thought I was a long distance guy. Now I'm just confused

High School Running Distance

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5 months ago 12/28/2025 12:55pm EST

My parents both ran d1 in college. My dad was best at 5k/10k/xc, and was a multiple time conference champ. Just off genetics, I thought I would be a long distance runner, and I like long distance. Last year, loved the 3200, and love xc, maybe want to try to run super fast in the marathon one day. I am 6'0 on the dot, 137 pounds. However, last season I could only manage a 17:19 5k on xc and roads, and ran 4:29 mile. I also ran 9:50 2mi. Now I'm just confused. I train like a distance guy with a lot of threshold/tempo work and now run decent milage as of this year, and this xc season have ran in the mid 15:20s, maybe was capable of sub 15:20, or maybe not. Who knows, but it's past now. Which event should I focus on in the fastest races of the season?

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:13pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

What did your mom do? Athletic ability and mitochondrial potential come primarily from the mothers DNA.

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:15pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

Yes, please tell us more about Mom

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:16pm EST

re: Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel wrote:
What did your mom do? Athletic ability and mitochondrial potential come primarily from the mothers DNA.

she was injured after FR season, got a little burned out and went back to graduate in a different degree but now she's 39 and runs in the mid 16s on the roads. Never been injured again.

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:28pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

Look up EJ Johnson. Magic Johnson’s kid.

Then forget about any genetic predisposition that you think you may have.

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:36pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

daaazedandconfused wrote:
she was injured after FR season, got a little burned out and went back to graduate in a different degree but now she's 39 and runs in the mid 16s on the roads. Never been injured again.

Wait, your 39 y/o mother is faster than you? I think I know her. Ask her why she hasn’t cashed the child support check this month and report back.

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:39pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

daaazedandconfused wrote:
My parents both ran d1 in college. My dad was best at 5k/10k/xc, and was a multiple time conference champ. Just off genetics, I thought I would be a long distance runner, and I like long distance. Last year, loved the 3200, and love xc, maybe want to try to run super fast in the marathon one day. I am 6'0 on the dot, 137 pounds. However, last season I could only manage a 17:19 5k on xc and roads, and ran 4:29 mile. I also ran 9:50 2mi. Now I'm just confused. I train like a distance guy with a lot of threshold/tempo work and now run decent milage as of this year, and this xc season have ran in the mid 15:20s, maybe was capable of sub 15:20, or maybe not. Who knows, but it's past now. Which event should I focus on in the fastest races of the season?

What's your mother's height and weight compared to you?

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:40pm EST

re: SmallWorld

SmallWorld wrote:
daaazedandconfused wrote:
she was injured after FR season, got a little burned out and went back to graduate in a different degree but now she's 39 and runs in the mid 16s on the roads. Never been injured again.
Wait, your 39 y/o mother is faster than you? I think I know her. Ask her why she hasn’t cashed the child support check this month and report back.

no, she ran like 19-18high last year. I did not run many miles outside of practice during xc and NO workouts. My mom has upped training this year. I ran 15:24.9 she runs 16:40

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:41pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

daaazedandconfused wrote:
Gregor Mendel wrote:
What did your mom do? Athletic ability and mitochondrial potential come primarily from the mothers DNA.
she was injured after FR season, got a little burned out and went back to graduate in a different degree but now she's 39 and runs in the mid 16s on the roads. Never been injured again.

yeah this is a troll thread

5 months ago 12/28/2025 1:49pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

Buddy you ran 15:24 in the 5k and did no workouts before the season? Are you in high school? Wha is giving you the impression you are not a long distance guy?

5 months ago 12/28/2025 2:25pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

Becoming a good runner and reaching your full potential takes years. Don't make assumptions about yourself, just train and run. I'm assuming you are in HS, so run every event you can run - 400m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m, 4x800, 4x400. Mix it up. The more you race, the better runner you will be.

5 months ago 12/28/2025 2:34pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

If you drive a Ridgeline, run distance.

If you drive a Chevy on straight pipes, do sprints

5 months ago 12/28/2025 2:46pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

daaazedandconfused wrote:
My parents both ran d1 in college. My dad was best at 5k/10k/xc, and was a multiple time conference champ. Just off genetics, I thought I would be a long distance runner, and I like long distance. Last year, loved the 3200, and love xc, maybe want to try to run super fast in the marathon one day. I am 6'0 on the dot, 137 pounds. However, last season I could only manage a 17:19 5k on xc and roads, and ran 4:29 mile. I also ran 9:50 2mi. Now I'm just confused. I train like a distance guy with a lot of threshold/tempo work and now run decent milage as of this year, and this xc season have ran in the mid 15:20s, maybe was capable of sub 15:20, or maybe not. Who knows, but it's past now. Which event should I focus on in the fastest races of the season?

Try a range of race distances if you can. You're young, don't put yourself in a box or restrict yourself when it comes to running. It sounds like you're basing too much on what your parents excelled at.

5 months ago 12/28/2025 3:51pm EST

re: fish backwards

fish backwards wrote:
Buddy you ran 15:24 in the 5k and did no workouts before the season? Are you in high school? Wha is giving you the impression you are not a long distance guy?

that was last season. Only 17:20 then

5 months ago 12/28/2025 7:35pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

daaazedandconfused wrote:
SmallWorld wrote:
Wait, your 39 y/o mother is faster than you? I think I know her. Ask her why she hasn’t cashed the child support check this month and report back.
no, she ran like 19-18high last year. I did not run many miles outside of practice during xc and NO workouts. My mom has upped training this year. I ran 15:24.9 she runs 16:40

What has her training looked like when she ran 18-19 and when she ran 16:40? What does “upped her training” mean, more specifically?

5 months ago 12/28/2025 7:49pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

daaazedandconfused wrote:
My parents both ran d1 in college. My dad was best at 5k/10k/xc, and was a multiple time conference champ. Just off genetics, I thought I would be a long distance runner, and I like long distance. Last year, loved the 3200, and love xc, maybe want to try to run super fast in the marathon one day. I am 6'0 on the dot, 137 pounds. However, last season I could only manage a 17:19 5k on xc and roads, and ran 4:29 mile. I also ran 9:50 2mi. Now I'm just confused. I train like a distance guy with a lot of threshold/tempo work and now run decent milage as of this year, and this xc season have ran in the mid 15:20s, maybe was capable of sub 15:20, or maybe not. Who knows, but it's past now. Which event should I focus on in the fastest races of the season?

Not everyone is cut out for this sport. I'm sure you'd make a great equipment manager.

5 months ago 12/28/2025 7:49pm EST

re: daaazedandconfused

5 months ago 12/28/2025 8:02pm EST

re: Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel wrote:
What did your mom do? Athletic ability and mitochondrial potential come primarily from the mothers DNA.

You are confusing mitochondrial DNA markers to actual mitochondrial performance

Maybe he is a 'throw back' and has Great Uncle Tom The Couch Potato's genes

5 months ago 12/28/2025 9:28pm EST

re: I am Sam

I am Sam wrote:
Gregor Mendel wrote:
What did your mom do? Athletic ability and mitochondrial potential come primarily from the mothers DNA.
You are confusing mitochondrial DNA markers to actual mitochondrial performance
Maybe he is a 'throw back' and has Great Uncle Tom The Couch Potato's genes

So you’re saying he should be running the 100?

5 months ago 12/28/2025 10:58pm EST

re: Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel wrote:
What did your mom do? Athletic ability and mitochondrial potential come primarily from the mothers DNA.

FALSE. Your athletic ability doesn't not come from mothers mitochondria dna. This is a gross misunderstanding of genetics. Your athletic ability comes from both parents, mostly from the parent who has the best athltic ability.

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thought I was a long distance guy. Now I'm just confused

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