When to move on from trying to make it as a post-collegiate elite

Moments in Peace wrote:

That's true, however as I mentioned, he has a physical window of time that he can run fast. This is human truth. He can work 100 hours a week when he's 35+ but he's not going to banging out 14:00 5ks or 1:05 half marathons when he's 36.

If you are passionate about running, take advantage of it while you can because once you hit a certain age the pursuit of high level running is over for 99% of people.

Seriously, do you or the OP think you can even run a (pedestrian by elite standards) a 1:05?

As an analogy, one's peak physiological capability, to be the best skateboarder down at the local skateboard park, is in their low to mid 20's. So should they pursue their "passion" of skateboarding, at the sacrifice of a job, so that they can pursue their skateboarding hobby to the fullest while in their 20's?

At least for the working stiff pursuing his 'running hobby' after hours, he can go do his age-group races on the weekends if he wants to compete. And he won't necessarily look back with regret later for putting his life on hold while he pursued his running hobby in his 20's in order to knock a few seconds off his 5k PR.

X-C Skier wrote:

I'm 48. Was a national class cross-country skier. I wished I'd stuck it out a couple more years. I'll never know.

Talk about an elitist (limited competition) sounding sport (in the US)!...it's probably way way beyond triathlon in that regard (which is way way beyond the 'elitist' sport of swimming.)

So why do you feel you could not have "stuck it out" for a couple more years at your hobby-passion, while working a job (or whatever) at the same time?

unsurewhentomoveon wrote:

thanks for the input... and I'm actually a she. Maybe that's what's making it harder for me. Seems there's even less women trying to do what I'm currently doing. I'm 23 and in the back of my mind I want to keep going for the 2016 Trials-- it's just hard to know if it's all worth it.

What are your current times? Are you trying to be a qualifier, or do you have a legitimate shot at making the team?

It's too bad you don't respect nordic skiing-your loss I suppose. I quit skiing in 1986 and abandoned my not unreasonable olympic hopes so I could go to charm school. At charm school, they taught me to say "your loss, I suppose." whenever I felt the urge to tell someone to go f*ck themselves.

Here is another thought. wrote:

X-C Skier wrote:

I'm 48. Was a national class cross-country skier. I wished I'd stuck it out a couple more years. I'll never know.

Talk about an elitist (limited competition) sounding sport (in the US)!...it's probably way way beyond triathlon in that regard (which is way way beyond the 'elitist' sport of swimming.)

So why do you feel you could not have "stuck it out" for a couple more years at your hobby-passion, while working a job (or whatever) at the same time?

There are people out there trying to do what you are doing even if it doesn't seem like it. Keep that in mind. You just need to find those people. Where do you live. Go to a running store, coach at a high school, email college coaches as they probably have former athletes still training. Baltimore, for example, is not a hotbead for running but there are lots of decent runners. Even running with someone 2 or 3 days a week helps a lot.

It's possible to have a "real" job working 40 hours a week and still be able to train at a high level. Running is a somewhat efficient sport that doesn't take up a whole lot of time compared to most sports and it is relatively easy to find big name competitions.

A few years ago when I was training for trials and working around 40 hours a week I would get up at around 6:00 do a five mile shakeout then I would work from around 8:00-4:00. After work I would go straight to the gym, put my work clothes in a locker, get changed, and be out for my second run at around 5:00. My second run would last until 7:00 or 7:30 depending on if I lifted that day. I would then shower and be home by 8:00, just in time to spend time with my girl, get a little dinner, and get a little down time before going to bed at 11:30 or so.

It's not a terribly exciting life but if you have some discipline it's very possible. Also on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you can change your training schedule up a bit to make it easier on yourself and "let your hair down" a bit so to speak.

You sound like someone who was never good at something. If someone wants to run or skateboard while they can, live it up. You have the rest of your life to sit in a desk and talk shit on letsrun.

its not that had to work a full time job and train 2, even 3 times a day. You do have to sacrifice being a kid stuff like video games, late night drinking, etc. I put in 140 miles a week and work 40 hours a week and I'm never all that tired and still continue to improve. I don't have to worry about whether I should hang up my spikes or not because I don't have to. The only down side to this full time work, serious training lifestyle is that in the winter its cold as balls even though I live pretty far south - far enough north I can run indoor collegiate meets unattached though. A lot of times I can't make use of the warmest parts of the day to train, but you just have to suck it up for a few months.

This is sort of freaky. I literally could have written everything you wrote word-for-word. The only difference is that I'm still in grad school, but I'll be done in May. Is there a way I can give you my contact info without posting it here?!

find a guy who will support you. it aint that hard to figure out, happens every day.

This sounds tough but manageable, for some people.

Go to bed at 11:30 and get up at 6:00. Most people normally function best on 8 per night, and for a serious runner you will probably want more. For me this is one of the difficulties. In fact even if I'm not running, just getting enough sleep and fitting everything into the day can be tough.

So I wrote 23 sort of without thinking and obviously you can't delete your posts on here. I'm 24. 2 years out of college. I haven't run a marathon yet but have run times indicating I could hit the 2:43 needed for the Trials, if I can put all the pieces together. I think key to what most of you are writing is having someone to come home to at night, that support type system, which seems to be what I'm lacking. That's what really makes me doubt what I'm doing, the loneliness that can sometimes set in. And that's where having a job plus running leaves little time to actually get out and meet people. I feel like I'm one of very few who didn't fall in love with a guy runner from the men's team at my college!

also, I don't think there's any way to give contact info without everyone else seeing it. Just the nature of this website. Hopefully this thread can provide you with some insight, it's nice to hear someone else is going through a similar situation!

You must work hard. How do you think I became a 2:13 marathoner, a model, and a third degree black belt and now have Tom Cruise hiring me??? If you work hard like me, maybe you too can get it.

My advice, you only live once, go for your dreams. Work and a "normal" life will always be there. Here are the steps you take.

1) Find a job that is low stress and low hours but can pay the bills if you simply. Often running shoe stores work well to get you by but anything that has flexible hours and keeps you off your feet.

2) Do a full evaluation of your whole program. Look at diet, sleep, miles, quality of those miles, training partners, location, altitude, coaching, friend network.

3) Look at your marketability I'm not a marketing director of a shoe company but my guess is that if you have an interesting personality or if there is something that makes you stand out then they can use you more to sell shoes. This could lead to a bigger contract that would offer you more freedom to train for your big races.

4) Make a plan. Often it seems that runners in your situation don't really have a plan other than a vague hope of making the Olympics (not trying to single you out I have had friends in the same boat). Look at things that will get you to a good sponsorship deal. Consider where you can run a fast time or place high in a high visibility meet. Look at current pro girls and see why they are getting paid what they are. Sometimes its buzz coming off of a good collegiate career but sometimes its that they took a few big scalps at some important meets and that put them in eye of Nike. If I were a pro runner I would pick a few very select races that would put me in a position to either run a qualifying time, beat some big names or get me in to the trials. Also you already know what you will have to run qualify for the WC and OG and you can guess what you have to run to get top 3. Start training to run that pace. Your workouts should all be focused on those times and getting you ready to hit them.

5) Consider changing scene. The one thing I always tell pro runners is get in a training group. Find people who are better than you and will push you. Yes you can train by your self and still make it but it is much harder. Look at the training philosophy of different groups with women around the country. Find a place and personalities that will jive with you. Having the support and pushing from others will make you much faster. If you are already in a group ask yourself if its working for you. Are they challenging you and do they have similar goals, pace, and talents.

6) Don't be afraid to make some changes to any part of life or training. If you feel you have hit a wall then change is the only thing that spark that break through you are looking for.

Good luck!

Just to add to some of the similar comments from above. I went for it in my mid-20s after grad school, and made running the focus of my life. I have no regrets whatsoever -- even though I didn't fulfill my ultimate goal (of making the Olympics). In fact, I ended up getting injured just before the Olympic Trials when I was 24 and again when I was 28. After I was 28, I refocused on my career, and a decade later I'm very happy in my career and still running and competing for fun. But I'm very glad that I left no stone unturned in going for it when I was younger.

Ultimately, you have to make your decision based on the process, not the outcome. If you justify your decision by telling yourself "All these sacrifices will be worth it if I make the Olympics" (or whatever other goal you've set for yourself), you're potentially setting yourself up for regret and disappointment. On the other hand, if you value the process of pursuing a dream with everything you've got, then you can be satisfied whatever the outcome turns out to be. That doesn't mean it's always fun or easy while you're doing, but the sense of reward and satisfaction has to outweigh the challenge and loneliness.

(I do agree with the poster above that you make this decision once a year, and then -- as Quenton Cassidy said -- you close the book until next year. If you're in, you're all the way in.)

And as much as I'm a romantic about this stuff, you do also need to balance it with a sense of where you might be headed after running. You're working part-time, which sounds good. Ideally, it'll be work with some connection or benefit to the field that you ultimately want to end up in. Grad school is another good way to do something semi-productive while keeping running as first priority (depending on your academic inclinations).

unsurewhentomoveon wrote:

Heck, maybe I can find a guy with the same goal to make the journey with me (a girl can dream!)

You had me going up until this statement, but nobody else seems to realize it.

8/10

unsurewhentomoveon wrote:

thanks for the input... and I'm actually a she. Maybe that's what's making it harder for me. Seems there's even less women trying to do what I'm currently doing. I'm 23 and in the back of my mind I want to keep going for the 2016 Trials-- it's just hard to know if it's all worth it. I have a part-time job so I guess I'm better off than some. It's dealing with peers my own age looking at me like I'm crazy when I mention how much I run that wears on me. It's that "breakthrough" you mentioned that keeps me wanting to continue, though.

Not less women - FEWER WOMEN! did you not take english?!!!

The Jerk Lister wrote:

unsurewhentomoveon wrote:

thanks for the input... and I'm actually a she. Maybe that's what's making it harder for me. Seems there's even less women trying to do what I'm currently doing. I'm 23 and in the back of my mind I want to keep going for the 2016 Trials-- it's just hard to know if it's all worth it. I have a part-time job so I guess I'm better off than some. It's dealing with peers my own age looking at me like I'm crazy when I mention how much I run that wears on me. It's that "breakthrough" you mentioned that keeps me wanting to continue, though.

Not less women - FEWER WOMEN! did you not take english?!!!

Did you go to a major university? Do you not know the difference between "less" and "fewer?" You spent 4 or 6 years at school and do not know the difference between "less" and "fewer.? Wow