Why you did not become an elite runner?

I am just a polite runner. I would have crushed everybody but I just choose not to, so that the others have a go as well.

Started at age 31 and I'm slow af

My lack of elite times was my major impediment to becoming an elite runner.

My parents' bad genes.

Because I wanted to stay male.

My downfall was my mental game. Overly anxious days before the race and unable to execute led to always running poor races.

post collegiate, got my mind right, and was able to run almost as fast with practically 1/3 the training

Not just in running, but in life by the time I was in middle school I was not comfortable letting myself win.

… You can look at the menu, but you just can't eat
You can feel the cushions, but you can't have a seat
You can dip your foot in the pool, but you can't have a swim
You can feel the punishment, but you can't commit the sin
… And you want her, and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
… You can build a mansion, but you just can't live in it
You're the fastest runner but you're not allowed to win
Some break the rules, and let you count the cost
The insecurity is the thing that won't get lost
… And you want her, and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
… You can see the summit but you can't reach it
It's the last piece of the puzzle but you just can't make it fit
Doctor says you're cured but you still feel the pain
Aspirations in the clouds but your hopes go down the drain
… And you want her, and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
… No one ever is to blame
No one ever is to blame

I was selling some old cassette tapes to a vintage record store this week. I just pulled the Howard Jones one out because my ex girlfriend wants it. I remember this song playing loud from some dorm while I was running on LSU campus back in 1986.

Elite runners don't come from Louisiana. I'm proof.

I had a $65,000 job waiting for me. $101,000 in 2022 dollars. I used to think that was a lot of money.

Barely made all american in xc. Barely missed all american in track. Not necessarily special, but wish I chased the dream another couple years.

If you have the genetic talent to be an elite runner, it will mostly likely happen, usually by the time you're 20.

I was a multi-time All-American… but not in D1. My times gave me no reason to think I could be truly national class. Maybe I had a slim chance, but I’ve been able to coach in the sport for decades, and have no regrets about staying involved that way instead of trying to chase a low-percentage dream when I would never have been sponsored right out of school.

I didn't become elite because I picked the wrong parents. Love 'em both, and they gave me a lot of other genetic gifts, but athletic/running prowess was not one of them.

I didn't reach my full potential in the sport because I basically gave up when I plateaued in college. Not enough consistent aerobic development. It's one of my biggest regrets in life, and yes, I consider myself fortunate in that my lack of achievement in D3 hobbyjogging stands as one of my biggest regrets. I really can't complain in the grand scheme of things.

Plenty of leg speed, but no engine. I ran a 4:10 mile as a sophomore in high school, but hated cross country the minute I stepped on the field. Three miles is too long for me.

I blame out coaching. Not saying that I would have become elite, but I believe I could have run in college. We ran like 15 miles a week in highschool with basically no workouts. I gave up running from highschool to age 32 and smashed my highschool PRs in 6 months. Reading Jack Daniel's running formula blew my mind. I had no idea people had different speeds for workouts

I don’t see how you can blame your coach for you running 15mpw in HS. With morning runs and a long one over the weekend you could have easily run 60+. Did you not talk to runners from other HSs or check out LR to learn how distance runners train?

Because I was a 5'11, 240lb fat b*tch shotputter.

Given that we don't know what makes elite runners elite we cannot know what keeps most of us from becoming so aside aside from knowing that like any other activity there will be a very small number of people whose performances fall at each extreme end of the Bell Curve. I imagine there are a handful people here who had performances that suggest they could have been elite had they seriously made the effort but did not for one reason or another. But they don't truly know that. For my part, I never gave up. I'm still trying but the odds of success are getting worse all the time.

When I worked up to higher mileage around 100 MPW and after several years of stagnation around sub 2:30 and sub 1:10 realized I likely don't have any room for major improvement. It's likely not in the genes for me.

Started running properly during the lockdown at age 32. Ran a 38:14 10k in my first race last autumn. Recently ran 36:33. I think I can get it down to 35 minutes but then I will probably stagnate unless I have another jump in fitness. At the moment I am enjoying trying out new things because I've had a few major jumps in fitness, but I'm running out of things to tweak. Ironically, I've improved by reducing mileage and doing more intensity. I could probably get a massive improvement in the marathon (recently managed sub 3... just) but that takes a lot more dedication so it's more fun to run 5k/10k.