Any Competitive Runners Who Didn't Run High School/College?

Dr Delano Merriweather

http://www.thefullwiki.org/Delano_Meriwether

I've run 2:29 in the marathon and 1:10 in the half (both about 3 years ago), and both while in undergrad and not running for my University. Now I'm in grad school, still in early-mid 20's, running competitively and trying to qualify for the trials in 2016.

I did run 3 years in high school, but never took it seriously... like 30 miles a week with a 18:00 5k PR in Cross Country and a 4:50 mile in track.

Never ran for a HS or college team, but I'm 27 now. I only run about 30-45mpw, but in 2014 I've ran a 39:19 10K, and an 18:30 5K. Where I live, those are winning times in 50% of local races.

The talent here is weak since we have nasty cold winters (Canada), so most just don't work out in the winter, and lose all their fitness gains. Then they train hard in the summer just to end up where they were last year..

Didn't run in high school/college, partied a lot, though..ran 2:48 marathon when I was 55 yrs old..

I started running when I was 29 (i'm now 35) and never ran before that. My PRs range from 15:48 5k to 2:38 marathon.

My neighbor didn't run in college and I don't think he ran in high school. Now he runs 1:07 for the half and isn't even a big running nerd.

late to the game wrote:

I started running when I was 29 (i'm now 35) and never ran before that. My PRs range from 15:48 5k to 2:38 marathon.

That is almost exactly my position. Great PRs! Would you mind going into some detail about how you got there? Training and whatnot?

If you'd like to take it off the boards, you can email me at

My grandma didn't run in high school or college and now she runs 1 mile every morning.

Mycrazyx wrote:

Amended.

I meant we typically get between 15,000 and 20,000 runners.

It's a 10k race.

And that's counting both races.

Zev wrote:

Mycrazyx wrote:

Amended.

I meant we typically get between 15,000 and 20,000 runners.

It's a 10k race.

And that's counting both races.

Further edit: It is 15,500 total runners between the 5k & the 10k.

owstruc wrote:

Whiskey, neat wrote:

Unlike skill based sports, success in running is primarily based on the physiology you're born with so picking it up late is certainly possible.

Lol where do you come up with this nonsense? Running successfully success is in no way primarily based on the physiology you are born with. It is primarily based on preparation.

Welcome to science. By your logic you can beat any runner in the world if you just train hard enough. Is that correct? Think of all the teammates you've ever had...Everyone came into the team with a certain, innate talent and the fastest guy on the team was always the fastest guy on the team.

My point was that, as an endurance sport you rely on your physiological talents more than does a basketball player or golfer. A person with a high VO2Max range can pick up the sport later in life and excel where that is not true for a tennis player.

I ran 2:04 at the age of 17 for 800m not training and being pushed to compete by parents.

Then at the age of 19 this year, just before I turned 20 ran 1:48.5 and closed the season on 1:48.3.

Its never too late just get your head down and work correct.

Boston35 wrote:

http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/casey-and-patrick-moulton

Since the front page identifies a set of twins, the story of Casey and Patrick Moulton was an interesting story under this category.

The article says Patrick ran in high school and college, Casey didn't run for teams in high school or college but was training/racing on his own in college. Based on that I'd say they don't qualify for this thread, but maybe you interpret the OP differently.

British runner Paul Evans ran briefly in high school but quit when he was 16 and didn't take up running again until he was 27. Evans went on to make two Olympics on the track, run 2:08 and win the Chicago Marathon.

Hi, I did not run track in highschool, but I am looking to walk on to my division II's school track team next year as a junior. I was wondering what you guys did/said to the coaches in order for you to get on the team. Thank you.

Andrew Shearing was a HS soccer player, too until discovered by Jeff Johnson of Nike.

Working Stiff wrote:

awesomeness wrote:

Dude... what's your secret?! How much mileage do you run usually?

Same question

Talent.

In the '80s I met a couple of guys in the 2:17 marathon range and sub 30 10k range, one who was a D1 college baseball player, the other a D1 college tennis player. Good athletes.