I don't think I can run 9:00 for 3k

Wejo, it's great you see this, ultimately I believe it will be your saving grace. Hadd's approach made me question the value of working out with others. Since I took on that approach I've made huge steps forward (in over 40 years of running). I still enjoy a group run once or twice a month, but concentrate more on my own abilities and the progress has been steady. Good luck, I still think you have some excellent marathons in you when you get yourself back into the kind of shape you've seen before.

thanks wejo. good points.

patience is the name of the game - and faith in your self and your training.

with long range goals, plus patience and faith in ourselves, we can accomplosh great things.

hesse

Great thread. I've heard similar ideas before but the source lends a lot of credibility. I'm not an elite, I never will be; but I run daily and I feel I get better daily. I always look to the top and assume that those at the top - or have been there - never have a rough day, that somehow they simply control performance with sheer will.

Seldom are great runners willing to state how much they had to do to get to the top or back to the top even with their innate ability.

Thanks for the mentorship, keep running.

Chris

Chicago, IL

Good post wejo.

Sometimes when I was running my best I would forget how bad I sucked when out of shape. I too am returning from injury and returning to form has been a pain in the ass. Unfortunatly along the way I have run a few races just to find out how bad I am.

Recovering runners unite.

I know I can't run 9:00 for 3K right now, that would have been a struggle when I was running my PRs.

Oh yeah, well I can only run a 3k in about 11 minutes. Aren't I special.

wejo, you've been out for a while I guess. How long did you take off completely from running? I am glad to hear that I am not the only person trying to deal with the overwhelming anxiety of coming back from injury (I will be in the next week or so). Good luck. Thanks for the post.

Wejo, this brings a smile to my face. I took nearly 4 years off and when I started up again, I had trouble running 1 8:00 mile on a treadmill. Its funny because people who have not taken an extended period of time off don't realize how out of shape and how difficult it is to come back. It took me a full year before I could train well again, and even now, I don't feel like myself of old. I think it will take another year before I can just float effortlessly again on a training run.

Its pretty frustrating because I'm so happy in the comeback I have made... running 16:25 after 10 months of training was a miracle. To have a shot at running 15:30 or faster this year seemed impossible just 12 months ago. However, my teammates all think sub 15:00 shouldn't be a problem and can't understand why I am not in great shape after running a full year (of averaging only 40 a week, btw). If only they knew what that time off does to a body they would understand.

He may not be able to break 9, but he'll be able to break 1:05 in the half this spring/summer.

great post for those runners who are depressed about thier current state of fitness due to injury or other reasons. Over here in Iraq I have to remind myself that just running under 18:30 is a major effort versus cruising sub 16:00 back home. The most useful thing for me when unable to run or train to my full potential is to at least think about running once a day. Keeping my head in the game makes getting back into shape just a little easier.