Based on these workouts, what event would you have me run?

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We're Not Friends

7 years ago 03/21/2012 2:07pm CDT

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I'm in my 30's and I've been running for two years now. I've never known what type of event to focus on based on my workout times. Would I be good at the 800-meters, mile, 5K, or even a half marathon?

I'm about to give you some of my best workout times. Go ahead and call me a workout warrior - or even slow - that's fine. Just looking for an opinion what event I might have the best potential for.

Best workouts:

Pyramid 200m-300m-200m x 4 / with 90 second standing rests
(:28, :48, :31, :32, :49, :33, :31, :50, :30, :49, :31)

5x1000 (5K pace) / 200m jog
(3:08, 3:16, 3:20, 3:19, 3:15)

12x200 (all out) / 200m jogs
(0:30-0:28-0:32-0:32-0:33-0:34-0:32-0:31-0:33-0:31-0:30-0:28)

5 mile threshold @ 5:52 pace.

16 mile "marathon pace" @ 6:55 pace.

So, what event given the times above would you have me focus on?
We're Not Friends

7 years ago 03/21/2012 2:10pm CDT
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Looks like I missed adding a split on the Pryamid workout - but you get the idea.
Broken Knees

7 years ago 03/21/2012 2:11pm CDT
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PBs?
We're Not Friends

7 years ago 03/21/2012 2:17pm CDT
re: Broken Knees

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I'm not going to say. It's for you decide what event you'd have me race if I walked on to a team and had to place me in an event.
We're Not Friends

7 years ago 03/21/2012 3:15pm CDT
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BUMP
Hydrite

7 years ago 03/21/2012 3:40pm CDT
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5k or shorter.

There is a little speed in your legs, but at times it looks like endurance suffers a little.

Jurgis Rudkus

7 years ago 03/21/2012 4:29pm CDT
re: Hydrite

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1500, your longer workouts (tempo, 1000s, long run) seem significantly weaker to me than your 200s/300s. Then again I have almost no speed myself so maybe my perspective is flawed.
5ker

7 years ago 03/21/2012 5:19pm CDT
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I'd say the 5k. You are lacking the endurance for the half or 10k to be your best event.
shukhov

7 years ago 03/21/2012 5:27pm CDT
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you're 30 and have been running for 2 yrs?
dayyyum

1500 by the way
We're Not Friends

7 years ago 03/21/2012 7:38pm CDT
re: shukhov

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My suspicions have been confirmed. One guy I run with always stated that I was "built like a miler" - and after doing a 12x440 workout last summer where nobody came close to catching me...I guess I have to agree with what people are saying here.

Thank you for the replies. Feel free to chime in if you think I SHOULDN'T focus on the mile.
Quentus

7 years ago 03/21/2012 7:51pm CDT
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1500/5k

Where did you find a 440 yard track?
We're Not Friends

7 years ago 03/21/2012 8:08pm CDT
re: Quentus

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It was a 440 yard loop, measured in a cemetery by the individual who scheduled the group workouts.

prolly 800

7 years ago 03/22/2012 2:14am CDT
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i would say 800. you don't really display enough endurance for the mile. of course you could take some time to build that up and still have your good 200 repeat speed. right now i'd say 800 and perhaps in another year of focused training you'd be strong enough for the mile.
edumacator

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7 years ago 03/22/2012 10:24am CDT
re: prolly 800

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Anyone who has only been running for a couple of years (and likely hasn't put in much in the way of mileage) is going to be better at shorter distances at first. Short term, you're a miler, sure, but you're going to have a lot of room for improvement in 3k, 5k and up in the long term.
MidDemon

7 years ago 03/22/2012 11:22am CDT
re: edumacator

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edumacator wrote:

Anyone who has only been running for a couple of years (and likely hasn't put in much in the way of mileage) is going to be better at shorter distances at first. Short term, you're a miler, sure, but you're going to have a lot of room for improvement in 3k, 5k and up in the long term.

^^nailed it. Idk why ppl think you lack endurance (perhaps bc youve only been running for 2 years). you sound like me when i was 16. No great speed (didnt go under 30 for 200s for most 200s but held low 30s) and also ran long runs at around 7:00 pace. 5k was 16:32. You will be good at the 800/mile but your true potential will be in the 5k/10k in the next few yrs and eventually the half/26.2.
We're Not Friends

7 years ago 03/22/2012 4:06pm CDT
re: MidDemon

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Thanks for the opinions so far.

I will tell you this much...my 5K PR is 17:30 which was ran last summer. That was a year and half after I had started running.

I have not raced since.

The 5x1000 workout was done this past winter on an indoor track...so I have no clue what I'm capable of running right now. Maybe 16's.

My question is what type of mileage I should be at in year three of competitive running. In 2010 I averaged 27mpw, in 2011 it was 47mpw with a 6 week span of 70mpw.

Do you think I am able to handle a few 80mpw this summer?
Kenyarunnerchic

7 years ago 03/23/2012 10:50am CDT
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Based on your 1k splits I would say a 5k, low 16
dsrunner has the day off

7 years ago 03/23/2012 5:08pm CDT
re: edumacator

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Actually not true. A long distance runner will always show aptitude at longer races if that aptitude is there -- even on relatively little (or no) mileage.

Moreover, many HS students begin with lower mileage training and experience remarkable progress the first two years of training. And many improve race times without notable mileage increases.

What matters here is relative improvement potential, and that potential is always a function of genetic aptitude.

I would point you towards 2:45 for 1000m and something close to 55 for 400m.