Runners who are mediocre despite having basic speed and running 80+ MPW

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16 years ago 06/02/2007 3:27pm EDT

re: Mr Arms

Mr Arms wrote:
yo, i had a buddy just like you...
he lived for running for 3 years in HS...ate right, ran 60-70 MPW, did the long runs, did the temop stuff.."looked" like he should be really fast (super skinny and lean)..and he just wasnt that good..
he couldnt run faster than about 5:15 in the mile and 18:00 in the 5k.
got frustrated with his lack of progress and quit...he decided to take up weightlifting and made HUGE gains, in both his lifts and his size...he ended up gaining close to 100lbs of mostly muscle, and got really strong
in short, he was clearly more talented at lifting than he was at running.. .some ppl just arent meant to be great runners..

I actually tried weightlifting a couple of years ago in my freshman year of high school. Problem is, my upper body strength was pretty pathetic (even compared with untrained guys my age), and I never gained a noticeable amount of weight. I'm 5'5, 116 lbs, and not anorexic, but I just couldn't put on the pounds.

Oh, and to whoever it was that said a :26 200m was slow, that's only because I never trained for the sprints. If I trained for it, I'm pretty sure I could run the 200 in the mid 24 range, but I doubt I'd be close to world class or anything. I only joined XC and trained for the mid-distance events because several coaches told me that I'd be really good because I had the body of a distance runner and good natural speed.

FYI, I'm graduating high school this year. My 400PR is 55.9, and my 800PR is 2:07. Never broke 5 in the 1600 or mile.

16 years ago 06/02/2007 4:53pm EDT

re: want my toenails back

want my toenails back wrote:
I actually tried weightlifting a couple of years ago in my freshman year of high school. Problem is, my upper body strength was pretty pathetic (even compared with untrained guys my age), and I never gained a noticeable amount of weight. I'm 5'5, 116 lbs, and not anorexic, but I just couldn't put on the pounds.
Oh, and to whoever it was that said a :26 200m was slow, that's only because I never trained for the sprints. If I trained for it, I'm pretty sure I could run the 200 in the mid 24 range, but I doubt I'd be close to world class or anything. I only joined XC and trained for the mid-distance events because several coaches told me that I'd be really good because I had the body of a distance runner and good natural speed.
FYI, I'm graduating high school this year. My 400PR is 55.9, and my 800PR is 2:07. Never broke 5 in the 1600 or mile.

wow, i feel like i'm reading about myself. i had just about the same PRs(400m - 55, mile - 5:06 and an 18:10 5k my first season in xc) as you when I graduated and the same good basic speed ability. I'm a lot better now though (15:58 5k, 53 400m). What am I doing differently now? I seem to really respond to long, slow runs of like 90+ minutes. I'm talking like within a month or so, I can get back to my previous season's bests. I take most of my mileage pretty easy, like 7 30 pace.

16 years ago 06/02/2007 5:17pm EDT

re: want my toenails back

want my toenails back wrote:
Oh, and to whoever it was that said a :26 200m was slow, that's only because I never trained for the sprints. If I trained for it, I'm pretty sure I could run the 200 in the mid 24 range, but I doubt I'd be close to world class or anything.

Of course you aren't training for the 200m, but to run fast middle distance events you need to have fast top speed now not in the hypothetical future after you applying the "ifs".

A 26 for 200m = 52 for 400m at full sprint (or whatever you want to call it). If you are running an 800 you'll come through the first 400 m in say 56-59. You'll be way too close to your 'hypothetical' 400 pr to feel comfortable. You'd be red-lining for 3/4's of the race.

My suggestion, improve your top speed and ability to feel relaxed while running sub 14 100m pace. Drop the mileage by either 15-40 miles depending if you want to be a 800 or 1500 specialist and what part of the season you are in.

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Runners who are mediocre despite having basic speed and running 80+ MPW

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