to others, just compare your present self to your past self. Faster than last year? Progress = enjoyment. A well run workout for it's own sake = enjoyment. We're all hobby joggers here. The only reward is the process itself. That's motivation enough for me to continue with 80 mile weeks. Maybe I'll end ep beating a few in the local turkey trot.
banmkd;lac wrote:
I don't have any expectations of being a world beater, or even a good amateur runner, but how do I adjust my mindset to deal with being absolutely bereft of any talent in an activity that I really enjoy? For example, my best 200m time is barely any faster than what decent high school girls would split in the opening 200m of a 600 or 800.
You may have a future in Ultras
If you're not an athletic runner, go longer until you find your distance.
The longer the distance, the less your genetics matter and instead determination and perseverance are bigger factors for success.
banmkd;lac wrote:
I don't have any expectations of being a world beater, or even a good amateur runner, but how do I adjust my mindset to deal with being absolutely bereft of any talent in an activity that I really enjoy? For example, my best 200m time is barely any faster than what decent high school girls would split in the opening 200m of a 600 or 800.
I went from a 22 minute 5k runner as a freshman to a 16:00 runner as a senior, barely making all-state. I did it because I WORKED MY @SS OFF.
Then I went to college and WORKED MY @SS OFF until I overtrained into oblivion and sucked.
Running is a balance. Stick with it. Just getting in long-term consistent training and you will improve. All you can do is improve.
Based on your build and slow-twitch-ness, you could become a local legend on the 5k scene. I have your exact build and I’d probably run a 30 flat out 200, but I am literally still coping w not running well in hs/ not being successful in general by running well in local 5ks
If you feel like your speed isn't good, you can work on it, just like you work on your aerobic capacity! Strides, short hill sprints, short intervals with lots of rest! Start once a week and work up to 3 times a week.
And stop hanging out with trail runners, if that's something you happen to do. They will sap away your speed by their mere presence.
My freshman year my 200m pb was 30.8. I didn’t break 30 minutes in the 5k freshman year. I’m a freshman in college now and I run 26s during repeats and 28.xs for 800m. Start coping by no longer letting anyone including yourself tell you how fast or slow you can or can’t run. Train hard and get faster.
banmkd;lac wrote:
I don't have any expectations of being a world beater, or even a good amateur runner, but how do I adjust my mindset to deal with being absolutely bereft of any talent in an activity that I really enjoy? For example, my best 200m time is barely any faster than what decent high school girls would split in the opening 200m of a 600 or 800.
It's all relative. There's always someone better or worse.
You said you don't have world-class expectations, so what matters most is doing/being your best, not bench-marking against others.