Has any runner ever been average (or even mediocre) in high school/college (55+/2:00+/4:30+/10:00+), but then trained their asses off without massages/alter-G treadmills/vitamins/etc or even training partners, and become world class?
For most world class runners (in the U.S. at least) they are "in the system" of "great in high school-->scholarship to college with great program-->post collegiate training group "
Has anyone ever gotten to the top alone, is what I am saying.