Who started running after college and has broken 32 in the 10k?

Do you want to know about any non-collegiate runner that has gone under 34 minutes in 10K or just those that went under 32?

I know about 4 people personally in the former group and none in the latter group (that I know of anyway, probably someone I know has done this and I'm just not aware of his PR)

I started running five years ago at the age of 27. I was reasonably fit when I started but had never run before. My first 10k I finished in 37:40 and have now run a 32:55

I started running at 27, after 8 years off. I aspired to be fast but took my time to build up. I think my first 10K was 42:15 or so. At 33, I ran 31:13. I was on a good local team from 31 on, but most of the work I did on one, emphasis on quality rather than quantity because I wasn't really interested in racing longer than 10K.

Chaz Jr wrote:

Do you want to know about any non-collegiate runner that has gone under 34 minutes in 10K or just those that went under 32?

I know, I know, I set myself up here. I'm particularly interested how many late-starters go under 32 because that will put you in the top-3 overall in most 10ks in my neck of the woods, but I've got a lot to learn from 34:00 guys as well.

I guess I just mean, "Are you fast despite never/rarely running much before age 21? If so, how'd that happen and how's that going?"

heck, I know a woman who never ran in hs or college and broke 34 for 10k

lolzzek wrote:

Obviously plenty of people have done this, but every single runner I know who's gone under about 34 min in the 10k ran competitively in college.

Who else on LRC only started running regularly - not competitively, but really started running in the first place - after college, and is now fast? Regale me with your tales of your progression.

I do not really meet the criteria for the thread, but I will throw my two cents in anyways.

I did run XC in high school, but did not run a step between graduation and age 22. I started my "comeback" with an 18:24 5k off of 2-3 months of around 25 mpw. I have gotten down to 16:07/32:41/1:12:02/2:33:47 in the 4 years since. I plan on going 1:10:xx and 2:2X:XX this summer/fall and my training indicates that I probably will.

420 … Mile? wrote:

I do not really meet the criteria for the thread, but I will throw my two cents in anyways.

I did run XC in high school, but did not run a step between graduation and age 22. I started my "comeback" with an 18:24 5k off of 2-3 months of around 25 mpw. I have gotten down to 16:07/32:41/1:12:02/2:33:47 in the 4 years since. I plan on going 1:10:xx and 2:2X:XX this summer/fall and my training indicates that I probably will.

I should probably add that I am now running 75-85 mpw.

420 … Mile? wrote:

I did run XC in high school, but did not run a step between graduation and age 22. I started my "comeback" with an 18:24 5k off of 2-3 months of around 25 mpw. I have gotten down to 16:07/32:41/1:12:02/2:33:47 in the 4 years since. I plan on going 1:10:xx and 2:2X:XX this summer/fall and my training indicates that I probably will.

Pretty impressive for four years of work. Nicely done.

I went to college later than the typical 18 year old. I worked after graduating high school, knowing I would just get drunk as often as possible in college. We had no xc or track programs in my high school, so I never really had much interest. However, I was only a p/t student, and had very little money, so out of necessity, ran to/from work and sometimes school. Without knowing it, I built a two year base of running four or five days a week, at what I would now estimate as 2-4 miles each way for school and 3to4 miles each way for my job. I took 7 1/2 years to graduate. I ran in some races during my years in college, and quickly realized I needed help. first, I am too competitive to accept being beat by older women. Second, I was too slow for my own satisfaction. I started actually training, got real race flats, didn't stay in trainers all day and changed shoes after 500 miles. I was running about 34:30 - 35:00 for a 10k. by the time I graduated, I was in the mid 32's. I went to grad school and found people who actually knew how to train. I followed them, and got much faster. I ran 31:10 on my 31st birthday.

So, yes, I broke 32 min after college. But it certainly was not the conventional route.

martin rees worth a mention

started running at 37

O-60 wr. 32min plus change

420 … Mile? wrote:

I do not really meet the criteria for the thread, but I will throw my two cents in anyways.

I did run XC in high school, but did not run a step between graduation and age 22. I started my "comeback" with an 18:24 5k off of 2-3 months of around 25 mpw. I have gotten down to 16:07/32:41/1:12:02/2:33:47 in the 4 years since. I plan on going 1:10:xx and 2:2X:XX this summer/fall and my training indicates that I probably will.

I would like to have nailed the 10k and up times that you've done off of my 16:04 but I haven't come close yet. I may once have been able to do it but got injured.

jjjjjjjjj wrote:

I would like to have nailed the 10k and up times that you've done off of my 16:04 but I haven't come close yet. I may once have been able to do it but got injured.

My 5k is admittedly weak. I only run 1 per year (my hometown race) and have never had any competition. I have hit 15:41 during a track workout, but PRs don't count unless you can find them online, right?